Senators Unite to Stop SNAP Fraud and Protect Food Assistance
Senators Unite to Safeguard SNAP Benefits Against Theft with Enhanced Security Measures
U.S. Senators Ron Wyden from Oregon, John Fetterman from Pennsylvania, and Bill Cassidy from Louisiana are teaming up to stop SNAP fraud in the SNAP program that helps people buy food. Criminals have been stealing millions of dollars’ worth of SNAP benefits because the system isn’t secure enough. The senators want to make SNAP cards safer by using chip technology, like in regular debit cards, to prevent thieves from stealing people’s benefits.
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Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act Targets Fraud, Promotes Card Security, and Supports Small Businesses
The new law, called the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act, will make sure SNAP cards have anti-fraud technology that’s hard to copy. States will have to start using these safer chip cards within two years and completely stop using the old magnetic stripe cards within five years. The law also helps small grocery stores get better payment machines and requires states to quickly replace stolen or broken SNAP cards for families. This change aims to protect people’s benefits and reduce the big problem of fraud in the SNAP program, which costs $25 billion every year, according to the USDA.