The Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) replaced $15.9 million in SNAP benefits from May 2023 to December 2024.
DHR believes those funds were stolen from out-of-state. Alabama DHR commissioner Nancy Buckner stated that just last month, approximately $1.8 million in expenditures occurred in New York and $2.2 million in Pennsylvania.
A new lock/unlock feature is expected to reduce fraud if people activate it.
“The very best thing our SNAP clients can do is lock their card when they aren’t using it,” said Buckner. “With the funds being stolen by utilizing out-of-state EBT terminals, we believe using our newest feature on ConnectEBT and locking the EBT card will truly combat this type of fraud.”
The state stopped replacing stolen SNAP benefits on Dec. 21, 2024, due to the expiration of congressional authorization.
SNAP benefits are federally funded, but DHR administers and manages those distributions.
The “One Big Beautiful Bill” has a provision to change that and to have states share the cost of SNAP benefits. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), who is also running for governor, reportedly raised concerns over that provision, saying he isn’t sure the state can afford it.
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