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Tag: EBT

  • OR Department of Justice Issues Consumer Alert Over EBT Card Skimming In Coos Bay – KXL

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    Acquired Through MGN Online on 08/30/2010

    SALEM, OR – On Thursday, November 13, Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield issued a consumer alert following reports of widespread theft of Electronic Benefit Transfer card funds in the Coos Bay area.

    Coos Bay police say since November 8th, they have received reports from 41 residents whose SNAP benefits were stolen and fraudulently spent outside of Oregon.

    “On the heels of a federal administration that’s already been willing to strip food assistance from working families, we’re now seeing criminals steal what little support people have left,” said Rayfield. “It’s outrageous. Oregonians went without benefits for far too long, and to have those dollars stolen the moment they hit someone’s card is unconscionable. These scammers are preying on the most vulnerable people in our communities — it’s like yanking groceries out of someone’s hands at the checkout.”

    The Oregon Department of Justice noted an increase in the skimming devices being found in recent months around the state.  Those devices are used to drain EBT benefits from accounts. Investigators say suspects will install a small device or overlay on a store point of sale machine or card reader that captures magnetic stripe data and the PIN when an EBT card is swiped. With that data and PIN, thieves can clone cards and make remote purchases, often using SNAP benefits at stores in other states, before victims notice their benefits are wiped out.

    The Oregon Department of Human Services is urging EBT cardholders to take immediate steps to protect their accounts and to report suspicious activity.

    They offer the following tips:

    • Only use the official ebtEDGE website and mobile app for Apple or Android. ODHS does not guarantee the safety of any other EBT management apps or websites.
    • Check card readers. Avoid using machines that look tampered with or loose.
    • Keep your PIN private. Don’t share or write it down; cover the keypad when entering it.
    • Change your PIN often. Call 888-997-4447, log in to ebtEDGE, or visit an ODHS office.
    • Monitor your account. Report unauthorized charges and request a replacement card at 1-855-328-6715 or through ODHS
      • Freeze your card when not in use. Do this through ebtEDGE under “Account Services.”
      • Block risky purchases. Limit out-of-state and online transactions in ebtEDGE under “Protect My Account.”
      • Ignore scams. ODHS will never ask for your card number or PIN by text or social media.

    For detailed instructions, including a video and step-by-step guide on how to secure your EBT card, visit Oregon Department of Human Services: Protect Your EBT Card and Benefits

    “Reporting these thefts helps us identify patterns and work with law enforcement to stop them,” said Rayfield. “The faster people speak up, the better chance we have to limit the damage and protect others.”

    Officials say if you believe you are a victim of EBT fraud, you should contact the ODOJ Consumer Hotline at 1-877-877-9392.

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    Tim Lantz

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  • Colorado Department of Human Services receives federal guidance to issue partial SNAP benefits

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    DENVER — The Trump administration is supposed to start rolling out partial SNAP benefits Wednesday. This is a significant development for the roughly 600,000 Coloradans that rely on this assistance to buy food.

    The money normally allocated for SNAP is frozen right now during the federal government shutdown as Congress fails to reach a deal on the national budget.

    Families stretching every dollar at grocery stores and relying on food banks won’t see an end to that struggle immediately because it could still take some time before these partial SNAP benefits reach them.

    The Colorado Department of Human Services received federal guidance to issue the partial assistance and is making technical system updates with its EBT processor to distribute funds as quickly as possible.

    CDHS receives federal guidance to issue partial SNAP benefits

    Denver7 spoke with Jefferson County nonprofit The Action Center. The group said families are stressed, confused, and facing a ripple effect that could last for months.

    “It’s going to be half the amount that they normally get. We’ll see that ripple effect with need for families into December, into January, and long term, where they’ve had to make really, really hard decisions, and how it’s going to affect their financial well being in months to come,” Sunny Garcia with the Action Center said.

    What Garcia is talking about is roughly $4.6 billion being released in emergency funds, which is only half of what’s usually given out. That in itself could cause confusion.

    “The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has not designated specific dollars per state,” the Colorado Department of Human Services said. “The compliance ruling cites that the contingency fund will be obligated to “cover 50% of eligible households’ current allotments.”

