Ending Stolen SNAP Benefits Act of 2026

Key Points

• The bill would require the USDA to create rules for replacing SNAP benefits stolen through identity theft or card-skimming devices, making it a permanent federal policy rather than a temporary fix.
• The replacement process is designed to be easier on victims by having the government set up criteria that minimize the paperwork burden families need to go through to prove their benefits were stolen.
• The federal government would pay 90 percent of the costs for states to upgrade from old magnetic-stripe EBT cards to newer, more secure chip-enabled cards, covering everything from card production to outreach and education.
• States must submit transition plans that guarantee families will not lose access to their food benefits during the switch to new cards, and the USDA must approve or deny plans within 90 days or they are automatically approved.
• The USDA would be required to report to Congress on the prevalence of stolen benefits and the feasibility of chip-enabled EBT cards, and must submit annual public reports on how much was reissued and to how many households in each state.