NJ Human Services Announces Replacement Plan for Stolen Food & Cash Assistance Benefits

Beneficiaries of SNAP, TANF & GA programs who were victims of electronic theft can now request reimbursement for benefits stolen on or after Oct. 1, 2022.

The Department of Human Services in New Jersey has declared its plan to replace food and cash assistance benefits stolen through electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card scams such as skimming. 

This comes following federal approval of the scheme aimed to assist households that participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, and the General Assistance (GA) program.

The initiative allows these households to request reimbursement for benefits stolen on or after October 1, 2022.

The U.S. Congress had passed a law in December 2022 to replace SNAP benefits stolen through such schemes, amidst rising reports of benefit theft nationwide. 

This law enables states to utilize federal funds to replace benefits stolen electronically between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2024. Prior to this law, states had no authority to replace stolen benefits from a SNAP household.

In late May, New Jersey received federal approval to implement this reimbursement scheme. Furthermore, the state's FY2024 budget extends the same protection to TANF and GA public assistance programs, which also employ the EBT system.

Beneficiaries of SNAP, TANF, and GA programs who have been victims of such electronic thefts can apply for replacement benefits by submitting a Request for Replacement form. This form is available online at www.NJSNAP.gov, and can be mailed or submitted in-person to the County Board of Social Services.

The state may reimburse lost benefits retroactively to October 1, 2022. Beneficiaries who had their EBT card benefits stolen before July 1, 2023, will have until August 30, 2023, to submit a request for reimbursement. For those whose benefits are stolen after July 1, 2023, they will have 30 days from the date of discovery of theft to submit a request.

The Department urges cardholders to protect their benefits and personal information. Measures include not sharing the PIN, checking card reading machines for suspicious attachments, checking the EBT account regularly for unauthorized charges, and not giving the card to anyone outside the household.

The Department also issued a warning against scams pretending to be official communications related to these benefits. They emphasized that the state or county agencies will never ask for EBT card numbers, PINs, or any other sensitive information through text messages. 

If unsure about the legitimacy of any communication received concerning food or cash assistance benefits, beneficiaries are encouraged to contact their local County Board of Social Services for verification.