PORTLAND, Ore. — Families in Oregon have been affected by the decision by federal leaders to end a program that gave some low-income theft victims money back.
As of Dec. 21, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program users whose food benefits are stolen could no longer get replacements.
When the Consolidated Appropriations Act was first passed in late December 2022, it said that SNAP recipients would get replacement benefits for benefits that were stolen through “fraudulent methods” like card skimming or cloning.
It was first meant to cover thefts that happened between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2024. But because of the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, it was later made law until December 20, 2024. The USDA said that the policy was dropped when the American Relief Act was signed into law the next day. This meant that stolen benefits would no longer be protected by the federal government.
The policy change was brought to light on Thursday by Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon.
In a statement, Sarah Weber-Ogden, Co-Executive Director of Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon, said, “We understand how deeply skimming loss affects families who are already struggling. We are disappointed that our federal representatives didn’t take action to give SNAP users the protections they deserve.”
The group said that card skimming has only happened to a “small percentage” of SNAP users across the state, but the new rule will hurt low-income households more than others.
Leaders at the federal level said that state agencies can still use state dollars to replace stolen benefits. Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon said it would work with government leaders and other groups to “find long-term solutions.”
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