Congress authorized temporary federal funding to replace SNAP benefits stolen through card skimming, cloning, and similar methods for theft occurring between October 1, 2022, and December 20, 2024, but that authority was not extended further, meaning benefits stolen after December 20, 2024, generally cannot be replaced using federal funds under current law as of 2026.
This guide is independently written and is not affiliated with USDA, OPM, or the official federal Feds Feed Families campaign.
The Original Law and What It Covered
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, passed in late December 2022, gave states temporary authority to use federal funds to replace SNAP benefits stolen through electronic methods including card skimming, card cloning, and phishing. Replacement was capped at the lesser of the actual amount stolen or two months of the household's benefit allotment, and limited to two replacement claims per household per federal fiscal year, meaning even during the period this authority was active, replacement was never unlimited.
Why the Deadline Moved to December 20, 2024
- The Original Law and What It Covered
- Why the Deadline Moved to December 20, 2024
- What This Means for Claims Today
- Do Any States Still Offer Replacement
- How Consumer Protection Differs From Credit and Debit Cards
- Pending Legislation to Watch
- What to Do If Your Benefits Are Stolen Now
- FAQ
- Can stolen SNAP benefits still be replaced in 2026?
- Why did federal replacement funding for stolen SNAP benefits end?
- Is there a bill in Congress that would restore SNAP theft replacement?
- What should I do if my SNAP benefits are stolen right now?
The original law covered theft through September 30, 2024, but the FY2025 Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act extended that window to December 20, 2024. All 50 states, Washington D.C., Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands had approved state plans in place to process these claims during the authorized period. The subsequent American Relief Act of 2025 did not extend this authority any further, allowing it to expire on that December 20, 2024 date.
What This Means for Claims Today
- Theft that occurred on or before December 20, 2024 may still be eligible for federal replacement, and claims for theft within that window can generally still be submitted if you haven't already filed one, subject to your state's specific process and any filing deadlines
- Theft occurring after December 20, 2024 is not eligible for federally funded replacement under current law, and claims filed for theft after this date are generally being denied
Do Any States Still Offer Replacement
A small number of states may choose to fund benefit theft replacement using their own state funds rather than relying on the now-expired federal authority, though this varies significantly and isn't guaranteed nationwide. Checking directly with your specific state SNAP agency is the only reliable way to know whether any state-funded replacement option currently exists where you live.
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How Consumer Protection Differs From Credit and Debit Cards
It's worth understanding that the federal consumer protections that limit your liability for unauthorized credit or debit card transactions do not automatically extend to EBT cards. This gap is precisely why the temporary 2022 law was created in the first place, and why its expiration in December 2024 represents a meaningful reduction in protection for SNAP households compared to the two-plus years the program was active.
Pending Legislation to Watch
The Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act, reintroduced in the Senate in 2025, would require full replacement of stolen benefits and remove some of the caps that existed under the original expired law, but as of mid-2026, this bill had not passed and been signed into law. Separately, the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act, aimed at mandating more secure chip-enabled EBT cards nationwide, had also been reintroduced but not yet passed as of mid-2026. Because this is an active area of legislation, checking your state SNAP agency's website periodically for updates is worth doing if this issue affects you directly.
What to Do If Your Benefits Are Stolen Now
Even without guaranteed federal replacement, taking immediate action still matters: lock your card through your state's EBT app, contact your state's EBT customer service line to report the theft and request a new card, and consider filing a police report, since some states may still require or benefit from documentation if a state-funded replacement option or future legislation changes the landscape.
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FAQ
Can stolen SNAP benefits still be replaced in 2026?
Federal funding for replacement expired for theft occurring after December 20, 2024. Theft on or before that date may still be eligible under the original authorized window, but theft after it generally cannot be replaced with federal funds under current law.
Why did federal replacement funding for stolen SNAP benefits end?
The temporary authority created by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 was extended once through December 20, 2024, but the subsequent American Relief Act of 2025 did not extend it further, allowing it to expire.
Is there a bill in Congress that would restore SNAP theft replacement?
Yes, the Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act was reintroduced in 2025 and would require full replacement, but as of mid-2026, it had not been signed into law.
What should I do if my SNAP benefits are stolen right now?
Lock your card through your state's EBT app immediately, contact your state's EBT customer service line to report the theft and get a new card, and consider filing a police report in case a state-funded option or future legislation applies.
Sources: USDA Food and Nutrition Administration, Congressional Research Service, FindLaw, Congress.gov.