Thank you, Chair Hudson and members of the Committee for holding this hearing today, and for your continued work to ensure that all New Yorkers, regardless of income, have access to the social safety net they need to survive. I am representing Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, who remains a committed partner in protecting low-income families who are struggling to put food on the table. For this reason, he supports the proposals to establish a SNAP Anti-Fraud Officer within the Department of Social Services, and to call on the State to create a SNAP and Cash Assistance Fraud Victims Fund.
The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest and most effective federal food assistance program in the United States, providing monthly benefits to more than 41 million low-income Americans1 In New York City, SNAP serves 1.73 million residents (32% of households and 21% of individuals), including more than 500,000 children who rely on these benefits to maintain a nutritious diet.2 Accordingly, nearly two-thirds of SNAP benefits in New York City go to families with children.3
Lack of access to healthy food can lead to chronic health conditions in children and adults, including asthma, anemia, cognitive and behavioral problems, anxiety, and depression.4 SNAP participation dramatically improves these health outcomes. Low-income SNAP participants are more likely to report excellent or very good health compared to non-participants.5 Children receiving SNAP report better health and their families are less likely to delay medical care to pay for other necessities.6 According to the American Journal of Public Health, pregnant women on SNAP give birth to fewer low-birthweight babies.7 Adults who received SNAP benefits as children had lower risks of heart disease and diabetes later in life.8 These findings underscore that SNAP is not only a food security program, it is also a public health necessity with long-term benefits.
Saving money on food also allows families to use their limited resources for household necessities such as rent, utilities, and medical expenses.9
Yet the program’s effectiveness depends on participants’ ability to access their full benefits at the time of disbursement. When those benefits are stolen through fraudulent means due to lack of government safeguards, families are left to fend for themselves. Fraud, in this context, steals low-income families’ ability to live a healthy and dignified life.
SNAP fraud typically occurs via card skimming, card cloning, or phishing – when scammers send false emails or text messages claiming a recipients’ Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card has been locked or that they need to verify enrollment by clicking links or calling a phone number prompting them to provide sensitive account information. The recipient will then attempt to use their SNAP benefits at a grocery store, only to find that their benefits have been stolen. A variety of processes exist to prevent such fraud, including the ability to freeze EBT cards between uses, but they are technologically complex and place a heavy burden on SNAP recipients and local governments.
Nationwide, SNAP recipients have filed 465,000 individual reimbursement claims, of which New York accounts for 20%. According to the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), there were 85,000 claims for stolen public benefits filed statewide between 2023 and 2024 alone. In New York City, DSS/HRA reported in early 2025 that nearly 95,000 low-income households had their SNAP and cash assistance benefits stolen through electronic fraud in the prior year, with $47.7 million in losses. 10 Through December 20, 2024, victims of SNAP skimming could apply to the federal government to have stolen benefits replaced, but that program has since expired, leaving New Yorkers without recourse.11
Since then, community-based organizations have been forced to step in, providing emergency food assistance to families who have had their benefits stolen and assisting with fraud claims. Red Hook Initiative alone has filed 85 individual claims totaling more than $40,000 in stolen benefits from Red Hook residents since the federal program ended. According to Homecrest Community Services, more than 51,000 Brooklyn residents have experienced SNAP fraud. Elected officials across Brooklyn report that constituents are flooding their offices seeking help after having their SNAP benefits stolen. Advocates and lawmakers are calling for preventative measures such as chip-enabled EBT cards and stronger fraud protection. 12
Through the 2023 and 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act, the federal government allocated funding for states to provide refunds to victims of SNAP and cash assistance fraud who had their benefits stolen. However, this temporary funding was not extended for 2025 and 2026, leaving thousands of New Yorkers in dire need of a compensation fund. When the federal government fails to protect its most vulnerable, it is the State’s responsibility to step in to fill that gap.
Borough President Reynoso strongly supports Resolution 21, calling on the New York State legislature and Governor to pass and sign A03578/S00403. This legislation would establish a SNAP and cash assistance fraud victims compensation fund and provide immediate relief to thousands of families who have been robbed of the benefits they need to survive.
He also supports the creation of a SNAP Anti-Fraud Officer role, but notes that DSS needs a clear plan for implementation. It is important that the agency prevent unnecessary surveillance or harm to recipients, while ensuring timely support for individuals at risk of losing benefits due to fraud. He encourages close and timely coordination across agencies and community partners to identify patterns, streamline responses, and connect impacted households to rapid assistance. Incorporating accessible reporting mechanisms and strengthening fair hearing processes will help ensure that recipients can contest wrongful benefit loss and receive support.
Additionally, the Borough President calls on DSS to pair enforcement with prevention by investing in modern technological safeguards and public awareness. An investment in technology will reduce the number of skimming scams, which will lead to less fraud. Lastly, he encourages DSS to build partnerships with retailers as integrity stakeholders. With proper training, retailers can report suspicious activity early and protect community members.
Protecting our community’s access to fresh and healthy food options is paramount. Reducing instances of SNAP fraud will ensure that constituents have timely access to their benefits and preserve their wellbeing. Thank you again for the opportunity to testify.
