Stolen benefits. Some people in Marshall County say it has happened to them or a loved one, and now they're warning others.
Crystal Trussell told WAAY 31 she signed her elderly mother up for food stamps nearly two years ago. She says it was meant to help her mother financially, and things were going fine—until recently. Now, she believes it's become more of a scam than a benefit.
“That is several hundred dollars that has been stolen. That is taxpayer money that did not go where it was intended to go,†said Trussell.
So, where was the money supposed to go? Trussell says it was meant for her elderly mother’s EBT card, but instead, it was spent over 1,000 miles away.
“The EBT card got hacked. Well, after some investigation, we found out it was hacked the morning her benefits were added to her card—from New York,†Trussell said.
Within hours of receiving her benefits, the money was gone. Someone had drained the funds, maxing out the card at gourmet deli shops in New York.
Trussell has transaction records to prove it. It happened twice in December and six more times this month.
Then, she says, they were thrown another curveball.
“They told us they would no longer be returning anybody’s stolen benefits whatsoever,†Trussell said.
As of Dec. 21, 2024, the congressional authorization to replace stolen Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits expired. This means the Department of Human Resources can no longer process reimbursements for stolen SNAP benefits, including those lost in previous months or moving forward.
Instead of replacing the benefits, Trussell says they were given a list of local food banks.
“We live in a very rural area. I’ve never dealt with a food bank, but I imagine there’s not enough to feed the number of people who need help,†she added.
Thankfully, Trussell can support her mother, but she warns others who may not have the same safety net. She says things will only get more difficult.
“I’m not going to activate her card until the day she gets her benefits and goes to the grocery store. Then I’ll cancel that card and order a new one. I think that’s going to be the only way to protect them—if it even does,†Trussell said.
WAAY 31 reached out to DHR for a comment, but as of this report, they have not responded. According to their , if you believe your EBT card has been stolen or notice unauthorized transactions, they advise changing your card’s PIN immediately and visiting your local county DHR office.
