Update on Replacement of SNAP and Cash Benefits

SNAP Replacement

As a result of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, states were permitted to use federal money to replace SNAP benefits lost due to EBT skimming. The authority to replace these benefits was originally set to expire on September 30, 2024, and now has been extended through December 20, 2024.

Cash Replacement

Rules on replacing cash benefits are different.

Authority comes from the Public Assistance New York State Social Services Law § 152-D which allowed New York State (NYS) to replace cash benefits that were stolen. Households were eligible to receive two cash replacement benefits per federal fiscal year (FFY) between January 1, 2022, and September 30, 2024. However, starting October 1, 2024, only one replacement of benefits may be issued in each FFY. 

The state will be provided with updated guidance as the December 20, 2024, expiration date approaches.

Applying for Replacement Benefits

The NYC Human Resources Administration will continue to accept applications for replacement of benefits through their Benefits Replacement page: https://www.nyc.gov/site/hra/help/benefitreplacement.page.

As a reminder, applications for replacement of stolen cash and SNAP benefits must be submitted within 30 days from the date the household discovered that the benefits were stolen.

For additional details. go to https://otda.ny.gov/policy/gis/2024/24DC064.pdf and here https://www.nyc.gov/assets/hra/downloads/pdf/services/program_integrity/snap_and_cash_assistance_benefit_skimming_replacement_faq.pdf.