Submitted by AnonymousHillStaffer t3_ycfxvx in washingtondc
As the headline states, my 5-year-old daughter received an EBT card in the mail. I contacted the DC's DHS fraud hotline (as listed in the letter), but you're supposed to leave a message and they will call you back.
Has this ever happened to anybody else, and are there any benefits that might have been taken out in my child's name that I should be concerned about?
Appreciate any guidance from the community.
Her identity has been stolen. You are correct in contacting DC DHS to get the EBT account sorted, but that may take some time.
The more immediate concern is damage control for her credit and identity. You can't do anything quickly to close what they've opened, but you can stop them from opening more.
Freeze her credit online with the big 3 credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) and request a credit report from one of them (it's free). This report will tell you if, and what, other accounts have been opened using her identity so that you can contact the fraud department at each to get them shut down.
It will be a mess to clean up, but as I said the most important part at this point is to try to stop the bleeding as quickly as possible.
I don't know all the details but my neighbors with kids mentioned it was a benefit that went out to children enrolled in DC schools. I did a quick Google and I think this is the name of the program. In any case your kid's identity is likely fine; maybe contact your school admin if you have questions. https://www.aje-dc.org/2022/08/25/dc-approved-for-fiscal-year-2022-pandemic-electronic-benefit-transfer-p-ebt/
Students enrolled in DCPS that are Title 1, iifc, have these sent out. I just got one as well.
And put in for a credit freeze on her. Somebody is trying to commit identity theft.
Lol calm down... kid is prob in Title 1 school
And that's relevant how??
Because every child in a title 1 school automatically gets an EBT card.
Ah. Well that's a quite critical piece of contextual info you left out. But good to know! Maybe OP doesn't have to worry then.
As other have commented:
> In any case your kid's identity is likely fine; maybe contact your school admin if you have questions.
>
>https://www.aje-dc.org/2022/08/25/dc-approved-for-fiscal-year-2022-pandemic-electronic-benefit-transfer-p-ebt/
Ah I see now. Good information to know. Much better than identity theft.
We got one of these as well (my kid is in a title 1 school). Will there be any tax consequences for this? Will we have to report if we use it? I feel like I’ve had to do a few questionnaires for work (federal gov) where they’ve asked if I’ve accessed social programs/ benefits like this. Would I have to answer yes now, or is this more like a stimulus payment? TIA!
I have the same questions! We also got ours because we are enrolled in a title 1 school, but we wouldn’t otherwise qualify and the kid is too young to spend them herself. I could honestly use the help with food $$ but don’t want to be penalized.
Yeah I feel ya. I’d use it if I knew it was okay!
I think I’m going to use it. The program is over and we didn’t even need to apply so I am comfortable saying we didn’t apply for benefits and couldn’t possibly have committed fraud since it was just sent to us because of our school. Worst case they ask me to repay it right.
So, I got one too. I called them and spoke to a human, and they verified it's legit. All students at Community Eligibility Provision schools were given a one-time $391 food benefit for summer 2022 as part of the pandemic school funding. You can see a list of the schools in question online.
I would be like “Harris teeter here we come!” We eating steak tonight!
No obviously one shouldn’t spend that doesn’t belong to the person.
Leans over with a whisper: but when y’all cooking that steak? I can stop by and come through the back.
A bunch of kids who don’t qualify for free/reduced lunch also got them at my kids’ school (which is not a title 1 school)… we were told it had something to do with being in Ward 8? but whatever the case, multiple parents called about them, and they’re legit.
The man running the meat dept at the local HT told me the best time for markdowns is around 7 AM, if you don't mind buying stuff you need to use up quickly.
Kids are some of the biggest targets for identity theft. Definitely protect your finances in case they hit you next.
We got them for our kids. Been using them too! It’s free money… $391 each. I didn’t ask for it but might as well use it!
I do volunteer tax prep for folks and EBT is not taxable. Quick Google says it's the same for P-EBT (this program). Couldn't answer about the Fed stuff.
Thanks, I’ll look into this. Our address is technically ward seven and my child goes to public school, however, we don’t qualify for the benefit - which is why I’m shocked.
You do qualify for the benefit if your child attends a school where all children are eligible, which is most schools in DC. See the table which was linked on the DHS website: https://dhs.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dhs/service_content/attachments/School%20List_2.pdf
It’s most likely the school’s enrollment list was sent in and everyone got them
Most likely the government signed them up because they qualify through their school.
Good to know. Thanks for the tip!
I'm laughing at the hilarity of OP realizing their child is on food stamps just because of where she lives.
Reminds me of my (by marriage) uncle being horrendously offended that he HAD to take social security at 70 1/2.
Sounds like a great program that should be better communicated.
We’re in Nova And every time little one misses school or there is no school, they add funds. It’s to make sure kids are getting fed at home in case school is their only option for hot food regularly.
We were genuinely surprised too but it’s because of the children that went without during the pandemic.
🤪 Also, as a Ward 7 resident myself, I am curious about the part of Ward 7 that is only "technically" part of the ward...?
No, these cards were initially sent out during COVID. They told parents to hold onto them as they may load them on the future. There is no reporting.
The Mayor did a press release on the additional funding to be distributed at the end of September.
This program started during the pandemic. Parents were advised to hold onto the cards as they may continue funding. Majority of schools-public & charter received these funds. If you got the card in the mail, they got your info from the school registry. It's P-EBT, not regular EBT which you have to sign up for.
Enjoy and eat well!!
[deleted]
Buying? They buying with their free ebt card. Buying? Shakes head walks away.
BLUF: It’s P-EBT (Pandemic EBT). It’s a one-time benefit that is part of the federal government’s Coronavirus response, and administered by the USDA and State (or District, as the case may be) SNAP programs. Cards were supposed to go out, starting in August. The OP’s kid was enrolled, most likely as a result of being enrolled in kindergarten at a CEP participating elementary school.
Kids are eligible if they were enrolled in FARM (Free and Reduced Price Meals) in 2021-2022, and/or received SNAP (Supplemental Nutrional Assistance Program) during the same time frame, and/or were enrolled in a CEP school for the 2022-2023 school year.
CEP provides individual schools (basically Title I schools) a waiver to provide FARM to their entire student bodies. It is a more tailored replacement for the blanket nationwide waivers provided by the USDA during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years.
Depressing to think there are entire schools full of children that are (at risk of) not being fed by their parents to the extent that a broad program like this is needed.
I think it was more so the parents didn’t have the resources. It’s another reason why free lunches were given out during the past few summers. A lot of people lost their jobs and it was a program to make food one less thing to worry about.
I’m guessing OP lives in the part of Kingman Park/Barney Circle/Hill East that got added to Ward 7 in the most recent redrawing of the ward maps.
You're right, I was amused by the word "technically," as if Hill East somehow must distinguish itself from the rest of Ward 7. Also Kingman Park has been part of Ward 7 for at least 20 years.
Got it! Yeah I also think it’s a little funny. I thought Kingman Park was divided between Wards 6 and 7 until the most recent redraw. TIL.
It gets deducted from the amount on the card, so yes, it is buying, and they'll get a hell of a lot more stuff if they know how and when to shop. I see economics is not your forte.
It’s a joke. This person has an ebt card they Don’t need. So they can afford ri splurge. Time for steak and lobster from the GOOD grocery store.
It is a joke. The card should be returned not used for a shopping spree. Obviously. Don’t mention this when you’re in line at Harris Teeter. Meet me in the alley behind the store. I ordered an Uber to load up rhthe vittles.
-myBIGD t1_itlyr4p wrote
Pull a credit report for your daughter.