Federal, state program helps Arkansans who had their SNAP benefits lost due to scam

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas Department of Human Services has opened a temporary program for people who have lost Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to scams.

DHS announced Monday that the program would run through Nov. 27  and only apply to recipients scammed via cloning or skimming of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards between Oct. 1, 2022, and Sept. 30.

Skimming refers to thieves attaching a device to a point-of-sale card scanner and stealing the information from a card. Cloning refers to copying stolen card information onto a new card, which is used to steal the benefits.

DHS officials said the program would refund those who were scammed under a newly enacted federal program. A DHS eligibility worker will verify and confirm the theft and reinstate stolen benefits.

A DHS representative said the agency has received 296 reports of theft, but there may be additional cases.

DHS administrators remind SNAP recipients about the importance of keeping their SNAP account secure and not using easy-to-guess PIN such as 1-2-3-4 or 2-2-2-2. Customers can reset their PIN by calling the EBT customer service line at 1-800-997-9999 and following the prompts.

Recipients who feel they have been affected should download and complete a Declaration of Stolen Benefits form and email it to 471Mississippi11@arkansas.gov or mail it to DHS, P.O. Box 2630 Blytheville, AR 72315-2802. They may also return the form to their local DHS county office.

SNAP provides food assistance to eligible households to cover a portion of a household’s food budget, and benefits are distributed through an EBT card. SNAP benefits are used to buy eligible food items for the home. Additional information about the program is available at HumanServices.Arkansas.gov/u/SNAP .

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