    States will now recalculate benefits based on new maximum allotments, but families shouldn’t expect to receive half of their usual SNAP benefits for November.

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    Sophia Villalba

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  • SNAP shutdown triggers emergency response across DC region – WTOP News

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    The D.C. region is trying to get ahead of the expected loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding this weekend due to the government shutdown.

    The D.C. region is trying to get ahead of the expected loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding this weekend due to the government shutdown.

    Funding for SNAP recipients runs out Saturday, so Maryland and Virginia have declared states of emergency. And as D.C. awaits news on lawsuits aimed at keeping the funding flowing, it’s turning to its backup plan to support its recipients of the program.

    Virginia

    In Virginia, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced, starting Saturday, the state will launch the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance initiative to fill the funding gap.

    “It is an extraordinary step for Virginia to provide food benefits in seven-day increments in November, but we must do so because Congressional Democrats are putting politics above people,” Youngkin said earlier this week.

    Under the program, people receiving SNAP as of Oct. 29 will automatically get Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance payments added to their existing EBT cards. Instead of receiving their full monthly benefit at once, recipients will get smaller payments every week in November.

    Youngkin said the program is funded by Virginia’s budget surplus and will continue through November, unless the federal government reopens and SNAP resumes.

    Maryland

    In Maryland, Democratic Gov. Wes Moore announced Thursday that a state of emergency will bring $10 million to the state’s food banks to help those in need. However, he has not committed to continuing SNAP payments on EBT cards.

    “There is no state that has the resources or the balance sheet to make up for when the federal government decides that they are no longer going to provide something that they are legally obligated to provide,” Moore said on Thursday.

    The governor also said the state’s rainy-day fund would not be used to supplement the SNAP program due to concerns about reimbursement.

    “I have no belief that the federal government is going to reimburse anybody for anything. I have no belief that the federal government is going to honor its promises,” Moore said.

    Counties and cities in Maryland have also announced plans to help residents through the funding gap.

    In Montgomery County, Council President Kate Stewart announced a $7.75 million support package. It includes $3.5 million in extra food assistance, $1.5 million in grants for nonprofits affected by canceled federal contracts, $750,000 for nonprofit capacity building, $1 million for short-term housing support, $500,000 for the Montgomery County Pride Center and $500,000 for economic development.

    The package will be formally introduced on Tuesday, with a public hearing scheduled Nov. 18.

    Despite the emergency funds, Stewart acknowledged the limitations.

    “We will not be able to replace all the funds that have been lost because of federal administrative policies,” she said.

    Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy’s office said the county plans to release more details on how the county is responding on Friday.

    ​The Bowie Interfaith Pantry and Emergency Fund provides prepackaged bags of food to approved area residents, and food assistance and emergency financial aid to other residents. Other local food banks are also providing services and aid.

    DC

    D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said as the city follows a lawsuit that Attorney General Brian Schwalb, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown and other states joined, the city is turning to its backup plan.

    Bowser said she has authorized the use of local funds to ensure residents on SNAP and WIC receive their November benefits. Bowser said about 85,000 households in D.C. receive SNAP, and more than 12,500 residents benefit from WIC. The city will use $29 million from its contingency cash reserve for SNAP and $1.5 million for WIC, including direct benefits and support services.

    “We were hopeful it wouldn’t come to this — and we still need the federal government to reopen as soon as possible — but for right now, we’re moving forward to ensure we take care of D.C. residents in November,” Bowser said in a news release.

    As for the lawsuit, a federal judge in Massachusetts heard arguments Thursday but at the time did not make a decision on whether to sign off on a temporary restraining order that would force the federal government to continue to fund SNAP.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Mike Murillo

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  • Why Maryland is spending $38M to update food and housing benefits cards – WTOP News

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    Maryland is shifting to EBT cards that have chip technology instead of the magnetic strip feature that has proven vulnerable to criminals.

    Since 2023, Maryland has lost $43 million to criminals who exploited the weaknesses in the EBT cards the state issued to families in need. Those cards provided funds under programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families.

    “We are desperately trying to move to modernize the technology to make sure that these cards are protected,” Maryland Secretary of Human Services Rafael López told WTOP.

