MENG, LAWLER, & FETTERMAN INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN BILL TO RETURN STOLEN SNAP BENEFITS

 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Reps. Grace Meng (D-NY) and Mike Lawler (R-NY), along with U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA), introduced the Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act, a bipartisan bill to make sure that people don’t go hungry if criminals and fraudsters steal their SNAP benefits. This legislation would allow state SNAP agencies to reimburse SNAP recipients for benefits stolen through skimming or other methods. 

Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service, SNAP provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency.

Over the past few years, several states, including New York, have reported an increase of SNAP benefits being stolen due to skimming scams. Scammers have stolen millions of dollars from SNAP beneficiaries in New York, which has been affected by skimming more than any other state.

“SNAP is a lifeline for thousands of New Yorkers,” said Congresswoman Meng. “Stealing these benefits from hungry families is unconscionable. That’s why I have fought to help nearly 85,000 New Yorkers recover more than $39.9 million in SNAP benefits. However, beneficiaries in Queens and communities across the country continue to be targeted by scammers looking to steal their benefits. Since 2022, Congress has made sure that victims of this crime don’t go hungry. However, late last year, Congress failed to extend this provision. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan, bicameral bill to ensure that no one who relies on SNAP to put food on the table goes hungry because their benefits were stolen by bad faith actors.”

“No family in America should go hungry because criminals are stealing their SNAP benefits through skimming,” said Congressman Lawler. “This bipartisan bill will give states the tools needed to make victims whole and ensures tax dollars support hardworking families, not thieves.”

“SNAP is a critical lifeline for millions of Pennsylvanians. It is despicable that thieves are targeting hungry families, literally taking food from a baby’s mouth,” said Senator Fetterman. “We can’t let vulnerable children go hungry because of these criminals. I’m committed to doing everything in my power to protect and extend SNAP benefits. We need to make sure American families get fed – this bill is a critical step in doing just that.”

Skimming is a form of fraud that uses illegal devices attached to card processing machines to collect individuals’ data. Skimming scams directly copy card and personal identification number (PIN) information from EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) cardholders and then use this stolen data to access EBT accounts and spend SNAP and cash benefits. While victims of credit, debit, and pre-paid card fraud and unauthorized transactions are protected by federal regulations, SNAP EBT beneficiaries do not have the same protections.  Additionally, SNAP benefit theft can occur through identity theft and hacking.

Current law only allows replacement of benefits stolen between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2024. It also limits replacement to either 1) the full amount stolen or 2) two months of benefits, whichever is less. The Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act would permanently extend this provision to ensure state agencies continue to replace benefits, as well as lift the cap on repayment to ensure the replacement is for the full amount stolen. States are currently not permitted to use federal funds to replace stolen benefits after Congress allowed the authority to lapse late last year.

Meng, Lawler, and Fetterman introduced this bicameral bill with Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Peter Welch (D-VT).

The full text of this legislation can be viewed here.