Council Member Sandra Ung has sounded the alarm over the escalating cases of stolen Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which have left many vulnerable New Yorkers struggling to afford basic necessities.

Speaking at a public event on Friday, Ung, alongside fellow government officials and victims, emphasized the pressing need to combat and prevent this growing issue.

“Too many New Yorkers are being robbed of the money they rely on to put food on the table,” Ung stated, highlighting the dire consequences of these thefts.

Between August 1 and December 10 of last year, her district recorded a staggering 1,990 claims for stolen SNAP benefits across just five ZIP codes. The crisis overwhelmed her district office, which processed over 335 applications for Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) replacement funds.

To address this urgent problem, Congresswoman Grace Meng is set to introduce legislation that would provide replacement benefits for victims of SNAP fraud. Meanwhile, State Senator John Liu and Assemblyman Sam Berger are backing legislation in Albany aimed at enhancing the security of EBT cards.

Ung stressed the importance of swift action to protect vulnerable families. “It is imperative that we act on these common-sense solutions now because no one should have to choose between hunger and hardship because of preventable fraud,” she urged.

With legislative efforts underway at both the federal and state levels, advocates hope that stronger protections and improved security measures will soon offer much-needed relief to those affected by SNAP benefit theft.