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BAM 401E 1 of 34 ELECTRONIC BENEFIT TRANSFER ISSUANCE SYSTEM BPB 2026-019 8-1-2026

BRIDGES ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

OVERVIEW FIP, SDA, RCA and SNAP Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) allows clients who receive cash assistance (FIP, SDA etc.), and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to receive their benefits using debit card technology. Benefits are deposited electronically into a cash and/or SNAP account. Clients access their benefits by using their personal identification number (PIN), along with their Bridge card. EXCESSIVE CARD REPLACEMENT RULE Issuance of four or more Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards has been shown to be a potential indicator of fraud and abuse of SNAP benefits. It may also be an indicator of the potential need for a referral to protective services in situations where benefits are suspected of being misused. In the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) ongoing efforts to combat fraud and abuse, and to comply with Food and Nutrition Administration (FNA) policy, the following procedure will be implemented: • The EBT vendor, Fidelity Information Services (FIS) will send a card withholding letter to all households when they are at their 4th replacement card within a 12 month period, notifying them that they have reached the number of issued cards threshold, and at their 5th and each subsequent card replacement request their card will not be issued until they have gone into the local office to speak directly to the district manager or county director. • Upon the client’s request for a 5th card, a second card withholding letter will be sent by FIS notifying the client that they have exceeded the number of card requests allowed, and that they must contact their local office to schedule an appointment to speak directly to the district manager or county director in order to get another card. FIS will inform clients calling to request replacements of this requirement. • The district manager or county director will meet with the client in question and review their situation and explanation. Based on this contact, the county director or district manager will