2025 Propel survey of EBT theft awareness and impact: State supplement

Propel’s 2025 Survey of EBT Theft Awareness and Impact makes it clear that families who rely on EBT are increasingly concerned about theft and are trying to protect themselves, despite the lack of systemic protections nationwide.

We received survey responses from Propel users across the country, but we received the greatest number of responses from California, Florida, New York and Pennsylvania – states that make up about 35% of all SNAP households nationwide and were among the top ten states by approved stolen benefits claims in 2024 according to the USDA.

Below, we share select state insights presented alongside our 2024 EBT theft survey data to highlight changes over time. We hope this data supports policymakers and program administrators in designing effective, systemic solutions for EBT customers.

Propel users are more aware and concerned about EBT theft#propel-users-are-more-aware-and-concerned-about-ebt-theft

Across these four states, we see heightened levels of concern from Propel users around theft compared to last year’s survey, with significant increases in those who are “extremely concerned” about their benefits being stolen.

Propel users are trying to protect themselves from theft#propel-users-are-trying-to-protect-themselves-from-theft

As with our 2024 survey, the vast majority of 2025 survey respondents nationwide report taking steps to protect themselves from theft. This includes state-recommended actions like frequently changing their PIN, checking for compromised card readers, and using tools like card locking. It also includes behaviors that likely provide little or no meaningful protection, such as avoiding online shopping and certain brick-and-mortar stores.

Propel users’ benefits are being stolen inside and outside their home state#propel-users-benefits-are-being-stolen-inside-and-outside-their-home-state

In Pennsylvania and Florida, survey responses indicated a substantial increase in out-of-state theft between the 2024 and 2025 surveys. Responses in California and New York, on the other hand, indicated a shift toward in-state theft.

EBT theft is underreported in official statistics#ebt-theft-is-underreported-in-official-statistics

Between our 2024 and 2025 surveys, the proportion of victims who said they filed reimbursement claims in the past year increased across three of the four states shown below.

However, a significant portion of victims still did not file reimbursement claims, most often because they didn’t know it was an option prior to December 20, 2024, when federal reimbursement ended. In Pennsylvania, most respondents who stated “other” were told that they could not file because federal reimbursement had ended.

Closing the EBT security gap#closing-the-ebt-security-gap

EBT card security substantially lags the experience of mainstream financial services. Additional action is needed from stakeholders across the EBT landscape to help close that gap and provide EBT cardholders with meaningful and systemic protections, and protect them from being pushed into greater hunger, debt, and financial insecurity. Beyond existing efforts to advance the usage of card locking and out-of-state transaction blocking, and chip card adoption, states should consider exploring innovative tools like real-time transaction blocking to narrow the gap between EBT card security and mainstream financial services.

How Propel fights EBT theft#how-propel-fights-ebt-theft

Propel is committed to fighting EBT theft. We provide information to raise awareness around theft. We empower our users to take advantage of security features offered through their state EBT portals, and also offer a proprietary suspicious transaction monitoring tool. And we share data insights with policymakers and program administrators to inform the development of robust, systemic protections for EBT customers.