SNAP Benefits Are Being Stolen — and Families Are Paying the Price.

This article originally appeared on NYTimes.com

MANHATTAN, NY — Mariel Mejía, a mother in Washington Heights, recently discovered her SNAP card had been emptied overnight. Her benefits were stolen through EBT skimming, a growing scam targeting low-income families. She relies on these benefits to feed her family and had no way to recover the lost funds.

She turned to Food Bank For NYC for help — one of thousands of families relying on emergency food after losing the assistance they depend on to survive.

These thefts are happening across New York City. Parents, seniors, and caregivers are forced to make impossible choices about how to feed their families. With federal reimbursements expired, there’s no safety net.

New York State is moving to secure chip-and-pin SNAP cards, a critical step to stop fraud. Until then, Food Bank For NYC continues providing food and support, ensuring families can access the nutrition they need — safely and with dignity.

Read the full article by Sarah Maslin Nir at the New York Times.