SNAP Cardholders Could See Delays In Getting Replacement Cards

A new announcement from the state Department of Human Services could send shock waves through Oklahoma's poorest communities.  

Those who need help from the state to buy food may have to wait an extra week to get lost or stolen food benefit cards replaced.

According to a release from the department, 25,000 SNAP benefit cards are issued each month. 

Of those, 15,000 will be replaced that same month. A monumental task for a cash strapped agency.

“It's putting a terrible strain on the department. We are down about a 1,200 employees, and just 900 employees since the beginning of last fiscal year,” said Mark Beutler, spokesman for DHS.

Those looking to replace their cards will now have to go directly to the card printer, Xerox to order their new cards instead of going to DHS. That could mean waiting up to seven days for a new card with the exception of first time users, those with child care needs or households with emergencies.

Those individuals could be able to have their cards expedited, according to the release.

“For someone who relies on SNAP benefits to put food on the table to put food on the table, a week can be a long time,” Beutler said.

DHS officials say most of those 15,000 replaced cards are because the original is genuinely lost or stolen and say only a tiny fraction of those reports are fraud. According to the USDA, less than $0.01 of every SNAP dollar goes to fraud.

Beutler added they track how many times each year a SNAP account card is reported lost or stolen. He said after four reports, the cardholder is notified of a potential investigation upon receiving their fifth card that year.

“If there’s a chance that somebody’s trying to cheat the system, which obviously happens occasionally, there’s a good chance they’re going to get caught,” Beutler said.

Card holders needing to replace a lost card can go online at www.connectebt.com or call 1 (888)-328-6551 for help.