For a limited period of time, SNAP participants who have had their food benefits stolen through an unauthorized transaction can file a claim to have their benefits replaced.
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) started accepting claims to replace stolen EBT benefits on July 3, 2023 and will continue accepting claims through September 30, 2024.
Retroactive claims must be filed no later than July 02, 2024.
You must file a claim within 30 calendar days of discovery of the unauthorized transaction and no later than September 30, 2024.
If your SNAP benefits were stolen, you could have stolen benefits replaced.
There is a limit on the amount of SNAP benefits that can be replaced. When theft occurs, the replacement amount is the lesser of:
You are only eligible to receive replacement of stolen SNAP benefits two times in a federal fiscal year.
If your SNAP benefits were stolen, you must complete a Report of Electronic Theft of Illinois Link Benefits claim form and submit it to the Illinois Department of Human Services.
Claims can be submitted:
You can also download the IL444-4986 Report of Electronic Theft of Illinois Link Benefits form online. Complete, sign, and submit the form by mail or in person to your local Family Community Resource Center.
While it is not required to file a police report, it may be helpful in investigating theft incidents.
Whether or not you have experienced EBT theft, you should take steps to protect your account and benefits. Learn how to protect your SNAP benefits from theft.
Visit the Illinois Department of Human Services website for more information on EBT theft claims.
Visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture website to learn about common EBT card scams.
Learn how to protect your SNAP benefits from theft.
SNAP customers who had their Illinois Link card in their possession at the time an unauthorized transaction occurred in which benefits from their Link account were stolen through skimming, phishing, or a similar type of theft are eligible for benefits replacement.
SNAP benefit loss due to misuse or mishandling of your EBT card and/or PIN will not be replaced.
Skimming occurs when devices illegally installed on ATMs, point-of-sale (POS) terminals, or fuel pumps capture Link card data and record a cardholder’s PIN. Criminals use the data to create fake Link cards and then steal benefits from victims’ Link accounts.
Phishing is the fraudulent practice of sending emails, texts or other messages claiming to be from a trusted entity in order to get individuals to reveal personal information, such as Link card numbers or PINs. Common phishing scams claim to be from the Illinois Department of Human Services, which administers SNAP in Illinois, or ebtEDGE, the platform where cardholders can manage their Link accounts
If your SNAP benefits were stolen, you must complete a Report of Electronic Theft of Illinois Link Benefits claim form and submit it to the Illinois Department of Human Services.
Claims can be submitted:
You can also download the IL444-4986 Report of Electronic Theft of Illinois Link Benefits form online. Complete, sign, and submit the form by mail or in person to your local Family Community Resource Center.
There is a limit on how much SNAP can be replaced. When theft occurs, the replacement amount is the lesser of:
Yes. However, you are only eligible to receive replacement of stolen SNAP benefits two times in a federal fiscal year. The current federal fiscal year is October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024. The Illinois Department of Human Services encourages customers to always submit a claim if benefits have been stolen. You will receive an approval or denial letter explaining the decision.
Retroactive claims, when theft occurred between October 1, 2022 through July 02, 2023, must be filed by July 02, 2024. A report of theft that occurred on or after July 3, 2023 must be reported within 30 calendar days of discovery of the unauthorized transaction and no later than September 30, 2024.
While it is not required to file a police report, it may be helpful in investigating theft incidents.
The Illinois Department of Human Services will send Notice of Decisions for approvals and denials. The Notice of Decision includes a Right to Appeal.
If approved you should expect to receive your benefits on your active Illinois Link card. The claim should be processed within 10 days of receipt of the claim. When the claim is processed a notice will be generated and, if approved, replacement benefits will be loaded to the existing EBT account according to the regular daily schedule.
While you may still file a claim, the Illinois Department of Human Services is unable to replace stolen cash benefits at this time. The claim would be denied.
It is important to report your card as “lost” or “stolen” immediately to prevent your card from being use. The Illinois Department of Human Services is unable to replace benefits in this situation.
Not necessarily. If your Link Card information was obtained through a skimming device at point-of-sale terminal that you utilized, none of your personal information would be captured. However, if you responded to a phishing or similar type of scam where you gave out personal information, your identity could be compromised. If you shared your personal information with a scammer, you should take the appropriate steps to protect your identity. Learn more about identity theft and how to protect yourself.