Thieves stole this Virginia mom’s SNAP benefits. One locality wants to pay victims back.

HENRICOCOUNTY,Va.—AHenricoCountymotherdiscoveredherSNAPbenefitswerestolenthroughunauthorizedtransactions,leavingherstrugglingtofeedherfamily,asabenefitreplacementprogramnolongerexists. ToniHallwasshockedwhenshetriedtouseherSNAPbenefitsatthegrocerystorelastweekanddiscoveredherfundshadbeendrained. “It’snoway…I’mlike,it’snoway,”Hallsaid.“Itriedtousemybenefitsanditwaslike‘insufficientfunds,’andIwaslike,no,IknowIhaveover$500onmycard.” The$500wasstolenthroughunauthorizedtransactionsatstoresshe’snevervisitedorevenheardof. HallsuspectsherEBTcardinformationmayhavebeencompromisedthroughanonlineordersheplacedatWalmartafewdaysprior.Amidreportsofbenefittheft,socialservicesleadershavebeenwarningcustomersagainstplacingonlineorders. “Calledsocialservices.IjusttoldherthatIthinkthey’vebeenhacked.Shelooked,shesaidyourbenefitshavebeenstolen