How to Replace an Alaska EBT Card and Change Your PIN

If you live in Alaska and use an EBT card for SNAP (food stamps) or other benefits, losing your card or needing to change your PIN can be stressful. This guide explains how the process typically works in Alaska, what to expect, and how to reach the official agencies that can actually fix card or PIN issues.

HowToGetAssistance.org is an informational website only. It does not issue EBT cards, manage benefits, or change PINs. To take action on your account, you must go through official Alaska benefit offices or hotlines.

Understanding Your Alaska EBT Card

In Alaska, an EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) card is a plastic debit-like card used to access benefits such as:

• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) – often called “food stamps”
• Temporary Assistance or other cash benefits, in some cases

Your EBT card:

• Is not a credit card
• Works with a 4-digit PIN you create
• Can be used at authorized grocery stores and some farmers markets
• May be used at ATMs or certain retailers for cash benefits, if you receive those

If your card is lost, stolen, damaged, or if you forget your PIN, you keep your benefits, but you may not be able to use them until you secure a replacement card or reset your PIN.

When You Should Replace Your Alaska EBT Card

You typically need a replacement Alaska EBT card if:

• Your card is lost
• Your card is stolen
• Your card is damaged (worn out, cracked, won’t swipe or tap)
• The magnetic stripe or chip no longer works
• You suspect someone else has your card information

In most situations, you should act immediately. Waiting can increase the chance that someone else uses your benefits.

Step-by-Step: How to Replace an Alaska EBT Card

Only official EBT customer service or the Alaska benefits agency can replace your card. You usually have two main options:

1. Call the Alaska EBT Customer Service Number

Most cardholders can get a replacement by calling the toll-free EBT card hotline listed:

• On the back of your current EBT card (if you still have it)
• On notices from the Alaska Division of Public Assistance
• On the official Alaska EBT or public assistance website
• From your local public assistance office

When you call:

1. Follow the automated prompts
   • Choose the option for “lost or stolen card” or “card replacement”.
2. Verify your identity
   You may be asked for:
   • Your name
   • Your date of birth
   • Your EBT card number (if you have it)
   • Possibly your Social Security number (last 4 digits) or case details
3. Confirm mailing address
   • Provide or confirm your current mailing address in Alaska.
   • Ask how long it will take to receive the new card.
4. Ask about your remaining balance and security
   • Confirm that your old card is deactivated.
   • Ask if you need to select a new PIN for the replacement card.

Your old card number is usually canceled so no one else can use it. A new card is then mailed to you.

2. Contact or Visit Your Local Public Assistance Office

If you cannot resolve the issue by phone, or you do not have stable phone access, you may:

• Call your local Alaska Division of Public Assistance office, or
• Visit in person during office hours

At the office, staff can usually:

• Help you request a replacement EBT card
• Verify your identity and address
• Explain timeline and next steps
• Help you understand how to set up or reset your PIN

Some offices may have special procedures or may direct you back to the EBT customer service line to finalize the replacement. Policies can vary, so it’s a good idea to call ahead if possible.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Replacement Alaska EBT Card?

Timelines can vary, but many people experience something like:

• Standard mail: often 5–10 business days, depending on mail speed and location
• Remote/rural areas: delivery can be longer due to distance or weather
• In-person options: in some states, certain offices can issue cards on-site; you would need to ask your local Alaska office if this is available in your area

Ask the EBT hotline or local office:

• When the card will be mailed
• Whether there is tracking or a way to confirm if the card was sent
• What to do if the card does not arrive within the expected time

Changing or Resetting Your Alaska EBT PIN

Your PIN (Personal Identification Number) protects your benefits. You may want or need to change your Alaska EBT PIN if:

• You forgot your PIN
• You think someone else knows your PIN
• Your card was lost or stolen
• You entered the wrong PIN too many times and your card is temporarily locked

A PIN reset is usually done through:

1. The EBT card phone system, or
2. In some cases, with help from a local public assistance office

Typical PIN Change by Phone

Most Alaska EBT cardholders can change their PIN through the automated EBT customer service line. The steps usually look like this:

1. Call the EBT customer service number
2. Select the option for “PIN” or “change PIN”
3. Enter:
   • Your card number
   • Possibly other identifying information (date of birth, last 4 of SSN, etc.)
4. Choose a new 4-digit PIN
   • Avoid simple patterns like 1234 or 0000.
   • Avoid numbers that others could guess easily, such as your birth year.
5. Confirm the new PIN when prompted

Your new PIN typically becomes active immediately or within a short time.

