Alabama DHR to Default EBT Cards, Block Out-of-State and Online Purchases

The Alabama Department of Human Resources implemented a system enhancement that defaulted Electronic Benefit Transfer cards to a "Block High-Risk Transaction" status, preventing out-of-state and online purchases beginning Jan. 22, 2026. The change aims to reduce electronic fraud and keep Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits available to eligible Alabama families; purchases made inside Alabama remain unaffected.

DHR announced the policy change on Jan. 20, 2026 and said cardholders who need to make out-of-state or online purchases must manually unlock their cards. Cardholders can lift the block using the ConnectEBT mobile app, the ConnectEBT website, or by calling the ConnectEBT customer-service phone line. DHR directed users to its food-assistance channels for additional contact information and instructions.

For Autauga County residents, the switch will have immediate practical effects on grocery shopping and travel plans. SNAP recipients who place online orders with multistate retailers or use delivery services that route payments through out-of-state processors may find transactions declined unless they unlock their card in advance. Residents who regularly travel across state lines for work or family visits should be aware that EBT purchases made outside Alabama will be blocked unless they authorize those transactions beforehand.

Local food access points within Autauga County remain available for in-state purchases. EBT cards in the new default status will continue to work at supermarkets, corner stores, farmers markets, and other authorized vendors inside Alabama. Cardholders who rely on online grocery ordering or third-party delivery should plan ahead and use ConnectEBT to enable transactions for specific needs rather than assuming automatic acceptance.

The DHR described the measure as a fraud-reduction tool intended to protect program integrity and ensure benefits reach intended recipients. For households that already experience tight budgets, the new requirement adds a step when shopping online or while traveling, and it may generate increased calls to ConnectEBT customer service as people adjust to the new default setting.

What comes next for Autauga County residents is largely procedural: know that in-state purchases are unaffected, use ConnectEBT to lift blocks when necessary, and consult DHR food-assistance channels for help. The policy change is designed to safeguard benefits, but it also requires SNAP recipients to take a small, proactive step to maintain access when shopping out of state or online.