Replacing Stolen Benefits – Key Data Points
Context
Since March 2023, Maryland has replaced benefits for individuals whose benefits have been stolen. The state has a simple, seamless, and swift reimbursement program for replacing stolen food and cash benefits. Maryland was the first state to use federal funds to replace stolen Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, and Maryland now uses state funds to replace stolen benefits as well. For customers whose benefits have been stolen, please click here to learn about how to recover your benefits. See below for summary data about the replacement of stolen benefits to date.
Current Totals
Total amounts related to the replacement of stolen benefits since March 2023
125,503
Number of Claims Submitted
102,081
Number of Claims Approved
23,387
Number of Claims Denied
91,586
Number of Households
that Submitted Claims
80,908
Number of Households
with Claims Approved
10,663
Number of Households
with Claims Denied
How the total value is distributed across the various benefit programs
$41,739,955
Value of SNAP
Benefits Replaced
+
$10,175,960
Value of Cash
Benefits Replaced
+
$110,366
Value of SUN Bucks
Benefits Replaced
+
$42,533
Value of Pandemic
EBT Benefits Replaced
$52,068,814
Total Value of
Replaced Benefits
Data as of 08/28/2026. See explanation of benefits types and data definitions below.
Explanation
The Replacing Stolen Benefits – Key Data Points page contains data on claims and payments around stolen benefits from March 2023 to date. DHS is committed to transparency and openness around the replacement of stolen benefits and all programs. As we begin to share more data proactively on our website, we ask for your patience with any issues that arise. We invite your feedback – see contact information below.
Benefits explanation: what benefit programs are included in these data points?
- SNAP Benefits: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides food benefits to families and individuals who meet income criteria.
- Cash Benefits: The Cash Benefits total includes Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA), Temporary Disability Assistance Program (TDAP), Public Assistance to Adults (PAA), Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA), and Transitional Support Services (TSS).
- Pandemic EBT: the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer was a program that allowed school children to receive temporary emergency nutrition benefits loaded on EBT cards to purchase food. The program ceased after 2023.
- SUN Bucks provides families with eligible school-aged children $120 per child to buy groceries during the summer.
Funding sources: What are the funding sources for the replacement of stolen benefits totals?
- The totals reported above include funding for stolen benefits replacement from both federal and state funds. DHS is working to report on the breakdown between state and federal funding sources.
Data definitions: what are definitions of the different terms referenced in the data points?
- Claims Submitted: Number of claims received.
- Claims Approved: Number of claims with at least some amount of stolen benefits approved for replacement. Note that claims that were submitted but not approved could be either Denied, Pending, or Not Started.
- Households with Approved Claims: Number of households with at least some stolen benefits amount approved for replacement.
- Value of Replaced Benefits: Total dollar amount of benefits replaced.
Data details: what are additional details about the source, time period, limitations, or other reporting of similar data?
- Source: MD THINK data system.
- Time period: The totals reflect all stolen benefits replaced since March 2023 to the most recent data upload date (cited above). The data will be updated weekly.
- Limitations: The financial totals may be subject to minor adjustments based on quarterly reconciliation with the financial management system.
- Federal reporting: Note that the totals reported on the federal SNAP Replacement of Stolen Benefits Dashboard will differ from those on this Maryland website. The federal totals represent federally funded SNAP replacements, while this website represents state and federally funded replacements and includes additional benefits beyond SNAP.
