According to DHHS, 300 Maine households have been affected, resulting in $76,000 in lost benefits. John, a lifelong Scarborough resident who relies on food stamps due to a disability, discovered his benefits were stolen when his card was declined.

So far this year, 12 states have approved plans to restrict Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.

A dozen states are banning people from buying sodas and some sugary snacks using federal food assistance. The effort is part of the “Make America Healthy Again” campaign led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

The changes would allow for prepared foods to be purchased by SNAP recipients and exclude processed foods and sodas.