Illinois Stops Replenishing Funds for Affected Individuals, and Only the Federal Government Could Reverse the Decision
Thousands of families in Illinois who rely on SNAP food benefits may face serious difficulties due to a change in state policies. Fraud victims will no longer receive refunds for stolen funds, leaving many without resources to buy essential food.
In recent years, criminals have managed to drain EBT accounts of beneficiaries through a sophisticated fraud scheme. Until December 2024, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) had a system to reimburse affected individuals, but the lack of a federal extension has ended this aid.
The problem has become desperate for people like Ciaira Herbert, a resident of Chatham, who discovered that someone had withdrawn $440 from her SNAP card in Florida while she was in Chicago. She was left with only $7 to feed her child.
«Food prices are higher, eggs cost a lot,» said Herbert, who fears she will not be able to cover her household’s basic needs.
The IDHS confirmed that the state no longer has the ability to replace stolen benefits without federal support. In a statement, the agency explained:
«Unfortunately, the federal bill that allowed the replacement of stolen SNAP benefits was not extended and ended on December 20, 2024.»
Due to this crisis, Congressman Jonathan Jackson has called on Congress and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to restore federal protections that allowed the replenishment of stolen funds.
Meanwhile, IDHS has urged SNAP recipients to change their PIN every month, freeze their cards between transactions, and disable the out-of-state usage option in the EBT app. Additionally, Illinois will participate in a USDA Mobile Payment Pilot Program that will allow LINK card users to pay with their phones without needing to use a physical card, thus reducing the risk of fraud.
For more information, beneficiaries can visit www.link.illinois.gov.