New Act Mandates 100% Reimbursement for Stolen SNAP Benefits: Full Coverage for EBT Skimming Victims

The Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act of 2025 is short, sweet, and focused on one critical thing: making sure that if your food assistance benefits are stolen electronically—say, through EBT card skimming or hacking—you get every penny back. This bill directly addresses a huge pain point for millions of low-income families who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The Full Meal Deal: No More Partial Payouts

When we talk about EBT theft, we’re usually talking about sophisticated thieves using 'skimming' devices at grocery store ATMs or checkout lines to steal the card information and PIN. The people targeted are already struggling to make ends meet, and losing a month's worth of food money can be devastating. Previously, rules around benefit replacement sometimes limited how much a state had to pay back, leaving victims shortchanged. This bill changes that by amending existing law (specifically Section 501(b)(2) of division HH of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023).

Under this new Act, if a household has $450 in SNAP benefits stolen, the state is now required to replace that exact amount—$450. No caps, no limits based on old formulas. This provision ensures that the replacement benefit amount is always equal to the stolen amount, providing full financial recovery for victims. For a parent relying on those benefits to feed their kids, this means the difference between an empty pantry and getting back on track immediately.

Who Pays, and What’s the Catch?

This is a huge win for the 40 million Americans who use SNAP. It removes the ambiguity that often led to bureaucratic headaches and incomplete reimbursement. It’s a clear mandate: full replacement, period. This is essential because when EBT benefits are stolen, the money is often gone within hours, leaving families without the means to buy food until the next cycle.

However, the burden of this full replacement falls directly on State SNAP administering agencies. They are the ones who must now fully cover the cost of the stolen benefits. While this is great news for victims, states will need to manage the increased financial liability and potentially streamline their investigation processes to verify claims quickly. The success of this Act relies heavily on states implementing fast, fair, and efficient systems to verify the theft and issue the full replacement without unnecessary delays, respecting the urgent need for food assistance.