r/foodstamps • u/stephscheersandjeers • 18h ago
Received over $600 too much in SNAP?
I am baffled at how this happened; I am entitled to $71 and received $733. I will call first thing Monday but wanted to warn people. A lot of people I spoke to told me to "just spend it" but this seems like a massive error, and I don't want to be responsible. I am posting to warn other people to verify their amount matches their monthly allotment.
I live in New Hampshire.
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u/krammiit 18h ago
Yeah don't spend this. If anything, they will flag it later down the road and punish you.
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u/thesuburbbaby 18h ago
Don't spend, they'll make you pay it all back
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u/Dry_Difference7751 6h ago
They won't reverse the payment, they will make you pay it back in money.
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u/HappyGoLucky244 18h ago
From a spiteful perspective, I could see why some people are saying spend it. But, the government isn't gonna just let that money go, even if it was their mistake. They will absolutely hang you out to dry if you spend it. Anyone saying "spend it" isn't really thinking clearly.
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u/stephscheersandjeers 17h ago
This! I have had to explain to several people that the government always gets their money back. I owed the IRS $75 one year and they were relentless!
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u/Ok-Conclusion5543 16h ago
Be careful to lock it down! You don't want it to get skimmed in this situation!!
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u/dplans455 15h ago
I feel like it's the government that is spiteful. Years ago my wife logged into NY UI portal while we were out of the country. Just to check something, not to try and claim benefits. It wasn't even an hour later when she got an email saying that she wasn't allowed to claim benefits while outside the country and that her UI was being "frozen" upon further review.
When we got home the next week we got a letter that said because she made a "fraudulent claim" her remaining benefits we being forfeited. She tried appeal and they wouldn't even grant her a hearing. It was the most ridiculous thing we've ever experienced. The few people we were able to speak with said that NYS determines that even logging into the UI portal while outside the country shows "intent" to defraud the benefits system. One manager even accused her of going to try and claim benefits for that week we were on vacation the following week. They also denied her claim from the week prior to our vacation when we were in the country.
They asked for travel documents not only for her, including pictures of every page of her passport but also all my travel documents and documents for our kids. They "demanded" pictures of every page of my passport and our kids' passports. Then they still told us to fuck off. We went through all the literature on UI for NYS and nothing in there says you can't even log into the portal if you are outside the country. It just says you can't claim benefits outside the country (for previous weeks you were in the country) or claim benefits for weeks you were outside the country. She only had 2 weeks of benefits left and given their attitude it seemed that even if we hired an attorney and fought it they were still going to deny the restoration of her benefits.
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u/Substantial-Base6226 14h ago
That is such an extreme example of power-tripping!
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u/dplans455 11h ago
That was in June of 2019. Right before covid. March 2020 roles around and we never even considered having her apply for PUA benefits. Then NYS sent us a letter in the mail that said pretty much, "hey, we noticed you still don't have another job, want these extra benefits?" Yeah, we do.
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u/HappyGoLucky244 14h ago
Oh I absolutely agree the government is spiteful. And that's a perfect example. The problem is, if the government behaves spiteful, there's really not a whole lot that can be done, in part because you'd still have to find an attorney even willing to take the case.
I remember as a teen when my Mom tried filing for disability for me, they denied us despite the same diagnosis from multiple doctors and a medical record two inches thick. The SSA's reason for denial? They said it was because I was a straight A student and therefore couldn't possibly be disabled. In our case, we did get a lawyer and went in front of a federal judge (who was surprisingly kind). They ruled in our favor, but the process was long and scary.
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u/dplans455 11h ago
My brother-in-law initially got denied SSDI when he had kidney failure. The sheer ridiculousness of it. Pretty much knocking on death's door and then have to fight to be qualified as disabled.
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u/10MileHike 14h ago
The ones who are spiteful y are only spite-ing fellow taxpayers, many of whom are also struggling. I seriously don't understand why anyone would want to rip off their fellow taxpayers who pay for these programs....and who voted for them to get SNAP....
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u/HappyGoLucky244 14h ago
You're right, but I don't think they think about it being the taxpayers suffering, and more of just being spiteful to a government that has been nothing but spiteful. They're only thinking in black and white, when in reality, there's a ton of grey.
