[Ex-Pat in Mex]

The entire move from paper food stamps to EBT cards was to spare recipients the embarrassment of being on food stamps.

Make them feel like they are using a credit card or debit card. Improve self-esteem.

Same argument against the photo.

When you remove shame from the system, you encourage more abuse. When there is as much rampant fraud as there is in the EBT system (every drug dealer on every corner takes EBT Cards) that something as simple as a picture as is required for every driver’s license, would go a long way to eliminating fraud.

With the left and the right spying on us the way they do... your photo on government ID/authorization card, like an EBT card, is not a problem.

[ConservativeStatement]

I have heard accounts -- not limited to Maine -- but apparently, what also happens, is the holder of the card will peddle it for less than the remaining value, take the cash and use it for other things while the buyer will receive (as an example) $50 on the card for handing the original person $20. Scam central.