Boston MA (December 21, 2022) – Thousands of low-income households across the nation have had their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, also known as food stamps) benefits stolen by criminals who use a “skimming” device to capture the households’ account information. Most states, including Massachusetts, have refused to replace the stolen benefits because the federal government would not cover the cost of replacement. In November 2022, MLRI filed a class action lawsuit challenging the state’s refusal to replace benefits stolen through no fault of the household.

Yesterday, Congress released draft language for the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act. This Act would take two significant steps towards protecting families whose SNAP is stolen by skimming:

1. Directing USDA to use federal funds to require states to replace SNAP benefits stolen through skimming between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2024 (up to a maximum of two months of benefits).
2. Requiring the federal U.S. Department of Agriculture to issue guidance and regulations directing state SNAP agencies to adopt security measures to detect and prevent card skimming and other fraudulent methods of stealing households’ SNAP benefits.  

Replacing stolen SNAP benefits and strengthening EBT card security are critical improvements to protect families. MLRI applauds our Massachusetts Congressional delegation for championing congressional action to address SNAP skimming and theft. 

While the bill text goes a long way towards protecting families who are victims of skimming, it does not replace benefits stolen before October 2022. MLRI urges the Healey-Driscoll Administration in Massachusetts to replace SNAP benefits stolen between June and October 2022. Extremely low-income households that were victims of this benefits theft are still dealing with the economic consequences.

MLRI looks forward to working in partnership with the state and federal administrations to implement improved EBT card technology and provide recourse to SNAP households whose benefits are stolen that is comparable to the remedies available to debit and credit card users.

While the Act provides relief to victims of SNAP theft, it also prematurely ends SNAP emergency allotments and cuts this summer’s Pandemic EBT benefits in order to fund a permanent Summer EBT program ($120 for the summer for each eligible child). MLRI supports expansion of child nutrition programs; MLRI does not support reducing SNAP and federal nutrition benefits in order to make investments in child nutrition. The United States has the fiscal resources to improve food security for children in the long term without harming food security for millions in the short term. 

Contacts:

Vicky Negus
vnegus@mlri.org | 857.241.1723

Betsy Gwin
bgwin@mlri.org | 518.339.2183

Deborah Harris
dharris@mlri.org | 617.538.1680