    In order to prevent future theft and fraud, López said the state’s shifting to EBT cards that have chip technology instead of the magnetic strip feature that has proven vulnerable to criminals.

    On Wednesday, DHS got approval from the Maryland Board of Public Works to contract with Fidelity Information Services of Milwaukee to shift to the new cards.

    “And FIS will be our new partner that transitions in, to make sure we have chip technology available to all Marylanders on July 1 of 2026,” López said.

    That contract spans from November of this year to June of 2031, according to López.

    The change is critical, he said, especially at a time when so many families are reliant on the benefits provided by EBT cards.

    “We have just upwards of 943,000 Marylanders who use these cards,” he said.

    Nearly 700,000 of those cardholders use them to access food through SNAP — the same program that could run out Nov. 1 unless the government shutdown ends.

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    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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    Kate Ryan

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  • Florida groups call on state to apply for 2025 summer kids food program

    Florida groups call on state to apply for 2025 summer kids food program

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    ORLANDO, Fla. – Groups across Florida are hoping the state will apply for next year’s summer federal food assistance program ahead of the upcoming deadline.

    The program, known as SUN Bucks provides eligible families $120 per child for food during summer break.

    Deputy Under Secretary for the United States Department of Agriculture, Cindy Long, said they are big believers in SUN Bucks.

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    “It provides the families of children with free or reduced prices, eligible students with a grocery card with benefits that they can use at the store to buy food help make up for those meals their kids aren’t receiving at school,” Long said.

    For 2024, 35 states, all five U.S. territories and four tribes opted into the Summer EBT Program.

    Florida is one of 14 states that chose not to participate in 2024.

    News 6 reached out to ask why Florida did not apply for the 2024 year. The Florida Department of Children and Families sent a response which said:

    “As a state, we are dedicated to making sure children have access to nutritious meals. This takes a whole of government approach that includes free and reduced lunch programs at school, providing SNAP benefits to families who qualify, and through summer break spot programs administered by FDACS. Over the past ten years, these programs have been remarkably successful. We anticipate that our state’s full approach to serving children will continue to be successful this year without any additional federal programs that inherently always come with some federal strings attached.”

    Florida Department of Children and Families

    The deadline is approaching to apply for the program in 2025 and organizations across the state are calling on Governor Ron DeSantis and state legislatures to do so.

    “This program’s a real game changer when it comes to having all the tools in the toolbox for tackling child hunger over the really important summer months,” said Director of No Kid Hungry Florida, Sky Beard. “We had at No Kid Hungry as well as other partners a number of conversations with the folks in the Governor’s office, with House and Senate staff, and I have to say all of those conversations have been very promising.”

    [RELATED: Here’s a round-up of free and reduced meals being offered at Central Florida school districts]

    According to No Kid Hungry Florida, the program would benefit an estimated 2,158,000 eligible kids.

    The benefits of the program are covered 100% by the USDA. But, Florida would need to split the cost of the administrative side of the program with the federal government. No Kid Hungry said it would cost the state an estimated $12.5 million for the administrative costs.

    No Kid Hungry is one of several organizations in Florida that supports the SUN Bucks program.

    The Audubon Park Covenant Church signed its name at the bottom of the letter of support for the program sent to state leaders back in May.

    Pastor Sarah Robinson said it was heartbreaking when the state did not apply for the program for 2024.

    “We know on the ground that the demand is so much higher than it has been for food banks and for families who just need to make ends meet,” Robinson said.

    Robinson said the extra money would help families during the summer.

    “That can be just that little extra that helps make sure they can make it to the end of the month and provide you know young kids, growing minds, growing bodies, futures you people to fill these important jobs and roles, to make sure they have what they need to keep growing healthy,” Robinson said.

    According to the USDA, the state would have to send a preliminary plan of operation by August 15.

    However, Long said that plan does not have to be perfect, and they would be able to work with any state to help them get to a finalized plan.

    “It really serves as much as an indication of intent to operate the program and kicks off that process of us working,” Long said.

    News 6 reached out to officials to see if Florida plans on applying for the 2025 benefits, so far we have not heard back.

    You can listen to every episode of Florida’s Fourth Estate in the media player below:

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    Emily McLeod

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