SNAP benefits meant to help feed Houston families are ending up in the hands of the wrong people and being spent a thousand miles away in the Chicago area.

Another piece of legislation has been filed in Washington, D.C. to replace stolen SNAP benefits.

The rise in SNAP skimming cases has caught the attention of the top law enforcement agency that oversees financial crimes.

A single mother who had her SNAP benefits stolen and used across the country received a surprise from a Houston nonprofit.

Food banks say income stagnation and rising living costs are increasing demand at their organizations across the country — all as the federal government shuts off funding streams that provide millions with healthier, harder-to-get groceries.

The cards used by millions of Americans to purchase food for their family don’t have modern security features, experts say.

People across the country have reported an increasing number of cases where their SNAP benefits have been stolen and used, leaving them with little to no money for food.

SNAP benefits stolen via skimming are hitting families hard, with no funds to replace them.

Congressman Al Green has introduced a new bill to help Americans who’ve had their food benefits stolen.

A day after legislation was announced by Congressman Al Green that would bring back federal funding to replace stolen SNAP benefits, elected leaders are already chiming in.

After weeks of reporting on a growing number of Houstonians who had their SNAP benefits stolen, a solution could be in the works.

For some families in Texas, the monthly deposit of SNAP benefits onto their Lone Star card is the only way they can put food on the table.

A single mother in Houston now has to find another way to feed her three children after someone stole her SNAP benefits on Monday.

An advocacy group called Make Texans Healthy Again (MHTA) praised the move by the Texas Senate in a news release as a way to keep people from using food stamps to buy soda, candy or other “ultra-processed products with no nutritional value.”

As the Edinburg facility and others seek to assist people experiencing food insecurity, state lawmakers have more than a dozen bills that could tackle Texas’ food deserts.

A push to ban sugary drinks, candy and more from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program may soon get a boost from new Trump Administration officials.

Governor Greg Abbott announced Thursday that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission received federal approval extending the time that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients impacted by Hurricane Beryl can purchase hot foods and ready-to-eat meals with their benefits until Sept. 15.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that residents across multiple counties in Texas have been approved for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced Tuesday that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) received federal approval allowing recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to apply for replacement benefits for food lost or destroyed in last week’s storms.

🚨 Attention 🚨 Did you lose all your food during a recent power outage and don't have insurance? We've got you covered! Check out our latest article on how you can get reimbursed for the food you lost, even without insurance. #PowerOutage #Reimbursement #FoodAssistance #HoustonStrong 💪🏼💡

Texas has booted the most people from Medicaid of any state in the country. A majority of those removed lost their health insurance coverage because of procedural reasons.

Inflation, stagnant federal funding for food programs and high housing costs mean that demand at food banks still hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic levels.

The manager of the long-troubled water system in Missisisppi’s capital city has proposed a slight rate increase.

Texas Democrats in Congress are urging the federal government to audit the state’s Medicaid eligibility system

A federal shutdown would put thousands of Texans in financial precarity. Congress has less than a week left until the end of the fiscal year on Oct. 1, and a shutdown appears imminent.

The must-pass package of legislation known as the farm bill, which is renewed every five years, funds critical crop insurance and loans to farmers and food to low-income families.

A requirement to work 80 hours a month, starting in September, could affect 44,000 Texans over age 49. Meanwhile, attention in Congress shifts to the farm bill’s significant impact on food stamp policy.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in a dozen Texas counties can apply for replacement benefits for food lost or destroyed in severe storms occurring June 14-16, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday.

A new state law increases what SNAP applicants’ vehicles can be worth before they’re disqualified for federal food assistance. But most states don’t take car values into consideration at all.

Democrats are deeply conflicted about the food aid requirements that President Joe Biden negotiated as part of the debt ceiling deal.

Texas Health and Human Services Commission announced Wednesday that it will replace the stolen Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for several families.

A Republican attempt to expand work requirements for federal food aid in debt legislation moving through Congress would increase federal spending by $2.1 billion over 10 years.

The value of a household’s vehicles disqualified nearly 55,000 people seeking federal food assistance in 2022. House Bill 1287 increases the threshold of car values that lead to SNAP applicants being denied aid.

The federal Farm Bill is must-pass legislation that Congress debates every five years. It includes billions of dollars in farm subsidies and pays for food assistance programs.

