Sen. Michele Brooks, alongside Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh and State Inspector General Michelle Henry, announced a new measure aimed at protecting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. At a press conference in Harrisburg, they introduced a feature that allows SNAP recipients to lock and unlock their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards using a secure mobile app.
This initiative responds to an increase in electronic benefit theft, including incidents reported in Brooks’ district. In February alone, Crawford County saw over 100 cases of benefit thefts with losses exceeding $10,000.
Between October 2022 and December 2024, DHS recorded more than 38,000 reports of stolen SNAP benefits and processed over 23,000 claims.
“These thieves aren’t just stealing taxpayer money,” said Brooks. “They’re stealing food from children, seniors and families already struggling to make ends meet. That includes right here in our communities in northwest Pennsylvania, including Meadville, where we’ve seen families victimized by these scams.”
Brooks praised the new locking feature as a proactive step empowering SNAP recipients to protect their benefits from criminals.
“I applaud the Department of Human Services and Inspector General Michelle Henry for working to find real solutions to stop these crimes from happening,” Brooks said. “This new tool gives families more control over their benefits and makes it much harder for scammers to prey on our most vulnerable neighbors. I commend their work to combat fraud and protect the integrity of programs that so many rely on. It’s a strong, commonsense step toward making sure these benefits reach the people who truly need them.”
The card lock option allows users to temporarily disable their EBT card when not in use, helping prevent unauthorized access. This feature is available through the state’s myCOMPASS PA mobile app, which now includes a step-by-step video tutorial from DHS.
More information about EBT scams and security can be found on the Department of Human Services website.