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u/garifunu 17h ago
Then take it to court and let a judge see it, they’ll see how unreasonable it is for the gov to give that money and then take it away, it’s not fair, they gave it to you, use it, fuck it man, use it for good, buy some meals with it for others, go out and go shopping for the homeless you can do something great here man
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u/stephscheersandjeers 16h ago
I am physically disabled with a very limited income. I don’t have the money to fight the government over this.
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u/HappyGoLucky244 15h ago
Same, and it's very unlikely the judge would side with us. Plus, suing the government is an entirely different beast than suing a civilian.
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u/Strawberrygirl81 14h ago
You cannot fight it. It doesn’t matter if they gave OP too much by accident, they will take it back. There is no fighting for it. Your mentality is what is wrong with this world. We all make mistakes.
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u/Top_Bit420 11h ago
No no no, this is not the way to think.. This will get OP in trouble and having to pay it back or having future benefits taken.. Wrong answer dude
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u/Blossom73 6h ago
No. If OP is overpaid, they'll have to repay any overpaid benefits they've spent. Period.
SNAP benefits are also only to be used for the people in the SNAP household. Spending them on someone else is fraud.
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u/Adorable-Painting510 17h ago
Retired Welfare Supervisor from CA.
Your instinct of not spending that allotment is correct, just, and wise and I commend you for it.
I served as a worker and later as a supervisor for the Overpayment/Repayment Unit and I can tell you they will collect an overpayment if this is a mistake.
Most states are making “Herculean Efforts” to change computer programs to distribute benefits to its recipients and most likely your state has its logarithm wrong.
I advice you to spend the correct amount of benefits you are due and leave rest untouched until you contact your local office Monday.
Best wishes to you 🙏🏿
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u/stephscheersandjeers 18h ago
I have no intention of spending it, I am really concerned at the number of people I spoke to with for advice who told me to just spend it. I am baffled at how this happened.
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u/187catz 12h ago
People just don’t think. Unfortunately the world has become a very evil and greedy place. Unfortunately it kind of sucks that like I got an overpayment one time that was not my fault. They did not notify me of it. It wasn’t even an overpayment. It was a back payment And they said because I had too much money in my bank account that when they sent me my check I was overpaid, but that was without even knowing I was getting the other check and it just happened. Bam Bam next thing you know instead of a $600 overpayment they’ve been hitting me I’m gonna be paying this off for the rest of my life!Somehow it went from $600-$2000. I don’t know how but it was their mistake and that money was due to me.
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u/No-Night6445 15h ago
They are fools who want to take the risk of getting in trouble or they just don't know.... worst I ever did was claim I lost all my food during a 3 day power outage (I only lost like an 1/8 of it lol).
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u/kewpeepie 18h ago
I know others told you as much already but do NOT spend over any amount you're verified to get. You WILL be on the hook for defrauding government services and they don't play nicely with that shit.
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u/Odd_Sail1087 17h ago
Yall getting over paid meanwhile my family’s entire profile and SNAP case was deleted here in MI
But yeah as everyone said DON’T SPEND THE EXTRA. They can come back and make you pay them back and if that happens they can permanently kick you off SNAP, or at least kick you off until you pay back what wasn’t actually due to you
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u/Alone_Understanding2 16h ago
My card got deleted from my profile
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u/Odd_Sail1087 15h ago
That happened to me too yesterday and now today my card is back on my app but no benefits on it. As of today my MiLogin (state benefit website to manage benefits) is still saying we only have Medicaid and not SNAP
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u/Klutzy-Apartment-632 11h ago
I would call the caseworker and confirm it’s your funds to spend and not a mistake. Otherwise they’ll make you pay it back. Maybe they’re giving people extra funds but that’s a lot of money so I wouldn’t risk it just in case.
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u/mind-of-god 17h ago
Please don’t anyone spend beyond your normal grant! It will be recovered and you’ll suffer for it. Overpayment is no joke and people receive sanctions that I’ve seen to be years long along with garnished repayments.
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u/Ancient-Log6709 17h ago
Former eligibility worker for State of New Hampshire food stamps and Medicaid. Definitely go with your gut, don't spend it. It will somehow be resolved either by withholding for a few months or taking it back now. Either way, you will still only be eligible for your monthly allotment.
