Policy Memo (161.36 KB)
| DATE: | December 23, 2024 |
| SUBJECT: | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – Sunset of Replacement of Stolen Benefits Plans |
| TO: | All SNAP State Agencies All Regions |
On Dec. 29, 2022, President Joseph R. Biden signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (the Omnibus, PL 117-328). The Omnibus included provisions for the replacement of SNAP benefits stolen via card skimming, card cloning, and other similar fraudulent methods between Oct. 1, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2024, using federal funds. This authority was extended through Dec. 20, 2024, by the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (PL 118-83). State SNAP agencies were directed to submit plans for the replacement of stolen benefits to the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), which were then reviewed and approved by FNS.
On Dec. 21, 2024, President Joseph R. Biden signed into law the American Relief Act, 2025 (PL 118-158). The American Relief Act, 2025, is absent of an extension in authority for the replacement of SNAP benefits stolen via card skimming, card cloning, and other similar fraudulent methods. Thus, SNAP benefits that are stolen on or after Dec. 21, 2024, are not eligible for replacement using federal funds. SNAP state agencies can choose to replace stolen benefits using state funds. There is no guarantee that state-funded replacements would be retroactively reimbursed with federal funds.
FNS encourages states to notify all SNAP households of the end of the federal replacements program. This notification should be presented along with information to help households protect their benefits from fraud. Please review the FNS website for tips and resources about helping to prevent benefit theft. We also draw your attention to the letter FNS sent to state agencies on Oct. 28, 2024, sharing information about transitioning to SNAP EBT chip cards, which has proven an effective method to safeguard card usage from theft and fraud in the credit and debit industry.
Households can submit claims for replacement to SNAP state agencies after Dec. 20, 2024, for benefits stolen between Oct. 1, 2022, and Dec. 20, 2024. States should replace benefits so long as the claim meets all the requirements in the approved state plan (e.g., timely submission, validation criteria, no more than two replacements in each federal fiscal year). Additionally, states must continue to submit data reports to FNS for all replacement issuances using federal funds.
State agencies with questions should contact their respective FNS regional office representatives.
Cathy Buhrig
Associate Administrator
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program