FAIR Act Mandates Photo ID on SNAP EBT Cards, Requires Retailer Verification Within 18 Months

The proposed Food Assistance Integrity and Responsibility Act, or the FAIR Act, is taking aim at how people use their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Simply put, this bill requires that every Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card issued must include a recent photograph of the authorized cardholder right on the plastic. This isn't just a suggestion; the bill explicitly amends the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to make photo ID mandatory, with state agencies having 18 months from enactment to roll out the changes.

The End of Shared Cards

Under this new rule (SEC. 2), the EBT card becomes far less flexible. The bill states clearly that an individual can only use benefits from a card that bears their own name and photograph. For households where multiple people are authorized to use the benefits—like a spouse or an older child—the state agency would have to issue separate, individualized cards for each person, complete with their own photo. This means the days of one card shared among authorized household members are over, which could create a logistical headache for families, especially if a card is lost or temporarily needed by another authorized member.

The Retailer Checkpoint

Perhaps the biggest change is the new burden placed on retailers. The FAIR Act adds a condition requiring stores authorized to accept SNAP benefits to inspect the photograph on the EBT card before completing a sale. Think about your average grocery run: the cashier now has to stop, verify the photo ID on the card matches the person standing there, and then complete the transaction. This mandatory verification step (SEC. 2) is designed to cut down on unauthorized use but introduces a new potential point of friction and delay at the checkout line, adding time and responsibility for every store employee processing a SNAP transaction.

The Caregiver Catch

The bill does acknowledge that not everyone uses their benefits for themselves, particularly when dealing with vulnerable populations. Recognizing this, the FAIR Act mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture establish procedures for “reasonable accommodations” for caregivers (SEC. 2). This exception is meant to allow a caregiver—say, a nurse, an adult child, or a guardian—to access benefits on behalf of a minor, an individual with disabilities, or an elderly person in their care. The success of this provision hinges entirely on how robust and easy-to-use those future accommodation procedures turn out to be. If the process is bureaucratic, it could inadvertently cut off access for the very people it’s trying to protect.

Implementation and Real-World Friction

For state agencies, this is a massive administrative lift, requiring new systems for photo capture, card printing, and distribution—all within 18 months. For the average SNAP recipient, this means a new layer of required documentation and less flexibility in how benefits are accessed. While the stated goal is program integrity and reducing fraud, the practical reality is that requiring photo IDs on every card and mandating retailer verification adds friction to an already essential system. It’s a trade-off: potentially less misuse, but a higher administrative cost and less convenience for millions of working families and vulnerable individuals who rely on the program.