EBT Theft Reimbursement
How To Get Back Stolen Benefits:
To get reimbursed for benefits stolen from your EBT account, simply:
- Click the link to view the EBT Stolen Benefits Attestation Claim Form.
- Complete the form
- Type your name on the signature line of the form and click the submit button
Your benefits will be replaced in 10 days or sooner. We are standing by and ready to help anyone who needs assistance submitting a claim form. For questions about Maryland’s simple, seamless, and swift reimbursement process, or to check the status of a pending claim, call our dedicated hotline at 1-833-330-7328.
For assistance completing a new claim form over the phone, please call one of our SNAP Community Partner Organizations:
- Community Outreach & Development for Prince George’s County (English, Spanish). Call (301) 735-0121
- Community Engagement & Consultation Group for the Laurel, Anne Arundel, Howard area (English, Spanish and Farsi). Call (301) 525-8807
- LifeStyles of Maryland for Southern Maryland (English, Spanish). Call (301) 609-9900
- Maryland Hunger Solutions for Statewide (English, Spanish). Call (866) 821-5552
For assistance completing a claim form, visit us in person at a Local Department of Social Services office near you.
Stolen EBT
Benefits
Questions and
Answers
Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) theft occurs when Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), cash assistance, or Pandemic- EBT (P-EBT) benefits are used without the permission of the cardholder.
If you suspect that your EBT card has been used by someone without your permission, please follow these steps immediately:
- Call
- Submit a request to replace your stolen benefits by completing an EBT Stolen Benefits Attestation Claim form, or visiting the myMDTHINK consumer portal.
- Click the “Report EBT Stolen Benefits” button on the top right-hand corner of the screen and follow the instructions to complete and submit the form online. If you are not able to submit the form online, you may submit a paper application in-person at your nearest Local Department of Social Services.
You will need to fill out the EBT Stolen Benefits Attestation Claim form to determine if you are eligible to receive replacement benefits. DHS will replace 100% of EBT and P-EBT benefits confirmed to be stolen.
We will contact you within 10 business days with a decision about your claim.
Yes, we will replace stolen EBT and P-EBt benefits stole as far back as January 1, 2021. You will need to fill out the EBT Stolen Benefits Attestation Claim form to determine if you are eligible to receive replacement benefits.
No. Customers whose claims were denied previously or were issued a partial replacement do not need to file a new claim to obtain a retroactive reimbursement. The department is currently reviewing claims submitted between March 2023 and January 2024 and will credit EBT cards for households deemed eligible for additional benefits.
DHS will replace 100% of the benefits stolen.
No, you do not have to file a police report to be eligible for the reimbursement of your stolen EBT benefits. However, we encourage you to file a police report because it may help our department and law enforcement officials find and prosecute the thieves who have stolen benefits from your EBT card.
Anyone who believes that food and/or cash benefits were stolen from their EBT card is encouraged to request reimbursement of stolen benefits using our EBT Stolen Benefits Attestation Claim form. DHS will make an eligibility decision based on the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Use the EBT Stolen Benefits Attestation Claim form to report the theft of your benefits. If you choose to file a police report, the information will be reported to DHS. This information will also be used by the Maryland Office of the Inspector General to investigate your claim.
If you have already ordered a replacement EBT card, your replacement benefits will go on the new EBT card. If not, please follow the steps below to order a new EBT card:
- Call the MD EBT Customer Call Center at 1-800-997-2222
- Update your Personal Identification Number (PIN)
- EBT Services are also available online at www.connectebt.com
- ConnectEBT Mobile APP: Access your SNAP balance, and transactions or order a new card by installing ConnectEBT on your smartphone.
Customers receive one free replacement card in a 12-month period. Additional requests for a new EBT card within a 12-month period are assessed at a $2 charge per card. The fee is deducted from SNAP benefits or cash benefits if there are no SNAP benefits.
Cards are mailed within 24 hours of the report of stolen benefits. We are unable to verify the date the USPS delivers the mail to households. You may also visit the nearest Local Department of Social Services office to obtain a new card.
The funds will be loaded onto your EBT card if your previously denied claim is eligible for replacement under the new program rules. If you recently submitted a claim, we will make a decision within 10 days from the date the EBT Claim Attestation Form was submitted. If your claim was approved, the benefits will be uploaded shortly thereafter.
You may submit all known stolen benefits transactions on the same EBT Stolen Benefits Attestation Form. If the theft of your food or cash benefits involves more than one transaction, the amount of benefits you recover will be based on when the theft occurred and relevant State and federal rules that apply to that specific timeframe.
There are several ways to submit a claim to recover your stolen food or cash benefits. You can submit an EBT claim form online using your mymdthink.maryland.gov account or submit a paper claim form in person or by mail to your Local Department of Social Services.
DHS has partnered with community-based organizations across the State to help you file your EBT stolen benefits claim as well as assist you in applying for food and cash benefits. Click SNAP Outreach Community-Based Organization to find help near you.
The state will not be able to reimburse claims submitted more than 45 days after becoming aware of the theft.
Furthermore, your benefits cannot be replaced if you willingly gave your EBT card and Personal Identification Number (PIN) to someone who then stole your benefits.
Your SNAP EBT stolen benefits claim will be reviewed within 10 business days after the claim is submitted. After the review is completed, you will receive a notice that your claim is either approved or denied. We may contact you if additional information is needed.