Changing PIN at a Local Office

If you:

• Do not have your card number
• Are having trouble with the automated system
• Have hearing, language, or other communication needs

You may ask for help from your local public assistance office. Staff can often:

• Help you access the EBT phone system
• Provide language assistance or interpreters
• Explain what to do if your card is locked or not working

They usually cannot see your PIN, but they can help you go through the official reset process.

Quick Comparison: Replace Card vs. Change PIN

Information You May Need When Calling

To replace your Alaska EBT card or change your PIN, it helps to have:

• Your full legal name
• Your EBT card number (if you have the card)
• Your date of birth
• The mailing address where you receive benefits mail
• The name of the person on the case (if you are an authorized user but not the primary)
• Possibly your case number or last four digits of your Social Security number

You usually do not need to show physical documents just to change a PIN or report a card lost, but if you go in person, you may be asked for photo ID and other details to confirm your identity.

What Happens to Your Benefits When You Replace a Card?

When you request a replacement Alaska EBT card:

• Your existing benefits remain in your account
• The old card is deactivated, usually right away
• New purchases can only be made once you receive and activate the new card (and set your PIN, if required)

However:

• Any benefits spent before you report the card lost or stolen are usually not replaced
• If you suspect fraud or unauthorized transactions, you should:
  • Tell the EBT card hotline representative
  • Ask if there is a dispute or fraud report process
  • Be aware that recovery is often limited, but you still have the right to ask how to report suspicious activity

Common Issues and How to Handle Them

1. “I requested a new card, but it never arrived.”

Steps you can take:

• Call the EBT customer service line:
  • Confirm the mailing date
  • Confirm your mailing address was correct
• If needed, ask your local post office if they’ve seen mail in your name
• If the card is considered lost in the mail, you may need to:
  • Request another replacement
  • Confirm or update your address with the Alaska Division of Public Assistance

2. “My card keeps getting declined.”

Possible reasons include:

• Wrong PIN entered multiple times (card temporarily locked)
• Not enough benefits remaining
• Technical issues at the store’s payment system
• A damaged card (magnetic stripe or chip problem)

What to do:

• Check your balance via the EBT phone system
• Change or reset your PIN if needed
• Try at another store or ATM (if using cash benefits)
• If declines continue, call the EBT hotline and report exactly what happened

3. “I’m worried someone has access to my card number or PIN.”

Take action quickly:

1. Change your PIN immediately through the EBT hotline.
2. Consider requesting a replacement card so your card number changes.
3. Check your recent transactions using:
   • The EBT phone system, or
   • Statements provided through official channels
4. Report any suspicious transactions to customer service.

Verifying You’re Using an Official Alaska EBT Channel

Because EBT benefits are financial, scammers sometimes try to steal card numbers or PINs. To stay safe:

• Only call numbers found on:
  • The back of your EBT card
  • Official mail from the Alaska Department of Health or Division of Public Assistance
  • The official State of Alaska website or benefits portal
• Be careful with:
  • Websites that ask for your full card number and PIN without clearly being official state sites
  • Social media messages or posts claiming they can “increase” or “double” your benefits
  • Anyone who wants your PIN – official workers and hotlines do not need to know your actual PIN, only that you can enter or set it yourself

If you’re unsure:

• Ask your local public assistance office for the correct phone number
• Dial 211 in Alaska to be referred to official public benefit resources

If You Don’t Currently Have Alaska EBT but Need Help

If your card was lost or stolen and you are not sure if your case is still open, or if you do not currently have an EBT card but believe you may qualify for assistance, you can:

• Contact your local Alaska Division of Public Assistance office and ask:
  • Whether your SNAP or cash assistance case is active
  • What you need to do to re-activate or reapply, if needed
• Call 211 to get connected with:
  • Food pantries
  • Community meal programs
  • Other local assistance programs

Applications for benefits like SNAP or Temporary Assistance are handled only through official Alaska state agencies or their online portals, not through HowToGetAssistance.org.

Key Takeaways

• Lost, stolen, or damaged Alaska EBT card?
  Call the official EBT customer service hotline right away or contact your local Division of Public Assistance office.

• Need to change your PIN?
  Most people can do this through the automated EBT phone system or with help from a local office.

• Benefits stay in your account when you replace a card, but charges made before you report the card missing are rarely refunded.

• To protect yourself, always use official phone numbers and offices, never share your PIN, and act quickly if your card or information is at risk.

This guide can help you understand the steps, but only official Alaska agencies and EBT customer service can actually replace your card, manage your account, or change your PIN.