SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — While some states are taking action to protect low-income families, Utah has yet to implement a solution to the growing problem of SNAP (food stamp) fraud. Thieves are draining the accounts of vulnerable residents, leaving them without the money they rely on to feed their families.
Tonie Powell is one of the latest victims. She told KUTV that all of her Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds were stolen twice this year, first in February and again in March. Powell, who suffers from arthritis and is unable to work, was left with no food assistance after the thieves drained her account.
“Who cares about the little people? Who’s going to stand up and fight for us?” Powell said.
She voiced complaints with the Utah office which oversees SNAP and even filed a police report but so far, there seems to be no solution.
MORE on SNAP: Utah families continue to face problems with SNAP fraud, food insecurity
Thieves often steal victims’ SNAP funds straight from their online accounts – sometimes in the middle of the night before victims can even make it to the grocery store.
The theft of SNAP benefits has been affecting roughly 800 families in Utah each month for the last four months, according to the Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS) , which oversees the program which is federally funded.
Powell experienced the theft firsthand when, while at the grocery store checkout in February. As she was about to swipe her EBT (Electronic Balance Transfer) card which contains the funds, she was informed that her card had no funds. Later, checking her account on the EBT app, she discovered that $422 had been spent at a store in Philadelphia — a city she’s never visited.
Despite her report to DWS, which issued a new card and advised her to reset her PIN, the thieves struck again. Within days, Powell’s new benefits were gone, leaving her with just 35 cents.
“I don’t understand. They didn’t have my card, they didn’t have my PIN, so what happened?” she said, still searching for answers. She even filed a police report, but so far, no one has been able to stop the thieves.
Nationwide, the problem of SNAP fraud continues to hurt vulnerable families. In the 2023-2024 fiscal year, the federal government reimbursed victims for over $220 million in stolen benefits. However, after federal funding for reimbursements ran out last year, many states have had tried to step in to provide support. Massachusetts and Alabama, for instance, have introduced state-level legislation to reimburse victims of food stamp fraud. But Utah has not followed suit.
At least ten states have implemented features allowing cardholders to lock their SNAP cards through an app, blocking purchases while still allowing deposits. This feature, however, is not yet available in Utah, though the state has said it is exploring the option.
Other states, such as Oklahoma, Maryland, and Massachusetts, are also transitioning from magnetic strip cards to cards with chip technology to prevent fraud. California has already made this switch.
The Utah Department of Workforce Services confirmed that it is investigating the possibility of moving to chip-enabled cards but has not committed to a timeline.”
“Any changes first have to be approved by USDA Food and Nutrition Services and then implemented by the (card) vendor. Unfortunately, there isn’t one magic solution,” said Christina Davis, spokesperson for DWS.
With no immediate solution in sight, Utah residents like Powell are left to rely on charity to feed their families.
“I had a friend bring me a few groceries, but they have kids themselves. They have to take care of their family,” Powell said.
Powell fears the thieves will target her again in April.
“I don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring,” she said.
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