Some residents in Bridgeport say their food stamps and cash assistance benefits were stolen from their Connecticut Department of Social Services EBT cards.

"I couldn't believe it! I said, ‘The state card?’ I could understand like a bank card or something like a credit card, but a state card? I thought it was safe," said Dawn Jackson, of Bridgeport.

Jackson is a disabled senior who's receiving state benefits for her two grandchildren she is raising. She says more than $1,000 in cash and food stamps disappeared from her EBT card.

State Rep. Hubert Delany, of Stamford, says he spoke with top officials on Wednesday at the Connecticut Department of Social Services to find a solution.

"My colleagues and I have identified immediate measures through the Department of Social Services that victims of this fraud can use to be able to get their benefits at least partially healed,” Delany says.

State Sen. Herron Gaston believes that residents in Bridgeport and across the state have had their EBT benefits stolen.

"I've actually gotten calls from dozens of residents across the city of Bridgeport and the town of Stratford," Gaston said. "The money has been going into the account, and then all of a sudden the money just evaporates the next day."

Delany says DSS has promised to partially reimburse Jackson, and other EBT card holders, for up to two months’ worth of stolen benefits.

"Sometimes it's digital, sometimes the information is swiped from them when they're going to the stores, but we've seen a general uptick nationally of this issue," said Delany.

The Department of Social Services is urging anyone who has an EBT card to change their PIN immediately.

Anyone who believes their EBT benefits have been electronically stolen should contact 888-328-2666.