The USDA Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) has rolled out a program to help SNAP recipients recover benefits lost due to skimming or cloning of their EBT cards. If you’ve experienced unauthorized use of your benefits, you may qualify for reimbursement, provided you report the theft within 90 days of when the incident occurred.
To keep track of your EBT transactions you can either use the FIS ebtEDGE mobile app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, or check your transaction history online. You can als contact EBT Customer Service at (888) 356-3281 for assistance.
If your benefits have been stolen, it’s essential to report your EBT card as lost or stolen right away. Until this is done, your account remains vulnerable, and replacement benefits won’t be processed. You can request a new card, change your PIN, or report your card as compromised by calling the customer service line.
Once a claim is filed, the USDA will review it within 10 business days. If the claim is approved, you can be reimbursed for either the full amount of the stolen benefits or up to two months’ worth of your SNAP benefits before the incident, whichever amount is lower. The approved funds will be loaded onto your EBT card the day after the claim is validated.
How many times can I get a stolen SNAP benefits reimbursement?
Note that reimbursement claims are capped at two per federal fiscal year (October 1 to September 30). After you submit a claim form, the department will determine the status of your claim within 10 business days and send a “Notice of Stolen SNAP Benefits” to your registered address, confirming whether it’s been approved. If the claim is accepted, your benefits will be accessible the next day.
Additionally, upon receiving your signed claim form, the old, compromised EBT card will be deactivated, and a new one will be sent to the address on file.
The replacement card should arrive within 7-10 days. It’s crucial for affected individuals to act promptly to secure their benefits and initiate the claims process if they’ve been targeted by skimming or fraud.
