PM 22-02-06: Replacing Cash Due to EBT Electronic Theft

WAG 22-02-06

  • The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (the Omnibus), signed into law December 29, 2022, allows for the replacement of stolen EBT SNAP benefits to victims of card skimming, cloning, and scamming through fraudulent phone calls, text messaging, phishing and other similar fraudulent methods, if certain eligibility requirements are met. See PM 22-03-02. 
  • new manual releaseA Report of Electronic Theft of Illinois Link Benefits claim will be denied if filed for benefits that are ineligible for replacement or the claim is invalid.
  • Illinois Link Cash benefits are not eligible for a EBT theft replacement at this time.
  • new manual textBenefits received under the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) and/or the Victims of Trafficking, Torture, or other Serious Crimes (VTTC) programs cannot be replaced under the law. 
    • Note: The law does not change current federal regulations prohibiting replacement of SNAP benefits lost due to a customer's mishandling of their EBT card and PIN. See PM 22-01-01-j.