Massachusetts SNAP Recipients Lost $10M to Theft Since 2022

Congress concluded business on December 21, 2024, in time to get out of Dodge for the holidays by agreeing to a Continuing Resolution that keeps the government funded through March 2025.

The spending bill was considerably smaller than many lawmakers had hoped for, and dozens of items were left to be considered another day. Among them was a federal mandate that dealt with stolen SNAP benefits.

The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute says, "In December 2022, Congress directed states to replace most stolen SNAP with federal funds."

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"Since then, the Massachusetts SNAP agency, the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), has issued approximately $10 million in federal dollars to replace stolen SNAP for about 21,000 households," according to the MLRI.

The mandate to replace stolen SNAP benefits expired on December 21, 2024. Lawmakers did not renew the mandate as part of the Continuing Resolution.

The federal government will not replace SNAP benefits stolen on or after December 21, 2024.

Springfield television station WWLP-22 reported, "1,317 DTA clients reported that their benefits were stolen in December 2024."

"This is below the average of 1,700 a month," according to the station. The DTA has been working to bring the theft rate down.

The DTA website says, "Preventing fraud, waste, and abuse is a top priority" of the Department of Transitional Assistance to ensure that every SNAP and economic assistance dollar goes to individuals and families who need it."

The DTA urges recipients whose benefits are stolen to submit a report. The website explains how to lock and unlock your EBT card and suggests you change your EBT Card PIN often.

WWLP says, "In most cases, (EBT) information was stolen through skimming."

Approximately 1.1 million people receive SNAP benefits statewide.