For some Butler residents, a routine grocery run turned into a crisis when government-issued EBT cards loaded with monthly SNAP benefits were suddenly wiped out after being used at the Dollar General Market on Main Street. Patricia Cornetti, who lives about two blocks away in the Terrace Apartments, said she checked her account and found her entire month of food assistance gone. Neighbors say seniors and people with disabilities who rely on the nearby store are now weighing which meals to skip while authorities sort out what happened.
Police Investigating Possible Skimming
Butler City Police say they have taken roughly a dozen reports and are investigating whether the unauthorized charges are tied to purchases at the Main Street Dollar General, according to ButlerRadio. Officers are urging anyone who shopped there within the last 48 hours to keep a close eye on their accounts and to report any suspicious activity directly to police.
Residents Describe Empty Accounts
“They drained $270 off my account,” Cornetti told Channel 11, adding that the loss left her feeling “physically and mentally sick.” Other Terrace Apartments tenants told the station they depend on the nearby store for basic groceries and are now worried they will not have enough to eat, as reported by WPXI.
Replacement Rules And Reporting Steps
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services says that because federal authorization has expired, SNAP benefits stolen after December 20, 2024, cannot be reissued through the federal program. DHS instructs affected cardholders to report suspected theft both to local law enforcement and to the Office of State Inspector General, and to request replacement EBT cards through Conduent or the ConnectEBT app. Replacement cards can be issued at no cost when electronic theft is reported, according to the PA Department of Human Services.
How To Protect Your Benefits
DHS and consumer advocates recommend using the card-lock feature in the ConnectEBT app when the card is not in use, changing the PIN regularly, and checking card readers closely before swiping. On the policy side, House Bill 1429 would require a report on moving Pennsylvania to chip-enabled access cards, a change intended to make EBT transactions harder for thieves to skim, according to the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Larger Trend And Lawmakers' Response
The Butler cases are part of a broader pattern across Pennsylvania. Local reporting and lawmakers have pointed to more than 23,000 instances of stolen EBT benefits recorded since October 2022. Advocates and officials say a mix of card-lock tools, closer inspection of payment terminals, and upgrades to payment equipment could help curb future thefts, as reported by WGAL.
Where To Get Help
Anyone who believes their SNAP benefits have been stolen is urged to file a report with local police and contact the Office of State Inspector General at 1-800-932-0582, and to call Conduent at 1-888-328-7366 to request a replacement EBT card, according to the PA Department of Human Services. Channel 11 also reported that the Butler County Assistance Office briefly had a broken card-replacement machine, though DHS said a new unit was expected, a hiccup that could affect how quickly some residents receive new cards, as reported by WPXI.
