Prices at the grocery store are going through the roof, and stolen benefits are becoming a big problem in Ohio.
According to ABC6’s “On Your Side Problem Solvers,” the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has stolen an unbelievable $7 million from people who depend on these funds to feed their families. This crisis brings to light a weakness that many homes across the state are vulnerable to.
Let’s look at Erica McAllister, a mother from Columbus. She talked about the time thieves took $1,500 from her benefits last September. “At one point, I was donating plasma, and we just used that for groceries,” she said.
The funds are not just an extra for Erica and many others; they are their only way to stay alive. “This is something we need every month for a reason.” To feed us. It has to be done. To live. I wouldn’t be able to live without it. “They would take my kids,” she said.
Fraudulent SNAP Transactions Highlight Urgent Need for Enhanced Security Measures
Problem Solvers has been getting a lot of calls from people reporting fraud on their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) accounts since the summer. It’s shocking that many people who have SNAP cards have had their balances wiped clean when they tried to use them.
The SNAP program gets money from the federal government, but in Ohio, the state is in charge of running it. The current security measures are not working well enough, which is a shame.
SNAP cards only have a magnetic strip on them; they don’t have any of the more advanced security features like a chip or a tap system that might make thieves less likely to steal them. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services says that switching to cards with chips would cost $15 million, which the state does not want to pay.
This ongoing theft not only shows how badly we need better security, but it also makes me wonder what the state is doing to protect its most vulnerable citizens. The question still stands: how can these important benefits be protected without putting too much financial stress on the state?
“I broke down in tears when I realized my food was gone.” Deborah Kaun said, “It felt like it was taken right out of my mouth.” She was emotional because her card had been used fraudulently again, resulting in her losing $200 in benefits.
The Impact of Fraud on Fixed Incomes
Kaun, who was living on a fixed income, had to make the tough choice not to pay her water bill so she could afford food. She said with tears in her eyes, “I never thought it would happen to me.”
Widespread SNAP Card Fraud
Since October 2022, the state says that fraud has affected almost 12,000 SNAP cardholders and stolen almost $7 million. The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) strongly suggests that cardholders change their PINs every time they use their cards.
McAllister, who also has a card and wants to avoid fraud, said, “I’ve been changing my PIN every month.”
Security Measures Across States
California and Oklahoma are going to add security chips to their state SNAP cards next year, but Ohio has decided not to do this. Thomas Betti, a spokesman for the ODJFS, told Problem Solvers what was going on.
- Unofficial estimates by ODJFS suggest that introducing chip-enabled cards for SNAP recipients would initially cost around $15 million.
- The ongoing maintenance for chip-enabled cards is projected to double the current costs, from $2.5 million to a total of $5 million annually.
- These figures are estimates, and actual costs would need to be finalized through negotiations with the EBT vendor, Conduent.
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