DC’s electronic benefits program for low-income families has been compromised, leading to the loss of an unknown amount of money from beneficiaries.
DC residents registered with the city’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program started reporting missing benefits from their Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards on March 1, according to DC’s Department of Human Services (DHS).
In a preliminary investigation, DHS identified a pattern consistent with possible compromised benefits, began collecting data, and notified proper personnel.
“We understand how crucial benefits assistance is for our residents and theft of these essential supports is unconscionable,” DHS Director Laura Green Zeilinger said in a press release about the incident.
“I’d like to make three things clear,” Zeilinger continued. “First, we will work with our families to replace funds that were wrongfully removed from their accounts; second, we will closely collaborate with law enforcement to be sure those responsible are held fully accountable; and finally, residents can protect their benefits and stop potential bad actors by heeding our call to immediately change their PIN numbers.”
DHS encourages those who believe their public assistance benefits have been compromised to file a report with DC police by calling 311 — (202) 265-9100 from outside DC — or report it to the DHS Office of Program Review, Monitoring and Investigation (OPRMI) through its 24-hour hotline at (202) 673-4464 or emailing OPRMI@dc.gov with the subject “TANF benefit compromised.” For more details, click here.