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How to recover your stolen SNAP benefits in PA

How to replace your stolen food stamps in Pennsylvania (logos of Greater Philadlephia Coalition Against Hunger and Just Harvest)If you had your SNAP benefits stolen through a scam or card skimming sometime since October 1, 2022, you can file to have your food stamps replaced.

Note: The information on this page is for Pennsylvania residents only.

Laws that protect credit and debit card users from fraudulent charges do not protect EBT cards. Over the last two years, criminals have stolen millions of dollars worth of SNAP recipients’ benefits across the nation. They have done this through card skimming machines, scam text messages, or other phishing schemes to gain access to the victim’s EBT card number and PIN.

Congress passed legislation in December 2022 to allow states to replace benefits that:

  • were stolen through phishing, skimming or other scams AND
  • were stolen between October 1, 2022 and December 20, 2024.

If you had a charge to your SNAP card that was not made by you or someone in your family:

  1. change your PIN number right away to prevent future theft by calling the EBT hotline on the back of your card, AND
  2. report the stolen benefits to the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services by one of the following methods: 

Deadlines to file for benefit replacement: 

You have 60 calendar days from the date of the first theft to report the theft to the Dept. of Human Services.  There are a number of ways to report the theft (see #2 in the section just above). If you call to report your stolen benefits, you must then submit the claim form within 30 days of your call or your benefits cannot be replaced. When mailing that form, make sure to leave enough time for it to arrive within 30 days!

What will happen when I file my claim?

First, the Dept. of Human Services will cancel out your current EBT card and send you a new one that you will need to set a new PIN for. If you need your new card right away, you can pick up your replacement card in person at the County Assistance Office. You should use a different PIN on your new card than your previous one.

Your claim will be sent to an investigation team in Harrisburg. The Dept. of Human Services will take up to 30 days to investigate your claim. They will then mail you a notice telling you if they approved or denied your claim. 

  • If approved, you should have your benefits within 10 days from the day of approval (at most, 40 days from the day you filed your claim).
  • If denied, you will have the right to file an appeal. 

How to Protect Your Benefits

These general tips can help you with keeping your benefits safe:

  • Keep the SNAP EBT PIN a secret. Do not share your PIN with anyone outside your household. Cover the keypad when you enter your PIN on a machine.
  • Check the SNAP EBT account regularly for unauthorized charges. If you see an unauthorized charge, change your EBT PIN immediately to stop the thief from making any new purchases. When you change the PIN this will restrict anyone attempting to gain access to the EBT account via a duplicate card.
  • Check card reading machines to make sure there’s nothing suspicious attached to the card swiper or keypad. Skimming devices are difficult to detect. They are often just slightly bigger than the original machine and may cover parts of the machine, such as the pen holder. They can also make the keypad or other parts feel flimsy or loose.

Be suspicious of any text messages that suggest that your benefits have stopped or that your card has been deactivated.

  • PA Dept. of Human Services does send text messages, but they always come from their phone number: 1-833-648-1964.  Their text messages are never very specific, and will often refer you to check for notices on COMPASS. Text messages that appear to come from an email address are scams. 
  • Never enter your EBT card number or PIN when calling any phone number other than the EBT hotline, 1-888-EBT-PENN (1-888-328-7366). This number is on the back of your EBT card. You can also access your EBT balance using the MY COMPASS PA mobile app. 
  • When in doubt about the status of your benefits, call the customer service center at 1-877-395-8930. If you are in Philadelphia, call 215-560-7226. 
  • Please report text messaging scams to the PA Dept. of Human Services fraud tip line: 1-844-DHS-TIPS (1-844-347-8477)
  • Read more about known scams on this DHS webpage. 

How can I check my transaction history?

You can hear a listing of your last ten transactions by calling the EBT Hotline, 1-888-EBT-PENN (1-888-328-7366).

You can use any of these trusted online sources for viewing more of your transaction history:

FAQ:

Will the Dept. of Human Services replace all of my stolen benefits?

According to federal rules, the maximum amount you can receive in a single reimbursement is up to two times the amount of your regular monthly SNAP benefit, even if the amount that was stolen is greater. You can only receive two reimbursements in a federal fiscal year (every federal fiscal year is October 1st – September 30th). 

One reimbursement can cover more than one fraudulent charge.

What about stolen SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) benefits?

Sadly, federal rules do not cover stolen SUN Bucks.

Do I have to file a police report to have my stolen benefits replaced?

No, you do not have to file a police report to be eligible to get replacement EBT benefits. However, the PA Department of Human Services is encouraging people to file a police report because it may help them find and prosecute whoever stole from your EBT card.

Will my benefits be replaced if they were stolen by a close relative, friend, or someone else with whom I shared my EBT card?

Anyone who believes that food and/or cash benefits were stolen from their EBT card is encouraged to request the replacement of stolen benefits using the Dept. of Human Services’s form.  However, the state will not replace benefits stolen by someone who physically has your card and knows your PIN.

How will I receive my benefits if the Dept. of Human Services approves my claim?

If you are eligible for reimbursement, the state will issue you a new EBT card with your replacement benefits after the reported theft. 

What happens after December 20, 2024?

SNAP benefits, and EBT cards in general, do not have the legal consumer protections in place that credit cards and debit cards do. When SNAP benefits theft became more common, Congress passed legislation allowing recipients to reclaim stolen benefits. But they only meant this as a stopgap measure while they work on a more permanent solution to protect SNAP recipients. This temporary measure expires December 20, 2024. Unless Congress acts, benefits stolen after that date will not be able to be replaced.

Congress is currently debating SNAP rules in the Farm Bill, which was due in 2023. Part of that discussion should include how to strengthen the security of EBT cards. You can contact your member of Congress to tell them your priorities for improving the SNAP program and that protecting SNAP recipients from theft matters to you.

Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger logoThis information was compiled by Just Harvest and the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger.
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