
In a recent push to support low-income New Yorkers victimized by electronic theft, Mayor Eric Adams and the Department of Social Services have successfully secured nearly $48 million for nearly 95,000 households affected by benefits theft. According to an announcement made on the city's official website, these funds replace stolen Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Cash Assistance (CA) benefits. The mayor emphasized the personal resonance of the issue, recalling his own upbringing by a single mother struggling to provide for her family.
The process of card skimming, which has been plaguing EBT card users, was outlined by the New York City Department of Social Services. Thieves copy card and PIN information using a covert skimmer, then drain the accounts of unsuspecting cardholders. "I am proud of our administration's work to connect nearly 95,000 vulnerable families with replacement money for food and daily necessities that were cruelly stolen from them," Mayor Adams stated, pointing to the city's efforts to swiftly provide much-needed relief to affected families. These misconducts underscore the continuing necessity to diligently monitor and frequently to change their PINs, as advised by city officials.
Despite the successful replacement of stolen benefits, DSS Commissioner Molly Wasow Park acknowledged the precarious circumstance confronting low-income families in light of federal authorization for SNAP benefits replacement coming to an end in December 2024. She urged Congress to take decisive action to support these vulnerable households and reauthorize replacement SNAP benefits. According to the city's announcement, the Human Resources Administration approved 120,000 skimming claims amounting to $47.7 million in replacement benefits prior to the cut-off, emphasizing the scale of the theft issue for residents reliant on these essential funds.
In light of the halted federal authorization, HRA advises New Yorkers to exercise increased caution when using their EBT cards to prevent further victimization. The use of an EBT card freeze function has been recommended, allowing cardholders to temporarily "freeze" their cards to block transactions. Nonetheless, it's crucial to recognize that this measure cannot fully prevent skimming since the theft occurs before the card is frozen - but it can stop thieves from using the stolen information. To combat theft and aid potential victims, the public is encouraged to report suspicious activities related to their EBT accounts to HRA's Fraud unit at 718-557-1399.
For those New Yorkers who need to claim for stolen SNAP or CA benefits, HRA provides several channels including online submission, through mail to the Department of Social Services, or in-person visits at SNAP or Benefits Access Centers. Victims must promptly report incidents and provide thorough documentation, as outlined in the city's announcement, to recover their lost benefits. This recovery effort highlights ongoing challenges faced by underserved communities and the critical role of vigilance and rapid response in safeguarding the well-being of those reliant on public assistance programs.