RICHMOND, VA The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) was approved by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service to replace certain Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits stolen from clients’ Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT).
Virginia can use federal funding to replace certain SNAP benefits stolen between Oct. 1, 2022 and Sept. 30, 2024 through card cloning, skimming and other fraudulent methods. Eligible SNAP benefits may also include Disaster SNAP and emergency allotments.
VDSS urges SNAP customers to take preventive measures to protect their funds, whenever possible. This includes changing their card PIN often, examining card swiping devices for any signs of tampering, and not responding to unsolicited texts, emails or phone calls concerning their EBT account. VDSS has a dedicated webpage with more information on how customers can help protect themselves from EBT scams.
Virginia households that become victim to EBT scams should contact their local department of social services and fill out all required paperwork within 30 days of discovering that benefits were stolen. Upon validation of the claim, replacement funds will be issued within 10 days of the reported loss. Households are limited to two replacement issuances for stolen benefits in the federal fiscal year.
Visit www.dss.virginia.gov/EBTscam to access the funds replacement form and find more information about SNAP replacement funding.
