How To Replace Your California EBT Card and Change Your PIN

If you use a California EBT card (often called a Golden State Advantage card) for CalFresh, CalWORKs, or other cash/food benefits, it’s important to know how to quickly:

• Replace a lost, stolen, or damaged EBT card
• Change or reset your EBT PIN

This guide from HowToGetAssistance.org explains the typical process in plain language so you know what to expect when you contact official California EBT offices and hotlines. This site is informational only and is not a government agency, benefits portal, or application site.

Understanding Your California EBT Card and PIN

Your California Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card works like a debit card. It is used to access:

• CalFresh (food stamps/SNAP)
• CalWORKs cash benefits
• Other compatible state or county cash assistance, if applicable

Your PIN (Personal Identification Number):

• Is a 4-digit code you choose
• Protects your benefits if your card is lost or stolen
• Is required every time you use your card at a store or ATM (for cash benefits)

Because your EBT card is tied to your benefits, if anything happens to the card or your PIN, it’s important to act quickly through official state systems.

When You Should Replace Your California EBT Card

You should request a replacement EBT card if your card is:

• Lost
• Stolen
• Damaged or not working (cracked, bent, unreadable chip/mag stripe)
• Never arrived in the mail (initial card or replacement)

In most cases, your benefits stay in your account; only the card number changes, and you will set a new PIN for the new card.

How To Replace a Lost or Stolen California EBT Card

Step 1: Call the Official California EBT Customer Service Number

To protect your benefits, you typically need to call the official California EBT customer service hotline right away. This is a toll-free, automated system with the option to speak to a live representative.

Have as much of this information handy as possible:

• Your full name
• Date of birth
• Last 4 digits of your Social Security number (if you have one on file)
• EBT card number (if you have it, such as from an old receipt)
• Mailing address currently on file with your county

If you don’t have all of this, customer service may still be able to verify your identity using other questions. The specific verification process can vary.

Step 2: Report the Card Lost or Stolen

When you call:

1. Follow the automated prompts to report a lost, stolen, or damaged card.
2. Confirm your identity as requested.
3. Ask for the old card to be canceled and a replacement card to be issued.

Once your card is canceled, it cannot be used again. This helps prevent further unauthorized use.

Step 3: Ask About Your Remaining Balance

You can:

• Check your EBT balance through the automated phone system, or
• Ask the representative to tell you the balance

This helps you confirm whether any unauthorized transactions took place before you reported the card. If you suspect theft, ask customer service or your county welfare department about your options for reporting it.

Step 4: Confirm Mailing Address and Timing

The representative will usually:

• Confirm your mailing address
• Explain how long it usually takes for a replacement card to arrive
• Tell you whether any expedited options exist in your situation

In California, replacement cards are commonly mailed to the address on file. If your address has changed, you may need to update it with your county. That may require contacting your local county social services or human services office separately.

What To Expect After Requesting a Replacement Card

Here’s a general overview of what typically happens after you request a new card:

If your card does not arrive within the expected time:

• Call California EBT customer service again, or
• Contact your local county welfare department to verify your address and status

How To Replace a Damaged or Non-Working EBT Card

If your card is cracked, demagnetized, or won’t swipe/insert:

1. Call California EBT customer service.
2. Explain that your card is damaged or not working properly.
3. Follow the instructions to cancel and replace the card.

In some counties, you may be able to ask your county office if they can issue a card directly at the office. Availability of in-person card issuance varies by county, so you may need to:

• Call your county’s social services or human services office, and
• Ask if they offer in-person EBT card replacement and what you need to bring (such as ID)

How To Change or Reset Your California EBT PIN

You can change your California EBT PIN at any time if:

• You forgot your PIN
• You think someone else knows your PIN
• You want a more secure number
• Your PIN got locked after too many wrong attempts

Option 1: Change Your PIN by Phone

This is the most common method:

1. Call the official California EBT customer service number.
2. Enter your EBT card number when prompted.
3. Choose the menu option to change your PIN.
4. Verify your identity as guided by the system.
5. Enter your new 4-digit PIN.
6. Re-enter the PIN to confirm it.

Your new PIN is often active right away for future purchases and withdrawals.

Option 2: Change Your PIN in Person (Where Available)

Some counties allow PIN changes at the county welfare office or at specific EBT kiosks:

• Call your county social services/human services department.
• Ask if you can set or change your EBT PIN in person.
• Ask what identification you must bring (such as a driver’s license, state ID, or other approved ID).

Availability and process can be different by county, so it’s important to confirm directly with your local office.

Tips for Choosing a Safe EBT PIN

When you set or change your PIN, consider:

• Avoid simple patterns like 1234, 1111, 0000
• Avoid using your birth year, birth month/day, or address numbers
• Do not share your PIN with:
  • Store cashiers
  • Friends or extended family
  • Anyone who calls/texts claiming to be from “EBT” or “the county”

If you must share your card with a trusted person to shop for you, understand that you are responsible for how benefits are used. Once benefits are spent, it’s usually very difficult or impossible to get them back.

What To Do if Someone Used Your EBT Card Without Permission

If you see purchases or withdrawals you do not recognize:

1. Immediately change your PIN using the official phone system.
2. Call California EBT customer service to report suspected fraud.
3. Contact your county welfare department to ask about:
   • How to report EBT theft or fraud
   • Whether you can submit a claim or statement
   • Any deadlines for reporting theft

In many situations, benefits that are already spent may not be replaced, but policies can change and sometimes differ by program type. It’s still important to report the issue so it can be documented and investigated.

Common Reasons EBT Card or PIN Issues Cause Problems

People often run into delays or trouble for reasons like:

• Outdated mailing address on file with the county
• Not calling quickly after the card is lost or stolen
• Reaching out through unofficial phone numbers or websites
• Entering the wrong PIN too many times, causing the card to lock temporarily
• Sharing card and PIN with others, leading to unapproved spending

To reduce problems:

• Keep your address updated with your county office.
• Store your card and PIN separately.
• Only use official state/EBT contact numbers and websites.
• If your card is not working, call customer service before assuming your benefits are gone.

How To Tell If You’re Using an Official Channel

When dealing with your California EBT card, make sure you’re using:

• The official California EBT customer service hotline
• The California EBT cardholder website or mobile tools (check through trusted state or county sources)
• Your county social services/human services department contact information

Warning signs of scams include:

• Texts, calls, or emails asking for your full card number and PIN to “unlock” or “verify” your account
• Requests to send your card or PIN to someone
• Websites that ask for your EBT information and do not clearly show they are part of California’s official government domain

If you’re unsure, you can:

• Call your county welfare office directly using the number found on official mail you’ve received from the county, or
• Dial 211 in many areas to get general guidance and be pointed toward official public assistance contacts

If You Still Have Questions or Run Into Problems

If something doesn’t seem right or you’re stuck:

• Contact California EBT customer service for card-specific issues (lost card, PIN, balance, transaction history).
• Call or visit your county social services/human services office for:
  • Address changes
  • Benefit questions
  • Reporting suspected fraud
  • Help understanding notices or letters
• If you believe there is serious fraud or identity theft, ask your county office about any additional reporting channels.

HowToGetAssistance.org can explain the typical steps, but only the official EBT hotline and your county welfare department can access or change your actual case, card, or PIN.