Congressman Dan Goldman Pushes to Protect Victims of SNAP Theft
The ‘SNAP Theft Protection Act’ Allows States to Refund Stolen SNAP Benefits to Victims of Benefit Theft
Thousands of New Yorkers are Victims of SNAP-Related Scams
Read the Bill Here
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02) in introducing the ‘SNAP Theft Protection Act,’ which aims to update the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to allow states to use existing SNAP funding to refund stolen benefits to victims of SNAP-related scams. While through the ‘Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023’ states were given this authority, when Fiscal Year 2024 ends in September, states will no longer be able to use federal funds to refund victims of SNAP theft.
The ‘SNAP Theft Protection Act’ will also help states collect data on SNAP theft to better determine the pervasiveness of this crime and strengthen efforts to improve the security of the electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards that are used by recipients to access their benefits.
“Each year, thousands of New Yorkers are robbed of millions in SNAP benefits, putting families and seniors at risk of not being able to put food on the table,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “As we get closer to the budget deadline, not only do we need to make sure to pass a budget that fully funds SNAP, but we also need to pass this bill to ensure states maintain this critical tool to help victims of SNAP theft. Families across the country are relying on us to get this done.”
SNAP beneficiaries are at risk of skimming – a fraudulent practice where a device is placed on point-of-sale machines to capture PIN information and data from the EBT card. This allows scammers to use SNAP benefits without the original card. EBT cards are not currently covered by the Electronic Fund Transfer Act, which protects credit and debit card users from fraudulent or unauthorized activities. The ‘SNAP Theft Protection Act’ would allow victims of EBT skimming scams and other fraudulent activities to be reissued stolen benefits and enable states to track skimming data.
EBT fraud and stolen SNAP benefits are impacting residents across NY-10 and the state as a whole. Congressman Dan Goldman has been working with New York State’s Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance to resolve these cases for constituents, and the agency has resources available on how to avoid SNAP EBT scams.
Congressman Goldman is committed to ensuring families have access to SNAP and other nutrition programs.
This summer, Congressman Goldman held a Summer Nutrition Town Hall to discuss food insecurity, share information about New York State’s Summer EBT program and its rollout, and provide resources to residents who would like to apply.
Last year, Congressman Dan Goldman cosponsored the ‘Hot Foods Act’ to expand SNAP to allow participants to purchase hot foods such as prepared rotisserie chickens, hot sandwiches, and soups.
Additionally, Goldman cosponsored the ‘WIC For Kids Act’ to increase access to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program under the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program.
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