But for too many, those funds are being stolen before they can ever be used, as increasingly sophisticated criminal networks turn EBT theft into a growing national crisis. “Families who rely on EBT cards often lack a financial buffer, so having your EBT benefits stolen can directly result in skipped meals. Propel’s report reveals that EBT theft is increasingly organized, cross-state, and strategically timed. In CA, the introduction of EBT chip cards dropped the % of EBT theft victims from 19% to 8%. The full EBT Theft Report is available here.

Source: The Herald April 03, 2026 11:44 UTC