SNAP Fraud Reimbursement Deadline Extended, Brooklyn Pol Says

BROOKLYN, NY —New York has extended the deadline for victims of food stamp fraud to apply for reimbursement from Sept. 30 to Dec. 20, Brooklyn State Sen. Iwen Chu said on Tuesday.

In July, New York saw a wave of benefit card skimming, which is when hackers drain people's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program accounts, also known as SNAP, Chu and Manhattan Congressman Dan Goldman said.

Chu said the Dec. 20 extension is crucial for families to receive the benefits they depend on to survive.

"My office has assisted more than a hundred fraud victims, highlighting the urgent need to restore skimmed SNAP benefits," Chu said. "As we seek solutions, federal funding is crucial to support victims."

Chu, who is up for reelection this November, also passed legislation this year on the State Senate level to study and combat ongoing SNAP fraud and analyze the role that technology and enhanced security measures should play in preventing it, she said.

"People apply for SNAP because they need it. This theft is being levied against innocent recipients who rely on these benefits to make ends meet," Chu said.