How To Protect Your SNAP Benefits and Prevent Fraud

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If you use or are thinking of applying for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), hold on to your hats as House Republicans are working on making that application all the more difficult. Their proposal aims to shift costs to states, expand work requirements and curb future benefit increases. This aligns with Trump’s megabill focusing on a broader potential overhaul.

The plan would introduce cost-sharing requirements for states and expand eligibility for work mandates, including for parents with school-age children. This could impact millions of low-income Americans, but as the bill hasn’t gone through yet, you’ll still need to get your card and protect your benefits all the same. 

Known as Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, SNAP debit cards can be used in all 50 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia. However, as an EBT is a debit card, you have to safeguard it, as someone else may be able to use your benefits if your card is lost or stolen. Here are some suggestions for how to protect your SNAP benefits, along with steps you should take if your card goes missing. 

Protecting Your Information

Your EBT card comes protected with a personal identification number (PIN) code that should be known only to you. As this PIN code has the power to unlock all of the benefits on the card, you should take extra steps to ensure that no one ever learns your PIN. 

Never share your PIN with anyone else, and if you think someone has access to your PIN, or if you inadvertently handed that information out to a third party, you should contact your local state agency or call your state’s EBT customer service line immediately to change your PIN.

Just as with any of your other debit cards, you should also make sure to keep a careful eye on your EBT card to avoid card skimming scams or someone else attaining your personal information. Never leave it in your car or anywhere out of your physical control while you are outside, and don’t leave it lying around your house unattended either. In other words, handle your EBT card the same way that you would cash. 

What To Do If Your Card Is Lost or Stolen

If your EBT card is lost or stolen, your SNAP benefits are subject to loss. That’s why it’s important to spring into action the moment that you think your card may be misplaced. 

While every state might have a slightly different process, so that you have an example of how things might go, here are the steps you should take if you think that your California EBT card was lost or stolen, according to the California Department of Social Services:

• Call customer service right away at 877-328-9677.
• Wait through two card number prompts without entering your EBT card number. 
• You will hear a prompt to report your card as lost or stolen.
• Once reported, your EBT card is disabled and you are told how to get a new card.
• Similarly, if your EBT card is damaged and it does not work (cannot be read) at retail or ATM locations, you should request a replacement EBT card as soon as possible.

If an unauthorized person with your PIN takes your benefits, they may not be replaced. This is why it is critical to notify your state as soon as possible.

Final Take To GO

The bottom line is that once you’ve determined eligibility for SNAP and received your card, you’ll next want to take steps to make sure you’re protecting yourself from fraud. If you’re drawing SNAP benefits, they’re likely an important lifeline for you and your family. Keeping those benefits safe should be your top priority. 

Never leave your EBT card unattended, and keep your personal information, including your PIN code, to yourself. If your card is lost or stolen, the faster you can take action the more likely you’ll be able to protect your benefits. 

Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.

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