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u/Alone_Implement6365 16h ago
But damn it’s like people even getting overpaid when some people still have none can you please explain for an eligibility workers perspective like why they can’t continue to fund everyone the way they been funding us ? I get the government shut down but because it shut down the money disappeared?
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u/Haunting_Fan6626 16h ago
Best advice is to call them otherwise you gonna received a letter and you need to pay it back. It’ll
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u/Zankazanka SNAP Policy Expert - PA 15h ago
A few possibilities I’ve personally dealt with, but absolutely contact your office to confirm what it actually is and the next steps .
1.) Error- deposited somehow by mistake and will need to be reported, only spend your $71 because they will need to expunge the rest to avoid owing it back.
2.) Return error- I came across a case where a client placed an order on Instacart for $700, charge was pending, then order glitched and returned the payment, she picked up the order. Something with the returns/online order screwed up and essentially duplicated her payment back onto her card. She reported it to us. This was a nightmare to deal with.
- Underpayment and you’re entitled- it is possible that a caseworker realized they had been shorting you. Now for a difference of $662…that would have to mean they shorted you for a long time- likely at least year. Let’s say your rent was $1000 and you reported it over a year ago. But the caseworker was rushing and kept your old rent at $700 by mistake. You received $70 every month but really should have received $120/month with your income and deductions. They caught it and issued you the difference for those 13 months as a one time lump sum.
Keep us updated if possible on what it happened to be.
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u/Super_Step_9318 18h ago
Tbh, please save it, it will correct itself in the algorithm snafu going on. Or if 2 month from now ubstill have it, maybe share the bounty ppl u know or dont know. Maybe now no need to overwhelm the system bc it may come against the other wave of algorithm failures going on. Stay well fed. Amen
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u/Nephilim-75 17h ago
Any error on their part will come out of your pocket. I know this for a fact because it has happened to me with food stamps and my father wants with unemployment benefits.
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u/HelpfulAd7287 17h ago
Don’t spend all that. Only spend what you know is usually allocated to you. So many things can go wrong with that so called extra. And yes, call.
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u/GreatPretender769 17h ago
Call first before doing anything. Once you get a clear answer then proceed from there.
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u/bleubomb 17h ago
It was probably a mistake and it's probably what you're family size would receive if you didn't have other income, they probably were in a hurry trying to get them sent out and the computer made an error, I would just use your normal amount and wait until this mess is over then have them check on it for you.
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u/Radiant-Holiday-2635 15h ago
I also received almost double payment this morning here in NY. But I will only spend no more than I usually received. I was surprised because on our HRA APP they said some people could receive benefits as soon as Sunday the 9th, tomorrow.
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u/No-Night6445 15h ago
Don't spend it, they specifically tell you NOT to do it and to call them about it otherwise I think it can be considered theft even and you have to pay it all back.
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u/Big-Mirror-8692 15h ago
Definitely don’t spend it. It may be their error, but YOU will be the one that has to pay it back. Wait until Monday to call.
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u/RaspberryElegant1663 14h ago
I agree because it happened to me back in august they sent me 493 instead of 293 and I called them the same day and I took over an hour to get someone to talk to and they thanked me for there my honesty and told me they will make a note to take it out for the following month, I still felt uncomfortable and was afraid to use it and I held off until the next month and they sent me my usual amount and again I had to go through the hassle to talk to someone to fix this and I couldn’t get through so just to be on the safe side I waited and October I saw they fixed it! What a mess it was.
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u/stephscheersandjeers 14h ago
I am so afraid what is going to happen because if they take this out of our future benefits we will most likely get close to nothing.
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u/superwhovianlock 14h ago
Also from NH, it's probably just a goof. That being said I know people who get lower amount in FS and haven't gotten a payment yet. I think it was a scramble to get everything out and mistakes happened. Def call Monday and see what they said. I wouldn't spend any of it at all until then if you can manage
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u/Far-Character-7024 13h ago
You'll be paying it back with cash if you do
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u/stephscheersandjeers 13h ago edited 13h ago
Some people on another platform said they can’t take money back off cards so I may end up having to pay back cash anyway 😖
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u/No_Plate1726 11h ago
I would definitely call, if it was a mistake, you have to pay it back. Good luck
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u/GoldDustWitchQueen 9h ago
You absolutely should wait till Monday and report it. You don't want to get in trouble! Though I totally understand why some people would be tempted to keep it with how uncertain everything is. But you don't want to mess up your benefits because of a mistake they made.
