DHS has developed a process for reissuing benefits stolen via card skimming, fraud, or other electronic theft.  

This process allows for reissuance of benefits stolen from October 1, 2022, through September 30, 2024. Unfortunately, due to federal regulations, benefits stolen prior to October 1, 2022, cannot be reissued, even under the new process.

If you suspect you have been the victim of benefit theft of your Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, you will need to complete and submit a Benefit Theft Claim Form: PDF form or web form 

Please note, this form is only for SNAP theft and cannot be used for theft claims on any other benefit.

Once you have completed the Benefit Theft Claim Form, you should submit it to your County Assistance Office (CAO). 

You can do this using COMPASS, either on your desktop or through the MyCOMPASS PA mobile app or by printing the PDF form and mailing it or dropping it off in person at your local CAO.

You can also complete and submit the form through this webform.

Once the form is submitted, it will be routed to a review team that will review the claim to determine if it appears to be a legitimate case of electronic benefit theft. If the team determines the theft claim appears legitimate, they will notify the CAO, who will reissue the benefits and will send you a notice informing you the benefit reissuance was approved and how much. If your claim is denied, a rejection notice will be sent specifying why your claim was denied. Your claim could be denied for the following reasons:

• The review team determined there is insufficient evidence to support the claim that the benefits were stolen via skimming, cloning or other fraudulent methods.
• You have already received two separate replacements in the current federal fiscal year.
  
• The benefits were stolen outside of the time period for which replacement of stolen benefits is allowed.
• You submitted your claim outside of the allowable time limits to file a claim.
• Your household gave your EBT card and Personal Identification Number (PIN) to someone other than an immediate household member or authorized representative who then stole the benefits.
  

• Your household failed to provide the necessary information for DHS to validate the theft occurred and whether the benefits are reimbursable.

Please note, there are certain rules for the reissuance process.

• You must report the theft within 60 days of when the theft occurred. If the theft occurred before the reissuance process begins, you will have 60 days from when the process starts in June to submit the claim.
• You must submit a claim form within 30 calendar days of reporting the theft to your CAO or the benefits cannot be replaced.
• You can only receive up to two replacements in a federal fiscal year. Each replacement will be for the amount stolen or two months' worth of your household's SNAP benefit amount, whichever is less. The federal fiscal year is the period from October 1 through September 30. For example, if your monthly SNAP benefit is $150 and you submit a the first claim for $450 in stolen benefits, and a second claim in the same federal fiscal year for $250 in stolen benefits, the maximum that can be reissued is $300 for the first claim and $250 for the second claim. Once the next federal fiscal year begins on October 1, you will be eligible for an additional two replacements, should additional theft occur.
  
• Only benefits stolen through card skimming, card cloning, and similar electronic fraudulent methods can be replaced. If your household gave your EBT card and PIN to someone, if your household lost your EBT card, or if the EBT card was stolen and your SNAP benefits were stolen, they cannot be reissued. If your benefits were stolen because the card was physically taken or lost, you will have to file a police report and pursue restitution against the perpetrator through civil court.
• Only benefits stolen between October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2024 are eligible for reissuance. Any benefits stolen prior to October 1, 2022 or stolen after September 30, 2024, are not eligible to be reissued, unless additional permissions are granted through Congressional legislation.
• While DHS encourages victims of benefit theft to report this to your local law enforcement so that they can investigate and pursue potential charges against whoever stole the benefit, this is not a requirement to receive benefit reissuance.