Stolen SNAP Benefits?
The federal government responds quickly to stolen SNAP benefits and has recently passed a mandate allowing states to use federal funds to reimburse SNAP recipients whose benefits were stolen through electronic card fraud. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps, has been a lifeline for millions of families across the United States. Unfortunately, SNAP benefits have been systematically stolen from vulnerable families, leaving them with no resources to buy food for themselves and their loved ones.
New Federal Law
The new federal law requires states to replace EBT card benefits that were stolen after October 1, 2022, through September 2024, with reimbursement plans due by the end of February. Before this mandate, only a few states provided reimbursement for stolen benefits since they could only use their funds. With the opportunity to draw up plans to use federal money for reimbursement, states can now expedite the process to aid affected families.
READ ALSO: SNAP Monthly Benefit Reduction Starts in February 2023
The fraud problem with food benefit cards increased significantly in the spring and summer of last year. Reports in WRDW and law enforcement agencies like the South Carolina Department of Social Services found that benefits were most likely stolen through skimming devices attached by unscrupulous employees or thieves posing as customers to card processing machines at store checkouts according to disabilityscoop.com.
While the new federal law requires states to submit plans to make EBT cards more secure, none has forwarded a plan to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However, two bills are pending in the Maryland legislature that would require closer monitoring of EBT transactions, installation of more tamper-proof chips on cards, and restoration of stolen funds. Critics of the law express concern over the lack of specific parameters on how to make the cards more tamper-proof, leaving room for potential misuse.
States must take urgent action to ensure that families affected by stolen SNAP benefits receive the aid they need promptly. While the new federal mandate is a step in the right direction, more needs to be done to secure EBT cards and prevent future fraud. States must prioritize the welfare of their citizens by expediting reimbursement plans and implementing measures to prevent the recurrence of food benefit fraud. By doing so, they can help vulnerable families put food on the table and improve their quality of life.
READ ALSO: Additional Emergency Snap Money Extended to 25 States
