SNAP Benefit Theft Impacts Florida Families, Reimbursements Halted
SANFORD, Fla. – Millions of Floridians rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to feed their families, but a growing number are finding their benefits stolen, leaving them with empty accounts. The Florida Department of Agriculture reports nearly 3 million state residents receive SNAP benefits, yet the Department of Children and Families (DCF) stopped reimbursing stolen funds in December 2023, now only issuing replacement EBT cards.
The change in policy has left victims frustrated and vulnerable. “When are you going to do something about it? Because this is like a continuous thing. Like it’s just steady wiping out people’s cards,” said a local resident, identified only as Turner, who has been following reports of the thefts.
Reports indicate the fraud isn’t limited to Florida. Turner stated she’s heard of stolen benefits being used in states across the country, including Idaho, New Jersey, and other Florida cities like tampa and St. Petersburg.
The Sanford Police Department is urging anyone experiencing this type of theft to file a report instantly.
DCF released a statement advising individuals whose SNAP benefits have been stolen to “immediately file a police report with their local law enforcement agency and request a replacement Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card.” Further assistance is available through EBT Customer Service at 1-888-356-3281 or online at MyACCESS.MyFLFamilies.com.
Protecting Your Benefits:
Individuals can take steps to safeguard their SNAP benefits:
- Change Your PIN Regularly: Avoid easily guessable PINs like 1111 or 1234.
- monitor Your Purchases and Balance: Frequently review transactions and account balances for suspicious activity.
- Inspect card readers: Check for signs of tampering or skimming devices.
- Use the same retailer/retailers as often as possible.
- Visit the ebtEDGE platform for added layers of protection.
