Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act of 2025
Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act of 2025 - Summary **What the bill would do:** This bill would require the government to fully replace SNAP benefits (food assistance) that are stolen from recipients through card skimming, card cloning, or similar fraud. Currently, states can only replace stolen benefits up to a limit of two months' worth of assistance. This bill would remove that cap and guarantee full replacement of all stolen amounts, permanently. **Who it affects:** Low-income households receiving SNAP benefits (formerly known as food stamps) would be the primary beneficiaries.
The bill would also affect state agencies that administer SNAP programs, which would be responsible for processing replacement claims using federal funding from the Department of Agriculture. **Current status:** The bill is currently in committee (HR 3117, sponsored by Rep. Grace Meng of New York). It has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives.
CRS Official Summary
Fairness for Victims of SNAP Skimming Act of 2025This bill requires the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to provide for the replacement of the full amount of a household's stolen benefits.Specifically, using funds provided by the Department of Agriculture, a state agency must provide a household with replacement SNAP benefits equal to the amount of benefits stolen through card skimming, card cloning, or similar fraudulent methods. This requirement applies if the state agency determines that the benefits were stolen and meets certain requirements. Under current law, a state agency may only replace SNAP benefits that were stolen between the period beginning on October 1, 2022, and ending on December 20, 2024. Further, the replacement amount is limited to the lesser of the amount of (1) the benefits stolen, or (2) two months of the household's monthly allotment immediately prior to the date on which the benefits were stolen. Thus, this bill permanently extends the provision and provides for the replacement of the full amount of the benefits stolen.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.