Arkansas Department of Human Services, United States Department of Agriculture, Arkansas State Leaders, and Members of Congress

We, the undersigned, urge state and federal officials to take immediate action to protect Arkansas children and families who depend on Summer EBT benefits for food assistance during the summer months.

Across Arkansas, families have reported EBT benefits being stolen through card skimming, cloning, and other forms of electronic fraud. When these benefits are stolen, children lose access to food that was specifically intended to help them when school meals are unavailable. For many families, the loss of Summer EBT benefits creates immediate hardship and increases the risk of hunger.

Summer EBT benefits are not a luxury—they are a lifeline. Children should not go hungry because criminals exploit weaknesses in EBT systems.

We Call for the Following Actions:

Immediate Replacement of Stolen Summer EBT Benefits

• Allow Arkansas families whose Summer EBT benefits were stolen through fraud to receive replacement benefits after reporting and verifying the theft.
• Establish a clear, accessible process for reporting stolen benefits and requesting reimbursement.

Enhanced EBT Security Measures

• Accelerate the transition from magnetic stripe cards to secure chip-enabled EBT cards.
• Require multi-factor authentication and account alerts where feasible.
• Expand fraud monitoring systems to detect suspicious transactions before benefits are lost

Consumer Protection and Education

• Provide families with information about protecting their EBT cards and PINs.
• Notify recipients immediately when suspicious activity is detected.

Transparency and Accountability

• Publicly report data on EBT fraud incidents and recovery efforts.
• Regularly update the public on progress toward stronger EBT security protections.

Why This Matters

Every dollar stolen from a Summer EBT card is food taken from a child. Families who qualify for Summer EBT have already demonstrated financial need. They should not bear the burden of criminal activity or technological vulnerabilities beyond their control.

Arkansas has an opportunity to lead by ensuring that children receive the nutritional support intended for them and by implementing stronger safeguards to prevent future theft. Replacing stolen benefits and modernizing EBT security will help ensure that no child loses access to food because of fraud.

Our Request

We respectfully ask Arkansas state leaders, the Arkansas Department of Human Services, federal officials, and lawmakers to enact policies that:

• Replace stolen Summer EBT benefits for affected families.
• Strengthen EBT card security statewide.
• Protect children from food insecurity caused by benefit theft.
• Hold fraudsters accountable while ensuring families are not punished for crimes committed against them.
• Protect Arkansas families.
• Replace stolen Summer EBT benefits.
• Strengthen EBT security now.

Children should never go hungry because their food benefits were stolen.

Sign this petition to help ensure Arkansas children receive the food assistance they need and deserve.