The federal government has extended the deadline for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to seek reimbursement for benefits stolen through electronic theft.
This extension provides crucial relief for vulnerable households affected by fraud and skimming schemes targeting their food assistance funds.
New Deadline and Eligibility
The U.S. Congress recently passed a Continuing Resolution that pushes the cutoff date for federal reimbursement of stolen SNAP benefits from September 30, 2024, to December 20, 2024.
This extension applies to electronic theft incidents occurring between October 1, 2022, and the new December deadline.
How to Report Theft and Seek Reimbursement
SNAP recipients who suspect their benefits have been stolen should take immediate action:
- Contact local authorities to report the fraud.
- Notify the state SNAP agency within 30 days of discovering the theft.
- Provide any available evidence of the theft, such as transaction records or suspicious account activity.
In New Mexico, for example, affected individuals can report benefit theft by:
- Visiting a local Income Support Division office
- Calling the Consolidated Customer Service hotline at 1-800-283-4465
- Submitting an online report at www.yes.state.nm.us
Protecting Your SNAP Benefits
To safeguard against future theft, SNAP recipients should:
- Regularly monitor account balances and transactions
- Change PIN numbers frequently, avoiding easily guessed combinations
- Never share card information or PINs with others
- Be cautious when using EBT cards at unfamiliar locations
- Report any suspicious activity or card reader tampering to retailers immediately
Impact of Benefit Theft
Electronic theft of SNAP benefits has affected hundreds of households across the country, with some victims losing substantial amounts.
In one reported case, a single household lost over $12,000 due to skimming. This extension offers a critical lifeline for families struggling to recover from such losses.