...
By Aliss Higham
Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
SNAP beneficiaries should be aware of an upcoming deadline, especially if they have been a victim of benefit fraud.
A law passed in 2022 regarding the replacement of stolen Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits is due to expire on December 20. The law currently allows state agencies to use federal funds to replace stolen SNAP benefits.
The provision was originally due to expire in September 2024, but was extended by a stopgap funding bill known as a continuing resolution, which passed by lawmakers and signed by President Joe Biden in the same month in order to avert a government shutdown. Whether a continuation of the federal funding for replacement benefits will continue is not yet certain, and is contingent on lawmakers passing a bipartisan funding bill—annual or continuing—that keeps the provision in place.
Read More on News
Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for comment via email outside of regular working hours.
SNAP benefits are administered to recipients through electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards, which are loaded with money every month to use in participating stores and online. Like regular debit or credit cards, they are subject to scams such as cloning, phishing or skimming.
...
The problem is widespread: in the first quarter of 2024, there were 176,000 instances of fraudulent transactions reported to the USDA across 50 U.S. states and territories. A further 181,000 were reported in the second quarter, between April and June. Then, instances of fraud rose by more than 250,000 in the third quarter of 2023.
In total, there have been more than 810,000 fraud cases reported to the USDA since the second quarter of 2023.
Prior to the September continuing resolution, a slew of lawmakers called on Congress to keep the fraud-replacement provision in place. Led by Maryland Representative Dutch Ruppersberger, a group of bipartisan lawmakers wrote a letter to congressional leadership urging them to include it in the spending bill.
At the time, Ruppersburger said: "This is a common sense solution that ensures tax dollars are used for their intended purpose and that American families do not lose their primary source of healthy foods. No family should ever have to worry about how they will put their next meal on the table."
The USDA advises SNAP recipients to take their own steps to prevent being a victim of theft, including frequently changing the PIN of your EBT card, not sharing its details with anyone, and be wary of false actors pretending to be government agencies. States like California and Oklahoma are issuing updated EBT cards with chip technology to help prevent fraud.
If you believe you have been victim of fraud, you should contact your local SNAP office.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines