What to do if your EBT benefits are stolen
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as ‘food stamps,’ is a federal nutrition program that provides monthly food benefits to low-income households.
SNAP participants receive their benefits amount every month on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which looks and functions like a debit card. You can use your card in participating stores, as well as participating online stores, to purchase eligible food in the same way you would use a debit card.
EBT Cards and Electronic Theft
EBT cards, like traditional debit cards, can be vulnerable to certain forms of electronic theft, like card skimming. Skimming is a type of electronic theft that occurs when a criminal places a device on a point-of-sale terminal (where shoppers scan their card to make a purchase), and the device allows the criminal to capture the card’s data and PIN information. The criminal then uses that information to clone the card and access the benefits in the card holder’s account.
In many cases, cloned cards are used out-of-state, and SNAP participants may discover that their benefits have been stolen when they go to check out at the store and find that they have insufficient funds, or when they check their account balance.
What to do if your benefits are stolen through card skimming or other forms of electronic theft?
If you believe you are the victim of card skimming or other forms of electronic theft, you may now be able to receive up to two months of replacement benefits. Contact your local county human services office immediately to inform them that your card has been compromised and to request replacement of stolen benefits. You will need to submit the following benefits form in English or Spanish to your county human services office. You should report the theft to your county as soon as you become aware of it.
For any theft that occurs from July 4, 2023 and after, SNAP households have 30 days from the date of discovery of the theft to inform their county human services office and submit the required form. If the theft occurred between October 1, 2022 and July 4, 2023, households can request retroactive replacement of benefits by September 1, 2023.
Skimming Prevention
Preventing skimming and other forms of electronic theft should not just be SNAP participant’s’ responsibility, as the government has an important role to play in making EBT cards more secure. See our blog on Hunger Free Colorado’s skimming advocacy here.
There are some steps you can take, however, if you are worried about keeping your EBT card secure against skimming and other forms of electronic theft. For example:
- Protect your PIN! Your PIN is a unique number that keeps your card information safe. To protect the benefits on your EBT card:
- Consider changing your PIN often, ideally before getting your benefits each month. If your card has been skimmed, your PIN information has likely been captured. Changing your PIN before criminals can use your card information can protect your benefits.
- Choose a secure PIN number that wouldn’t be known to others. Birth years, 1234, 1111, etc. are examples of insecure pins, because they are easy for others to guess.
- Call EBT Customer Service at 1.888.328.2656 (1.800.659.2656 -TTY) or use the Cardholder Portal to change your PIN
- When using your card at checkout, cover your keypad when entering the PIN. Criminals can install small cameras that record you entering your PIN.
- Be careful not to share your PIN with others. Retailers should not ask for it. State or County officials also would never ask for it.
- You can also prevent unwanted purchases on your EBT card by freezing it when you are not using it or blocking out-of-state or online use of your card by logging into the Cardholder Portal