The article highlights a concerning issue in Connecticut where scammers are stealing SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, leaving many families without the assistance they rely on for groceries.
Scammers use skimming devices placed on credit card machines to steal card and PIN numbers, draining SNAP accounts.
The article shares the experience of Linda Rosado, a New Britain resident who lost nearly $200 in benefits over the summer, and it outlines how widespread this issue has become, with reports of similar incidents across the U.S.
In response, Connecticut’s Department of Social Services initiated a program to replace stolen benefits starting in June 2023, but this program ended on December 20th due to a lack of federal funding in the recent budget.
Over the course of the program, 10,600 claims were made, resulting in $4.4 million being replaced for affected individuals. However, with the program now concluded, families have no clear path to recover stolen funds.
Department of Social Services officials have been advocating for Congress to fund a transition to chip-enabled cards to prevent future theft, a solution already being pursued by states like California and Oklahoma. Until then, the Department recommends that individuals regularly change their PINs and stay vigilant when using their EBT cards, reporting any suspicious activity to the police.
The article emphasizes the need for more effective security measures and legislative action to address the ongoing problem of skimming and theft from SNAP recipients.