At a rally in Red Hook, community leaders and government officials called for legislative reform to combat the rising issue of SNAP fraud through stolen EBT benefits. Since the federal SNAP reimbursement fund ended in December 2023, thousands of New Yorkers have not received reimbursements, leaving many families vulnerable. The Red Hook Initiative reported filing 85 claims amounting to over $40,000 in losses for local residents. The statistics showed that New York accounts for 20% of national claims, with dire consequences for those affected, underlining the pressing need for enhanced protective measures.
"Urgent action is needed to protect critical food resources for families in need." - Michael Partis, urging for changes to address EBT theft and support affected families.
"Of the over 465,000 SNAP reimbursement claims filed nationwide, New York accounted for 20% of those claims." - detailing the significant impact of SNAP fraud in New York.
"The total amount of stolen SNAP assistance was $65 million during the same period with nearly $40 million worth of benefits being replaced with federal dollars." - highlighting the financial repercussions of SNAP fraud.
"Over 51,000 Brooklyn residents have experienced SNAP fraud." - emphasizing the widespread nature of the issue within Brooklyn specifically.
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