If your claim is denied you can request a “Fair Hearing”. Your Fair Hearing Request form will be submitted to the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH). OAH will notify you of the appointed date and time of the hearing to review your complaint.
Click here to get the Fair Hearing Request Form online. You can also call 1-800-332-6347 or visit any Local Department of Social Services to request a Fair Hearing form.
If you are eligible for reimbursement, your replacement benefits will be issued on your new EBT card issued to you after the reported theft.
DHS is working with local and federal law enforcement agencies to investigate EBT Stolen Benefits. Our cooperation with law enforcement officials will continue until your issue has been resolved.
If you need emergency food assistance because your benefits were stolen, click here to find the nearest food pantry. Food pantries provide emergency food assistance that you and your family may rely on until you regain access to your EBT benefits.
Yes, the State is now able to replace stolen P-EBT benefits. To expedite the process please add your P-EBT/EBT card number or MSDE SAS ID to the EBT Stolen Benefits Claim Attestation form.
Tips for
Protecting
Your EBT
Card
Stolen Benefits are on the rise in Maryland and other states. DHS urges families and adults who receive food and cash assistance on an EBT card to take extra care to protect their benefits. Thieves use illegal electronic devices to ‘skim’ or ‘clone’ EBT cards. The stolen information is then used to withdraw cash or make purchases without the permission of the rightful card owners. Here are some tips to help you protect food and cash benefits on your EBT card.
Click here to learn how to protect yourself from recent EBT Stolen Benefits Scams.
Tips to protect your EBT card account:
- Change your Personal Identification Number (PIN) often. You can do that today by calling the number on the back of your EBT card. You can also change your PIN online at www.connectebt.com/mdebtclient.
- If your benefits were stolen, call your local Department of Social Services to ‘freeze’ the use of your card. This will prevent your card from being used for new unauthorized transactions.
- If your card has been stolen or lost, call the Maryland EBT Customer Call Center at 1-800-997-2222 to order a replacement card. When activating the replacement card, please be sure to create a new PIN. Do not reuse your old PIN.
- Immediately report any EBT Stolen Benefits to your local police department and submit a copy of the police report to your Local Department of Social Services. We do not require you to file a police report to receive replacement benefits. If you chose to file a police report, it might help us to have the claim number.
- Stay up to date with the federal USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service’s SNAP SCAM Alerts.
- Click this link for additional steps that you can take to protect your EBT and other bank cards.
Tips to Keep Your Card from Being Skimmed
Follow these guidelines every time you use your card.
- Do a quick scan. Before using any machine, look to make sure that someone hasn’t tampered with it. Don’t insert or swipe your card If the card reader seems loose, crooked, or damaged; if the graphics aren’t aligned; or if part of the machine is a different color. If there is another machine nearby (such as two ATMs next to each other) compare them to see if there are obvious differences. For example, if one machine has a flashing slot to insert your card and the other doesn’t, that may be an indication that there is something wrong.
- Avoid using non-bank ATMs. These are usually cash-dispensing machines and tend to be located in convenience stores, bars, restaurants, grocery stores, or check-cashing establishments.
- Check the keypad. If the numbers are hard to press or feel thick, the ATM might have a false keypad installed and you should find another machine.
- Block your PIN. When entering your PIN, cover the keypad with your other hand in case a camera is recording your number.
- Use a mobile wallet. An alternative to swiping your card is paying by mobile wallet apps such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, or Google Pay. This form of payment is secure because your credit card information is tokenized and rendered useless if a thief were to get a hold of it.
- Pay inside. If your local gas station hasn’t yet updated its pumps to use mobile wallets or you aren’t sure if the machine is safe to use, go inside the service station to pay. Taking an extra minute to walk inside could save you a whole load of problems later on.
- Stay in public view. Always try to use machines that are in public view with security monitoring – these machines are less likely to be tampered with. For additional protection, use a machine inside the store or an ATM inside your bank.
- Check your account regularly. Rather than wait for your monthly statement, check your account regularly using online and mobile banking. This way, if anything were to happen, you can catch it immediately and report it to the bank or local credit union where your accounts are.
- Sign up for alerts. See what type of stolen benefits alert system your card provider has in place and take advantage of it. Some offer text alerts that can help prevent fraudulent transactions on your credit and debit cards.
- Above all, trust your instincts. If you suspect foul play, or if you’re in doubt about the authenticity of a machine, use a different machine or payment method.
Emergency
Food and
Cash
Resources
If you need emergency food, help to pay utility bills, or rental assistance while your EBT Stolen Benefits claim is being processed, please visit:
The Maryland Food Bank at https://mdfoodbank.org/find-food/
The Capital Area Food Bank at https://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/find-food-assistance/
211 Emergency Food Service Directory: https://211md.org/resources/food/
For additional support, contact USDA’s Hunger Hotline. The Hunger Hotline connects callers with emergency food providers in their community, government assistance programs, and various social services. 1-866-3-HUNGRY (1-866-348-6479) or 1-877-8-HAMBRE (for Spanish) Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET.
Visit https://dhs.maryland.gov/office-of-home-energy-programs/local-home-energy-program-office/ to find locations where you can apply for utility bill assistance.
You may also visit the Local Department of Social Services nearest to you to ask about emergency rental assistance and other resources available in your local community.
You can access more details about your SNAP and Cash benefits online at your convenience at mymdthink.maryland.gov.
