Maryland Department Of Social Services

What Maryland Department Of Social Services does

Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS), formerly known as the Maryland Department of Social Services, is the cabinet-level state agency of Maryland's executive branch responsible for administering the state's social welfare programs. Operating under the authority of Governor Wes Moore, the agency delivers services through 24 county-level Department of Social Services offices covering all 23 Maryland counties plus Baltimore City, alongside digital benefit delivery systems. Its core programs include SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), SUN Bucks summer nutrition benefits, energy assistance programs, foster care and child welfare services, child support enforcement, adoption services, adult services, and economic assistance. The agency serves low-income Maryland households, children and youth in out-of-home care, and families eligible for tax credits through the cross-government Earned It Campaign.

The agency's core technology is an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card system used to distribute SNAP and other benefits electronically, with a 2026 security upgrade to more secure, easier-to-use cards. Maryland DHS communicates with residents through its official news website, social media accounts on X (@mdhumanservices) and Facebook, RSS feeds, and targeted text messaging campaigns as part of the Earned It initiative promoting state tax credits worth up to $4,000 per family. The agency maintains a formal media contact (Lilly Price, Press Secretary) and operates a partnership with the University of Maryland School of Dentistry to provide dental care access for foster youth.

As a state government agency, Maryland DHS does not charge fees for its benefit programs. Its operations are funded through federal allocations (notably USDA funding for SNAP) and Maryland state budget appropriations, with services provided at no cost to eligible residents. The agency operates under federal oversight from USDA for SNAP and is coordinated with the Governor's office on statewide policy announcements, including the July 2026 energy assistance expansion projected to reach approximately 200,000 households and the June 2026 launch of SUN Bucks 2026. The USDA specifically recognized Maryland as the nation-leading state in SNAP payment accuracy, with the error rate reduced by nearly two-thirds since 2022.

Name

Maryland Department Of Social Services

Legal name

Maryland Department of Human Services

Website

https://news.dhr.maryland.gov

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Maryland Department of Human Services is a cabinet-level state agency that administers social welfare programs — including SNAP, SUN Bucks, energy assistance, foster care, and child support enforcement — to eligible Maryland residents through 24 county offices and an EBT card digital distribution system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411), Social Assistance (624)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

State/Provincial Human Services & Benefits Administration (Welfare, Disability, Child & Family) (BPAIABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Healthcare-Linked Social Benefits Administration (e.g., Medicaid/Means-Tested Health Coverage) (BPAIAKAH), Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services (BPAGAEAE), Housing Benefits & Rent Subsidy Administration (BPAIAKAG)

Keywords

• Social services programs
• Food assistance benefits
• Child welfare services
• Energy assistance programs
• Foster care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Baltimore

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Maryland Department of Social Services is a state government agency that administers social welfare and child welfare programs for Maryland residents, including SNAP/food benefits (including SUN Bucks), foster care and adoption services, child support enforcement, and energy and utility assistance. Services are delivered through county offices and online portals to eligible individuals and families statewide.

Product overview

Maryland Department of Human Services (also referred to as Maryland Department of Social Services) provides a unified portfolio of social welfare programs including food assistance (SNAP, SUN Bucks), energy assistance, foster care services, and child support enforcement. The department operates through 24 local county offices and utilizes electronic benefit delivery systems (EBT cards) for benefit distribution. Major initiatives include the Earned It Campaign for tax credit outreach and various foster care reform programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Food Assistance (SNAP)

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• University of Maryland School of Dentistry (UM SOD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2026Baltimore City Department of Social Services (BCDSS) partnered with University of Maryland School of Dentistry to ensure children and youth experiencing out-of-home care receive timely access to high-quality dental services. This formal partnership provides dental care access for youth in foster care.
• USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)coreOthersFederal agency providing oversight and funding for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). USDA announced Maryland's nation-leading turnaround in SNAP payment accuracy, with the state cutting its SNAP payment error rate by nearly two-thirds since 2022.
• Maryland Governor's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernor Wes Moore's administration coordinates statewide social services policy and announcements, including energy assistance programs for 200,000 Maryland households and foster care system reforms.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance: Massachusetts state agency administering SNAP and cash assistance through a network of local offices. Comparable state-level benefit administration model with similar EBT-based benefit delivery.
• Illinois Department of Human Services: Illinois's state agency administering SNAP, TANF, child care, and child welfare services. Operates a comparable state-level social services model with county-level FROES (Family and Community Resource Centers) delivery.
• Florida Department of Children and Families: Florida's state agency administering SNAP, Medicaid, child welfare, and foster care through regional offices. Direct peer in state-level social services administration with comparable program mix.
• Virginia Department of Social Services: Virginia's state social services agency operating SNAP, TANF, foster care, and child welfare through 120 local departments of social services. Direct peer and geographic neighbor with very similar program structure to Maryland DHS.
• New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance: Administers SNAP, Temporary Assistance, and disability benefits in New York State. Operates a comparable state-level benefit administration model with county-based delivery, paralleling Maryland DHS's structure.
• Texas Health and Human Services Commission: Texas's consolidated health and human services agency operating SNAP (Food Stamps), TANF, child welfare, and foster care across regional offices. Comparable in scope and state-level coordination of social welfare programs.
• Pennsylvania Department of Human Services: Pennsylvania's cabinet-level human services agency administering SNAP, TANF, child welfare, and foster care across county assistance offices. Closely comparable in name, structure, and program portfolio to Maryland DHS.
• California Department of Social Services: California's state-level social services agency administering SNAP, CalFresh, child welfare, foster care, and adult services across 58 counties. Highly comparable in mission and program portfolio to Maryland DHS, with comparably extensive county-level service delivery structure.
• New Jersey Department of Human Services: New Jersey's cabinet-level human services agency administering SNAP, child welfare, foster care, and economic assistance. Comparable in scope, organizational structure, and benefit program delivery.
• Ohio Department of Job and Family Services: Ohio's state agency administering SNAP, TANF, child welfare, and child support through 88 county offices. Highly comparable in consolidated social services delivery and county-based operating model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mdhumanservices
• Facebookfacebook.com/MDHumanServices
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maryland-department-of-social-services

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Maryland Department Of Social Services