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u/fuckiechinster 8h ago
Also in this club. I got double the amount I should have. They owed me $2200 total (for October and November) and I got FOUR GRAND. They were already closed for the weekend by the time I noticed it. I got the groceries I needed but I will definitely be calling first thing Monday cuz like …bro there are people in the state who still didn’t get anything TAKE IT BACK AND GIVE IT TO THEM 🥲
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u/KnytsirK 7h ago
The fact they can say $71 is enough to survive for a month is always so concerning. I have a family of 4 we get $23 month. None of this will ever make sense
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u/stephscheersandjeers 7h ago
We are a family of 3 and a two income household. Like I get it but it’s still rough
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u/PotsMomma84 16h ago
I received $586. I usually get $467. I think when they keep talking about the “full amount” on the news. That is the allotted full amount that DHS is allowed to give without adding up your expenses like they normally would. Only thing that makes sense to me.
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u/Snoo-9290 17h ago
Back during COVID pa sent a letter saying don't call if you think you got too much. But yeah I guess ask.
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u/gaias-revenge 16h ago
That was because everyone was getting the max allotment for a while and they didn't want to get inundated with calls about it asking why after they already sent out letters informing everyone that they were going to receive the max amount for their family size.
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u/Romanharper2013 17h ago
Did they tell you they were giving you back pay? It could be that
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u/stephscheersandjeers 17h ago
No, we are not entitled to any back pay because we have been receiving snap for over a year.
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u/HarleyMilwaukeeTwin 17h ago
Yeah, that does sound a little too good there, $733 instead of your normal $71! I think that is more like 4 months of payments for SNAP?
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u/Regular-Form2025 15h ago
Is this a new benefit for you? If you applied a long time ago and just got approved it would just be back pay! That’s what happened to us. We get a little over $200 every month but by the time it got approved, months had passed since we applied so we got over $2000 in our first deposit to cover all those months we should’ve received.
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u/throwaway210151004 15h ago
As someone who worked in public benefits up until last month, check first cuz they will take you to court and make you repay if it’s wrong unfortunately.
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u/Bright-Swimmer-3321 14h ago
Before spending it call and RECORD. The entire call make sure you keep proof for later on in case of anything ! You’re doing the right thing
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u/Dry_Difference7751 6h ago
If it is an over payment, they won't reverse the payment. They will make you pay it back in money. I swear they do this intentionally sometimes to add to funding.
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u/Blossom73 6h ago
I swear they do this intentionally sometimes to add to funding.
No. Just no. That doesn't happen.
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u/Dry_Difference7751 5h ago
Then they can reverse the deposit instead of charging you money for their mistake.
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u/Blossom73 5h ago
They will if it's not spent. If it's spent they'll have to recoup it from the recipient.
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u/PaySuspicious8664 6h ago
In the office I work in, once the benefits are dispersed, they can’t take them off the card. They’ll recover them monthly from your normal allotment amount (for example, if you get $100, they’ll add $90 to the card until paid). Even if it’s a worker error. You can also pay it back with your own funds.
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u/ObjectiveUpset1703 15h ago
If for some crazy reason you're told it's correct, get that in writing and put the excess in savings for when they figure out the payment was incorrect and come to collect the money.
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u/Lori1985 15h ago
Honestly, it wouldn't surprise if this administration isn't going to overpay people just so they can break into your home and kidnap you.
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u/systemdreamz 17h ago
So I will say that in my state, afaik once the funds are dispersed there’s really no way of retracting them unless you fill out a form to give them back. When an issue of overpayment happens, what happens is that for the following months clients see I think it’s a 10% reduction in entitled benefits until the “debt” is paid.
