Georgia's SNAP Fraud Relief Program: A Guide to Recovering Stolen Electronic Benefits

Electronic benefits fraud has become a pervasive challenge for food assistance recipients across the United States. In response to widespread incidents of card skimming and cloning affecting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries, Georgia took decisive action to help fraud victims recover their stolen benefits through a federally approved relief initiative.

The Scale of EBT Fraud and Georgia’s Response

The problem of electronic benefits theft is staggering. According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, EBT fraud costs American taxpayers approximately $4.7 billion annually—a figure authorities have characterized as a “criminal epidemic.” Digital payment systems, while convenient, have made it easier for scammers to target vulnerable populations who depend on SNAP benefits for essential nutrition.

Georgia’s Department of Human Services Division of Family & Children Services recognized this crisis and secured federal authorization to replace electronically stolen food stamp benefits for recipients who fell victim to card compromise schemes. Rather than leaving defrauded beneficiaries without recourse, the state developed a structured process to restore missing funds.

How Card Skimming and Cloning Threaten Your Benefits

Card skimming occurs when criminals secretly capture card information from point-of-sale terminals or ATMs. Card cloning involves using that stolen data to create counterfeit cards or make unauthorized transactions. Both tactics exploit the vulnerability of EBT cards—which function like debit cards and contain valuable stored benefits.

Beneficiaries discovered their accounts had been drained in various ways: unauthorized ATM withdrawals, fraudulent purchases at retail locations, or online transactions made without their knowledge. These incidents left families without access to critical food purchasing assistance they depend on monthly.

Understanding the Benefit Replacement Process

For recipients who experienced electronic benefits theft, Georgia DHS established a formal replacement procedure. The process begins with immediate action: victims should request a replacement EBT card and new PIN by calling 1-888-421-3281. This hotline connects recipients to customer service representatives who can issue replacement cards and help secure compromised accounts.

Beyond card replacement, affected beneficiaries could request restoration of stolen benefits through a dedicated application process. Recipients needed to complete a “Request for Replacement of Stolen Benefits” form—available for download on the DFCS website (dfcs.georgia.gov) or obtainable in person at local Division of Family & Children Services offices.

The submission process involved three options:

• Filing the signed affidavit on the DFCS website
• Dropping the form off at a local DFCS office
• Mailing the form to the recipient’s local DFCS office

For those unable to print or access an office in person, calling 877-423-4746 or the local DFCS office would result in the form being mailed or emailed to the recipient’s address.

Critical Requirements and Important Eligibility Conditions

To qualify for benefit replacement, Georgia set specific requirements that recipients needed to meet:

• Timing of theft: The fraudulent activity must have occurred between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2024
• Reporting requirement: Households had to report the stolen benefits to Georgia DHS within 30 days of discovering the theft
• Request authorization: Applications could only be submitted by the head of household, an adult household member, or an authorized representative listed on the case file
• Frequency limitation: Households could receive no more than two replacement issuances per federal fiscal year

Recipients who had reported theft before October 18, 2023, had an extended deadline of November 18, 2023, to submit their replacement requests.

Safeguarding Your SNAP Account: Essential Protection Strategies

Georgia DHS Commissioner Candice Broce emphasized that protecting benefits requires active vigilance. Her office recommended several critical security practices:

Shield your PIN: Always cover the keypad when entering your PIN at retailers or ATMs, preventing observers from capturing this sensitive information.

Change your PIN frequently: Regularly updating your Personal Identification Number reduces the window of vulnerability if your card has been compromised.

Monitor your account actively: Check your EBT account balance regularly through the Georgia DHS portal or by calling 1-888-421-3281 to verify all transactions are legitimate. Early detection of unauthorized activity allows faster response and potential benefit recovery.

Report suspicious activity immediately: Don’t wait if you notice unfamiliar transactions or balance discrepancies. Contact customer service right away to protect remaining benefits and initiate fraud investigation procedures.

These preventive measures complement the formal relief program by empowering recipients to take charge of their account security.

The Broader Context: Why This Program Mattered

Georgia’s fraud relief initiative represented a significant acknowledgment that SNAP beneficiaries—among the most economically vulnerable Americans—deserve protection against sophisticated theft tactics. While the specific program operated under defined parameters with cutoff dates, the underlying issue of EBT fraud continues to challenge food assistance systems nationally.

Federal and state agencies recognize that electronic benefits fraud not only steals from individual families but also diverts precious nutrition assistance resources away from those who need them most. Programs like Georgia’s demonstrate government responsiveness to emerging security threats in the SNAP infrastructure, protecting the integrity of assistance meant for essential nutrition.

Recipients who experienced benefits theft through card compromise schemes found a structured pathway to recovery rather than permanent loss—a crucial safeguard for households already facing food insecurity.