Work requirements for federal aid programs have emerged as a sticking point in ongoing negotiations over raising the nation’s debt ceiling, and President Joe Biden has signaled openness to a possible compromise even as many in his party have balked.

A single mom of three is struggling to provide for her family after she says someone used her SNAP benefit card.

During the pandemic, Texans received extra money on their Lone Star cards through the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, also known as food stamps. That extra money ends this month.

Pregnancy forced Destiny Williams to quit her job. She almost died during childbirth. Now with a newborn in tow, she’s struggling to build a more stable life for her and her children.

Governor Greg Abbott announced Thursday that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is providing more than $344.1 million in emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits for the month of January. The allotments are expected to help about 1.6 million Texas households.

Crafty thieves have found a way to steal food stamp benefits from families who need them most.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced Friday the Texas Health and Human Services Commission will provide more than $341.4 million in emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food benefits for the month of December.

Governor Greg Abbott announced Friday that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is providing more than $344.9 million in emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits for the month of September. The allotments are expected to help about 1.6 million Texas households.

The pressures pushing up costs for consumers are also hitting agencies trying to combat hunger, making it hard to keep up with rising demand for their aid.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission is extending emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits for the month of June in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday.

HHSC received federal approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to extend the maximum, allowable amount of SNAP benefits to recipients based on family size. The emergency March allotments are in addition to the more than $2.5 billion in benefits previously provided to Texans since April 2020. AdAdministered by HHSC, SNAP is a federal program that provides food assistance to approximately 1.6 million eligible low-income families and individuals in Texas. Texans in need can apply for benefits, including SNAP and Medicaid, at YourTexasBenefits.com or use the Your Texas Benefits mobile app to manage their benefits. “Providing emergency SNAP benefits is critical to our state’s ongoing COVID-19 response because it ensures that Texas families can continue to put healthy meals on the table,” said Governor Abbott.

Texas families receiving pandemic-era federal food assistance for students who qualify for free or reduced-price school meals will soon see a 15% increase in their benefits. That additional aid is one of three food access issues President Joe Biden addressed in an executive order last week. Out of all 50 states, Texas registered the fourth highest rate of food scarcity in the last week. However, SNAP benefits remain widely recognized as one of the best ways to stimulate the economy during a crisis. A recent analysis from the USDA’s Economic Research Service estimates that $1.54 in economic activity results from every federal dollar spent on SNAP benefits.

HOUSTON – The Texas Health and Human Services Commission will provide approximately $204 million in emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, food benefits for the month of December as the state continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The emergency December allotments are in addition to the almost $1.7 billion in benefits previously provided to Texans between April and November. HHSC received federal approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to extend the maximum, allowable amount of SNAP benefits to recipients based on family size. Texans in need can apply for benefits, including SNAP and Medicaid, at YourTexasBenefits.com or use the Your Texas Benefits mobile app to manage their benefits. “The extension of these emergency SNAP benefits ensures that Texans can continue to provide nutritious food for their families during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Texas Gov.

Here are things to know for Friday, Nov. 6:1. Who voted for Trump? Here’s how the vote broke across Houston and TexasVoters in Texas turned out in huge numbers during the election. “I thank our partners at the USDA for extending these emergency benefits for the month of November.”Read more. Plans for 2021 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo announcedThe Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo announced its plans for the 2021 livestock show Thursday. Freeport police Chief Ray Garivey swore in Abigail, who was battling Wilms tumor -- a form of kidney cancer.

Gov. Greg Abbott announced the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will provide approximately $202 million in emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits for the month of November as the state continues its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Geg Abbott announced the extension of emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food benefits for the month of September on Monday. Abbott said the Texas Health and Human Services Commission will provide approximately $188 million in emergency SNAP food benefits as the state continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal funding was approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to extend the maximum, allowable amount of SNAP benefits to recipients based on family size. “Texas will continue to ensure access to nutritious meals as we mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” Abbott said. Texans in need can apply for benefits, including SNAP and Medicaid, at YourTexasBenefits.com or use the Your Texas Benefits mobile app to manage their benefits.

