RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. — Claims in a Facebook watch groups reveal a troubling trend: although the number of cases is currently low, theft of SNAP benefits from EBT cards is on the rise.
As of 3p.m Wednesday, DSS has only received a handful of statewide reports involving stolen SNAP benefits. However, even a small number of incidents can significantly impact families who rely on these benefits.
Bre Williams, mother of three told WACHFOX News she couldn’t believe her eyes when she realized her main source for food had been stolen.
“You know how you usually check the app before you go to the store and it said it was only 71 cents, so I was like hold on this’s not right.” Williams added, ” And it was saying it was purchased in different areas of New York when I went there and looked at the purchases, they had taken all of my money. They only left 71 cents. So I went down to DSS and it was a couple of people in there for the same thing and they told us it was under investigation.” said Williams.
According to Williams, She was told the investigation could take up to three weeks.
In response to increasing fraud concerns, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 was signed into law by President Biden in December 2022. This law provides a crucial update for SNAP recipients facing theft.
It authorizes federal funds to replace SNAP benefits stolen through methods like card skimming and cloning. This provision covers benefits stolen on or after October 1, 2022, and will be in effect until September 30, 2024. Prior to this law, DSS had no mechanism to replace stolen benefits, leaving many without essential support.
“I feel like we deserve emergency stamps at this point we need to feed our kids there’s people out here that don’t have jobs and need to feed their kids and stuff so I just feel like they need to take it more seriously.” said Williams.
A local mother of six who didn’t want to be identified told WACHFOX News, she relied heavily on snap, and now she’s having a hard time feeding her family.
“What me and my kids supposed to do for three weeks for food, you know where am I supposed to get food from? they referred me to food banks, and I was like I don’t have a car to go to food banks there’s nothing yall can do in your office and they told me no.”
According to DSS, there are a couple things you can do if your benefits have been stolen. By following these steps to report the theft. Officials say, beneficiaries could potentially receive replacement benefits.
To report theft go to the South Carolina Department of Social Services website to find detailed instructions on how to report stolen SNAP benefits. This step is crucial for initiating the process of replacing your benefits. When you report the theft, you are required to order a new EBT card. DSS will verify this when processing your affidavit. Note that if your EBT card has been replaced following a theft report, DSS will not issue another new card.
DSS Officials say, to prevent your EBT card and benefits from being stolen, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) offers the following advice:
Before using your EBT card, inspect the card reader for signs of tampering. If the reader appears loose or wobbly, do not use it. Report any suspicious devices to the store manager and consider shopping at a different location.
Update your EBT PIN at least once a month, ideally before you receive your next benefits. This reduces the risk of unauthorized access, and be wary of unsolicited calls or texts requesting your PIN or card number.
Legitimate state agencies and EBT processors will never ask for such information in this manner.
Regularly check your EBT account for any unauthorized transactions. If you notice any, immediately change your PIN to prevent further misuse and contact your local SNAP office for assistance.
This article was originally published by a abcnews4.com . Read the Original article here. .