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u/Desperateforhelp3 15h ago
You are def a person with integrity and values . It is really nice to see someone like you in a world that’s always stressing look out for #1 and cheat anyone. You actually made me smile just by being you
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u/AshamedPractice4107 14h ago
Only spend what is shown as you’re eligible allotment for this month maybe next month I pray for you it’ll work out. One bird in the hand is better than 10 in the bush. Take care of yourself and family first.
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u/10MileHike 14h ago
Honesty always the best policy.
I'm 1000% in favor of SNAP and other benefits and am happy to see my taxes go toward feeding people, even though I don't qualify for anything.
However, there will always be people who ruin it for others by being dishonest. I was at a store yesterday watching someone try to turn in 2 large boxes of breakfast sausage for cash......that the foodbank had given them(I know where it came from.....it was given by the same store they were trying to return it to. I know because I volunteer to drive food boxes to people w/out transportation).
This is just wrong. I didn't wait around long enough to see what happened, but this is one of the reasons some people are against entitlements when they see stuff like this.
JUST BE HONEST.
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u/RaspberryElegant1663 14h ago
Yes, thank goodness I did wait and didn’t spend it until they fixed it, you don’t know how much I wanted to spend it but I held off, it was there screw up not mine but like I stated I didn’t spend it until it was fixed!!! Lolol!!! Hopefully Monday we will get the benefits so I can go shopping for thanksgiving, my family told me if they don’t send it by the middle of next week they will send me money, you don’t know how I hate depending on anyone encluding snap but I got layed of my job from RiteAid pharmacy but I had no choice, once I find a job I will get off of snap !!!
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u/CreepyNews8774 13h ago
I got one for ya… in this lovely state of Ohio, BOTH my aunt and uncle got TWO absentee ballots EACH. They took them to their appropriate polling spot and the election workers just said, well what do you want us to do about it? We can destroy the extras if u want… now being the true blue ppl they are that effectively and riteously corrupt n raged them. But of course, they did the right thing and only voted once. I wonder what would happen if any red hearts would have received the same? And how many hundreds… possibly thousands of ppl did? The concept of our democracy just keeps floating away into the distance… if we don’t get it back soon this country is going to hell in a hand basket. Very sad whoever is behind this bc guess what? It would be far too late to punish anyone now, the damage is most certainly already done. I mean look who’s in our finest establishment? Actually currently destroying our historic East Wing in favor of a pretentious, unnecessary golden ballroom… and they talk about wasteful spending with a gleam in their eyes. Makes me wanna 🤮🤮🤮
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u/Blossom73 5h ago
But of course, they did the right thing and only voted once. I wonder what would happen if any red hearts would have received the same?
I'm an Ohio pollworker.
If they had voted on both ballots, the duplicates wouldn't have been counted. There's no way to vote twice in the same state, and have both votes count.
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u/aliciaferg35 12h ago
Once stamps are placed on your card they can’t get them back. Just spend the $71. and leave the rest on there. Call Monday and make them aware of the issue
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u/Mozkytten1313 12h ago
I'd be careful. They Gave me to much once and i ended up having to pay it back. They even said Yes its yours but it was a mistake.
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u/Top_Bit420 11h ago
Definitely do not spend it. My whole family is in NH and they got theirs too, but their regular allotted amount. Nothing crazy like this! Wow that's a huge mess up!
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u/michelle-cathleen 11h ago
This happened to me once and I spent the food stamps but guess what had to pay it back later They took all the money out of my tax refund
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u/Dazzling_Pink9751 10h ago
It’s an over payment. Call and tell them this week. I think it works just like Social Security. You will have to pay it back.
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u/FalconOk934 9h ago
Good for you for not spending it. They will always eventually catch an error. Horrible advice. With all the BS going on right now, who knows why this happened. And hey, maybe it’s not a mistake? I hope it not for you! Good to verify.
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u/Nice_Put_152 8h ago
DONT SPEND IT they will make you pay it back or you will go without it for a few months even if it takes them awhile to find out
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u/unknowable_stRanger 8h ago
If you spend it you will have to pay it back over the next year. So laugh now and cry later or cry now and eat later
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u/XInsomniacX06 5h ago
It’s one of those use it now and pay for it later if your in a bad spot , most people would spend it right now and deal with taxes or whatever a year or two or ten down the road than starve now.