As part of our Ask 2 series, the newsroom will answer your questions about all things Houston. Question: Are SNAP benefits also being extended to August for P-EBT cardholders? Answer: No, the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) remains a one-time benefit of $285 for families with school-aged children who have temporarily lost access to free or reduced-price school meals because of closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the deadline to apply for P-EBT has been extended to Aug. 21, according to a press release from the Office of the Texas Governor. Families who receive SNAP benefits do not need to apply as they will automatically receive the funds on their current Lone Star Card.

Geg Abbott announced the extension of emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food benefits for the month of August on Thursday. Abbott said the Texas Health and Human Services Commission will provide approximately $185 million in emergency SNAP food benefits as the state continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal funding was approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to extend the maximum, allowable amount of SNAP benefits to recipients based on family size. “By extending this emergency SNAP funding, the State of Texas is helping to ensure families can continue to put food on the table,” Abbott said. Texans in need can apply for benefits, including SNAP and Medicaid, at YourTexasBenefits.com or use the Your Texas Benefits mobile app to manage their benefits.

Greg Abbott signed an executive order Thursday requiring all Texans to wear masks or face coverings in public places and in businesses. There are few exceptions to the order that came as Texas continues to see swelling coronavirus numbers. While Abbott signed the order Thursday afternoon, it is set to go into effect at noon on Friday, July 3. Texas announces extension of emergency SNAP benefits amid COVID-19 pandemicGov. U.S. Army Specialist Aaron Robinson, 20, who officials say committed suicide earlier this week, is accused of killing Guillen.

Greg Abbott announced Thursday the state will provide $182 million in emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits for the month of July, as the state continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) received federal approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to extend the maximum, allowable amount of SNAP benefits to recipients based on family size. “The extension of these emergency SNAP benefits helps ensure that Texans can provide nutritious food for their families as the state continues to combat COVID-19,” said Abbott. The emergency July allotments are in addition to the $628 million in benefits previously provided to Texans in April, May and June. “We’ll continue to make sure Texans can access the services they need as this situation evolves.”Texans in need can apply for benefits, including SNAP and Medicaid, at YourTexasBenefits.com or use the Your Texas Benefits mobile app to manage their benefits.

Since the week ending March 14, just shy of 2.1 million Texans have filed for unemployment benefits, more than in all of 2019. Food policy advocates are still pushing for the state to remove asset restrictions that disqualify most families who own a car valued at more than $15,000 from getting SNAP, Cooper said. Pandemic-EBT benefits were paid out through Lone Star Cards — the card SNAP families use for groceries — to hasten distribution. SNAP families with eligible children were automatically enrolled in the program and should have all gotten their benefits as of Thursday, Cooper said. Families that don’t have SNAP benefits can apply for Pandemic-EBT in June, Cooper said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture gave Texas the go-ahead Monday to distribute emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to families with children eligible for free and reduced-cost school meals, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, announced in a statement. The program — known as Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer — is meant to replace the meals children would normally get at school. About two-thirds of Texas schoolchildren are eligible for free and reduced-cost meals at school, Cornyn said. Families who already receive SNAP should see that amount show up on their account automatically. Those who don’t have SNAP benefits should get a Pandemic-EBT card, which works like a debit card, in the mail after submitting their application, Cooper said.

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Health and Human Services will provide more than $168 million in emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food benefits to help people in the state during the COVID-19 response, Gov. HHS got federal approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide the maximum allowable number of SNAP benefits to recipients based on family size, according to a news release. Anyone receiving SNAP benefits is included. “SNAP, commonly referred to as the food stamp program, supplements the budget of the working poor. "The additional food subsidy announced today by Governor Abbott, although still supplemental, will help fill a portion of the financial gap created by the economic crisis resulting from this pandemic.

(CNN) -- A federal judge has temporarily blocked a Trump administration federal rule from going into effect next month that could have seen nearly 700,000 people lose access to food stamps, noting in part a need for flexibility as state and federal officials work to address nutritional needs during the coronavirus pandemic. In an order handed down Friday, the Howell granted a preliminary injunction and a stay on portions of a federal rule from the US Department of Agriculture. The final USDA rule was expected to take effect on April 1. Howell called aspects of the USDA rule "likely unlawful because they are arbitrary and capricious." The rule is one of three Trump administration efforts to overhaul SNAP and tighten the rules governing who qualifies for aid.