Sunsetting of the Stolen SNAP Benefit Replacement Program

SNAP customers whose benefits were stolen on or before Dec. 20, 2024, can request replacement of those benefits within 30 days of realizing their benefits were stolen.  SNAP benefits stolen on or after Dec. 21, 2024, are not eligible for replacement.

In late December 2022, Congress passed a law to protect and replace SNAP benefits stolen via card skimming, card cloning, and other similar fraud. The law required states to replace such benefits that were stolen between Oct. 1, 2022, and Sept. 30, 2024. The Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 revised the end date of the benefit theft period from Sept. 30, 2024, to Dec. 20, 2024. The American Relief Act, 2025 did not extend this authority for benefits stolen beyond Dec. 20, 2024. This was a federally instituted and funded program that the previous Congress opted to no longer fund, making SNAP benefits stolen on or after Dec. 21, 2024, ineligible for replacement.    

The state has no further recourse with the end of this federal program. This was a federally instituted and funded program that the previous Congress opted to no longer fund, making SNAP benefits stolen on or after Dec. 21, 2024, ineligible for replacement.  

• Request appears fraudulent (e.g., requesting for EBT fraud loss replacement for months that benefits were not issued)
• Request is invalid (incomplete affidavit)
• Beneficiary failed to provide verification (affidavit)
• If the request is from a beneficiary that has met the two-replacement limit in one Federal Fiscal Year (October-September)
• Request is submitted untimely. For example: the request is outside of the allowable timeline (10/01/22 to 12/20/24) or is being requested for benefits stolen more than 30 days prior to affidavit submission. 

You can change your PIN by logging into your online account at connectebt.com/ebtconnect/recipient/GA. You can also call 1-888-421-3281 and follow the prompts to change your PIN. 

Georgians who think they’ve been the victim of card skimming, card cloning, or other similar fraud involving their public benefits should lock or replace their card immediately and then report the incident to the DHS Office of Inspector General at [email protected] or 877-423-4746, option 6. If you have lost money or believe you have been a victim of identity theft, please file a police report with your local law enforcement agency. 

Thieves place an illegal device on a retailer’s card-swiping machine to copy EBT card information. This is called card skimming. Criminals can then use the information to make fake EBT cards. This is called card cloning. Thieves use the fake cards to purchase food and beverages from SNAP-authorized stores using stolen SNAP benefits. Card skimming can also happen to people using a magnetic stripe to make purchases with a credit or debit card. Customers should use caution when using their EBT card for online purchases.