Assemblymember William Colton advocates for an extension of security protocols for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to support recipients without smartphones. The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance recently introduced a smartphone feature allowing users to freeze and unfreeze their benefits to prevent hacking. However, Colton emphasizes that this measure excludes those without access to smartphones. He calls for a more comprehensive solution, such as a secure card system, to protect all SNAP recipients from theft, especially as the federal government has ceased benefit reimbursement since December 2024.
Assemblymember William Colton emphasized the need for New York State to develop a more inclusive security protocol for SNAP benefits, ensuring accessibility for all recipients, regardless of smartphone ownership.
The recently launched program allows smartphone users to freeze and unfreeze their SNAP benefits to minimize the risk of theft from their accounts, a measure prompted by increased unauthorized transactions.
Colton highlighted the ongoing issues faced by SNAP recipients who do not own smartphones, urging for the creation of a secure card system to provide protection for all beneficiaries.
The challenges are compounded for those affected by benefit theft, as many victims struggle to get reimbursed after the federal government ceased reimbursement efforts in December 2024.
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