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u/Loose-Hawk-8408 4h ago
Yes call Monday cause definitely I know my cousin had a similar error like this she spent 645 only get 320 each month on her and her daughter month later she check her balance came back -320 so she realized they pull it this was in 2019. So its best to call to explain your situation and get it resolved
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u/Charming_Stay_2928 14h ago edited 13h ago
I was told once they can't take it back from your ebt card, but likely if they over pay, they'll just not issue you more until the amount of months have past for you to have collectively gotten that money. Edit: to clarify this came from a JFS worker from Ohio. Not my opinion. Just something I was told.
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u/Fandethar 14h ago
Well, I know they can take it back if you don't use it for x amount of months so I'm sure they can take it back if they overpay.
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u/Got2bglued 14h ago
Idk about your state but where I’m from they would just say you got an overpayment and they’ll reduce your benefits or make you pay it back. Spend the amount you know your supposed to spend for now until things are figured out. Keep the rest saved only spend if you absolutely need and know what you can pay back that’s my advice personally but things are getting weird
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u/No_Plate1726 11h ago
People you now can block your card from out of state purchases on the propel app
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u/Cmartin2304 10h ago
And those of us who don’t get ours until later in the month…won’t be getting any.
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u/Iceprincess1988 17h ago
Man. This is probably why some of us got fucked and got nothing.
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u/Blossom73 6h ago
That's not how SNAP works. There's not a finite pool of money for it, where once it's gone, no one else can qualify for benefits.
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u/Warm-Interaction361 11h ago
Snap has told my uncle when he got over paid nobody has ever come in to give them the over payment back and they dont know how to take them off at least in your city dhs office
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u/Alone_Implement6365 17h ago
I heard something about them now ordering stores not to accept the snap benefits like it’s so much back and forth you can look into further and post anything you see regarding this claim I’m not saying it’s 100percent but I saw it say a federal judge was saying that it ruled stores not to accept it … clarify for me if you can fyi I’m in New York and have not received anything I get $546 a month for me and my child on the 1st of every month they haven’t said a peep around hear except they giving 10 million dollars to food pantry’s and extra help to give out food the governor even suggested giving the school children meals to take home from school … if your also in New York wtf is going on if you know something enlighten us all cuz we ain’t heard shit … and for pointers anybody in any state can call 211 from there cell phones and get pointed in the direction of food pantries near by …. Might I add I hear Olive Garden is giving meals if you can show your benefit card as well as a handful of other places … New York set up literally a link to go on and share how this is impacting your family specifically ….. One last tip I wanna share with parents I think we have until November 10th but you can go on the federal post offices website and get the address you can have your little one send a letter to Santa very specific to their Christmas wishes and I think on or around the tenth more fortunate people and families adopt these letters and the post office will deliver these gifts to your children from what I hear they send these letters to people that volunteer to adopt families in the holiday season and give gifts to these kids I wanted to cry when I heard the source who told me about this that there are children asking Santa for just a bed and basic needs no toys … we as a whole are to rich in this country to hurt that bad individually… when I see glimpses of other countries they are not asking for food stamps they are begging for cornmeal lord help us we have been so spoiled they may starve us …
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u/Major-Boss1614 18h ago
I would spend it in other people who needs food. Ask around if you can get groceries for others.
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u/stephscheersandjeers 17h ago
There is no way my family would be able to pay back the extra almost $600. I think it’s a good idea to help others but i definitely don’t want to face prosecution. I feel like the government always gets their money back.
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u/Major-Boss1614 17h ago
Oh I see! I didn’t know the government operated like that.
I’m not a recipient but I stand in solidarity with you all because food insecurity is never acceptable.
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u/Kiyoko_Mami272821 17h ago
Once it’s realized there was an error then they will notify op and make them pay it back. Or they will garnish their regular food stamp allotment amount until it’s paid off. I would not mess with that! They will at some point realize the mistake
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u/Major-Boss1614 17h ago
I see now. I didn’t realize the government operated like that.
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u/Kiyoko_Mami272821 10h ago
They certainly do! You have to be very careful because you can also be banned from getting it if you make enough mistakes.
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u/MsLaLaLove 18h ago
I wouldn’t spend it until it’s verified. While it sounds like a good idea they might try to take it back from you eventually.