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. 
  • A 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.
  • Benefits 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.

New Manual textOn 12/21/2024 the American Relief Act, 2025 was signed into law ending the replacement stolen of EBT SNAP benefits to victims of card skimming, cloning, scamming, phishing, and other similar fraudulent methods. Customers filing reports of theft that occurred after 12/20/2024 will still be accepted and processed, however the claim(s) will be denied. Customers that file reports of theft that occurred on or before 12/20/2024 whose reports are received after 12/20/2024 will still be accepted and processed. Theft claims through 12/20/2024 can still be approved if all eligibility measures are met.