Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in Maryland may receive a welcome boost to their benefits if they have been victims of welfare theft, government officials have said. As such, the Maryland Department of Human Services (DHS) is expanding the reimbursement program for SNAP recipients.
According to an internal memo sent to staff, DHS revealed that it will expand the program to reimburse stolen food and cash assistance. This means that more SNAP recipients in the state will be able to claim losses after being victims of fraud. The change comes after local advocates and lawmakers questioned the department's interpretation of state law.
The memorandum states that "the department will restore cash and SNAP benefits not covered by the federal program and stolen after October 1, 2022." It further states that stolen SNAP and cash claims will not be subject to prior restrictions related to when a theft must be reported, the number of claims that can be made, or the total amount stolen. Previously, the rules limited the amount of reimbursement victims could receive, but the enhanced DHS program will rectify this.
A department spokesperson told The Baltimore Banner, "We have been committed from the beginning to ensuring that families whose benefits have been stolen can get the help allowed by federal and state law." Attempts were made to contact Maryland DHS for additional comment.
In another statement reported by WMAR2 News, DHS explained that clients whose claims were previously denied or received a partial replacement do not need to submit a new application to receive retroactive reimbursement. The department is currently reviewing all denied SNAP and cash assistance applications submitted between March 1, 2023, and Jan. 31, 2024, and will credit households deemed eligible for additional cash and food assistance benefits.
Vanessa Fleeton, a Baltimore resident, was the victim of $2,000 in stolen benefits. Under the previous rules, she only received a refund of $46. Fleeton waited six months to get her money back in full. Fleeton commented, "I was expecting to be reimbursed for everything that was stolen, but after denial, I received some documents saying that under the law, I should only get up to two months and that two months was $46. I'm glad they recognized the mistake and that this may help others in similar situations."