Money is disappearing from Pennsylvania’s SNAP accounts, and officials are investigating why.
On Thursday, people reported losing hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in SNAP payments.
They apparently hear from their local PA Assistance Office that they can’t get their money back at this time and must work with their local food bank to obtain goods.
Brandon Cwalina, a representative for the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, says it takes time to determine whether a recipient’s benefits were taken. Benefit reinstatement occurs within 30 days following verification. As of June 30, 2024, he reports that the department had received 7,913 stolen benefit claim forms and verified more than 1.5 million dollars in compensation.
According to Cwalina, skimming devices are one of the most common methods of benefit theft. He advises retailers and customers to inspect point-of-sale gadgets to ensure there are no skimming accessories.
“It’s a device that goes over top of a point-of-sale machine, so when you swipe your card through it, it copies your card information, and that’s how thieves are able to steal your SNAP benefits because they’ve essentially stolen your card information,” Cwalina tells me.
A spokesperson for the Office of State Inspector General acknowledged that an investigation into the situation is ongoing.
Cwalina advises affected people to contact law enforcement and the DHS office as soon as possible. He emphasizes that individuals must report theft claims within 60 days. Forms are available both online and in local county assistance offices.
This is not the first fraud targeting SNAP consumers. In February, the Department of Human Services issued a warning about phishing email fraud aimed at obtaining personal information.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned as additional information becomes available.
