ATLANTA — Georgia SNAP recipients who believe their benefits have been stolen now have a way to get that money back, according to the Georgia Department of Human Services. But take note, there are important deadlines to meet.
“Our team worked quickly to develop and implement a SNAP benefit replacement process to provide much needed relief to Georgians who have been defrauded by bad actors,” said DHS Commissioner Candice Broce, in a press release posted on Georgia DHS' website. “As we begin to receive and review benefit replacement requests, we will continue to educate our clients on best practices to protect their SNAP benefits, such as shielding the PIN pad, changing their PIN numbers frequently, and checking their EBT accounts regularly.”
According to the agency, SNAP recipients who believe their funds have been stolen due to card skimming, card cloning or similar fraud need to request a new EBT card and pin which can be done so by calling 1-888-421-3281. A "Request for Replacement" form must also be completed and submitted to DFCS.
The rollout of Georgia's plan follows concerns of fraud happening across the country.
Under the federal spending law passed in December of 2022, SNAP recipients who had benefits stolen from Oct. 1, 2022 to September 30, 2024 can apply to be reimbursed for up two months of payments, twice yearly.
There are deadlines for the new plan, according to the state's website.
"Any Georgian who believes their SNAP benefits were stolen between October 1, 2022, and October 18, 2023, has until November 18, 2023, to request a benefit replacement," GA DHS stated. "Starting October 18, 2023, SNAP recipients must report stolen benefits within 30 days of discovering the suspected fraud to potentially receive a benefit replacement. Please note, the replacement amount will not exceed the amount of the stolen benefits or the amount equal to two months of the household’s SNAP benefits, whichever is less."
Georgians who believe they are victims of fraud can also contact the DHS Office of Inspector General at 844-694-2347 or email the office here.
To help prevent card skimming, the USDA recommends the following:
- Keep your PIN and card number secret. Do not share your PIN or card number with anyone outside your household. Cover the keypad when you enter your PIN on a machine.
- Beware of Phishing: EBT processors will not call or text you to ask for your PIN or card number.
- Change your PIN often. Change your PIN at least once a month, ideally right before your benefit issuance date.
- Check your EBT account regularly for unauthorized charges. If you notice any, change your PIN immediately to stop the thief from making any new purchases. Report any suspicious activity to your local SNAP office.
- If you believe you are the victim of card skimming and SNAP benefits were stolen from your EBT card, contact your local SNAP office.