LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) — Families across Virginia are reporting a troubling problem with their SNAP benefits: Money is disappearing from their EBT accounts before they have a chance to use it.
In Lynchburg, the amount of reported stolen benefits has skyrocketed in recent months.
Preston Sellers, director of Lynchburg’s Department of Social Services, said just over $1,500 in SNAP benefits were reported stolen in June.
That number climbed to about $3,000 in July.
Then, in August, it surged to more than $60,000.
Sellers said 30 more people reported suspected benefit fraud in the first few days of September alone.
He said the problem is happening across Virginia, but the increase in Lynchburg has been especially significant.
What’s making the situation even more concerning is how quickly the money can disappear.
As an example, if your benefits are placed on your card tonight, 12 a.m., 12 or 1 a.m., those benefits can be gone before you actually even go out of the house to utilize the benefits,” Sellers said. “And that is a big problem. That is the root of what we’re trying to figure out.
Sellers said his initial reaction to seeing the numbers was disbelief.
My initial reaction was just shocked. In shock.
The city is now working with the Lynchburg Police Department and the Virginia Department of Social Services to determine how the thefts are happening and identify the source of the problem.
For now, Sellers is urging SNAP recipients to take steps to protect their benefits.
SEE ALSO: Lynchburg ends Flock contract, debate continues over when to remove cameras
That includes locking their EBT cards when they are not being used, checking their account balance frequently and switching to a chip-enabled EBT card for an additional layer of protection.
Anyone who suspects their benefits have been stolen should report it to their social worker or the Lynchburg Police Department as soon as possible.
The city currently does not have a way to reimburse residents for stolen SNAP benefits.
That can leave families in a difficult position when the money they were counting on for groceries suddenly disappears.
Sellers said the city is connecting affected residents with other resources, including local food banks and food assistance programs.
One thing we are offering is just the different resources within the city, so the different food bank resources that we have,” Sellers said. “And we provide customers with that opportunity.
For families who have already lost their benefits, Sellers recommends reaching out for those resources while the investigation continues.
