How to Replace a Maine EBT Card and Change Your PIN

If you use an EBT card in Maine for SNAP (food assistance) or TANF (cash assistance), losing your card or forgetting your PIN can be stressful. This guide walks through how people in Maine typically:

• Report a lost, stolen, or damaged EBT card
• Get a replacement Maine EBT card
• Change or reset an EBT PIN
• Protect their benefits and avoid scams

HowToGetAssistance.org is an independent information site. It is not a government agency, does not manage EBT accounts, and cannot issue or change EBT cards or PINs. To take action on your benefits, you must use official Maine state offices, phone lines, or websites.

Understanding Your Maine EBT Card

In Maine, an EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) card works like a debit card. It is used to access:

• SNAP (food stamps) benefits for groceries
• TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) cash benefits, if you qualify

Your PIN (Personal Identification Number) is a 4‑digit code you enter at the store or ATM.

• Never share your PIN with anyone not officially allowed on your case.
• If someone gets your card and PIN, they may be able to spend your benefits, and those benefits are often not replaced if they were used with the correct PIN before you reported the problem.

If Your Maine EBT Card Is Lost, Stolen, or Damaged

Step 1: Report the problem immediately

If your card is lost, stolen, or not working, the most important step is to report it right away so the card can be canceled and your remaining benefits can be protected.

In Maine, people typically report card issues by:

• Calling the official EBT customer service number on the back of the card, or
• Contacting the Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) office that manages their SNAP/TANF case

If you don’t have the number:

• Look for “EBT customer service” or “Maine EBT” on official state benefits materials you received, or
• Call 211 and ask for help finding the official Maine EBT customer service number, or
• Contact your local DHHS office and ask how to report a lost or stolen EBT card

When you call, be ready to provide:

• Your name
• Your date of birth
• Possibly the last 4 digits of your Social Security number
• Details about what happened to your card (lost, stolen, damaged, never arrived, etc.)

The customer service system typically:

1. Cancels your current card so no one else can use it
2. Orders a replacement card to be mailed to your address on file

Step 2: Confirm your mailing address

The replacement card is usually mailed to the address your caseworker has on file. During the call, it’s important to:

• Confirm your mailing address
• Ask how long it usually takes for a new card to arrive
• Ask what to do if you don’t receive the new card within that timeframe

If your address changed, you may need to update your mailing address with:

• The EBT customer service representative, and/or
• Your local DHHS office (some changes may only be done through the benefits office)

How Long It Usually Takes to Get a Replacement Maine EBT Card

Processing times can vary, but many people are told something like 5–10 business days for a replacement card to arrive by mail. In some situations, Maine may offer faster options, but these can depend on the county and the specific office.

Here is a simple overview of what people often experience:

*These are general experiences, not guarantees. Exact timelines come from official Maine agencies.

If your benefits are already approved but you still don’t have a working card, explain this clearly when you call or visit the local DHHS office. They may review whether any expedited solutions are available in your area.

How to Change or Reset Your Maine EBT PIN

You may want to change your EBT PIN if:

• You forgot it
• You think someone else might know your PIN
• You’ve had fraud or suspicious activity on your account
• You just want to update it for safety

Common ways to change your PIN

In Maine, people typically have several options:

1. By phone (most common)

   • Call the EBT customer service number listed on the back of your card or in your EBT welcome packet.
   • Choose the menu option for “PIN change” or “PIN selection.”
   • You may need to enter:
     • Your EBT card number
     • Some personal identifying information
   • Then you create a new 4‑digit PIN.

2. Through an automated phone system at DHHS (in some areas)

   • Some local offices offer public phones or automated systems specifically for EBT PIN changes.
   • Ask your local DHHS office if this option is available.

3. With a mailed PIN (less common now)

   • In some states, if you forget your PIN, a new PIN mailer may be sent to your address.
   • Maine often allows people to set or change their PIN by phone, but the exact process can change, so it’s best to ask the official EBT customer service line.

Tips for choosing a strong EBT PIN

When changing your PIN:

• Avoid “1234”, “0000”, or your birth year
• Avoid easy patterns like repeating digits or your address number
• Choose something memorable to you but hard for others to guess
• Do not write it on the card or keep it in the same wallet/purse as the card

If you think anyone who shouldn’t have access knows your PIN, change it immediately and consider reporting possible misuse to EBT customer service and your local DHHS office.

What to Expect After Ordering a Replacement Card

After you report your card lost, stolen, or damaged:

1. Old card is turned off

   • Once customer service cancels the card, it should no longer work.
   • Any remaining balance stays on your EBT account, not on the card itself.

2. New card is mailed

   • The card usually comes in a plain envelope that might not clearly say “EBT” on the outside, so watch your mail carefully.
   • It may include instructions about how to set or change your PIN.

3. You may need to set a new PIN

   • Some replacement cards can keep your existing PIN, while others require you to create a new PIN through the phone system.
   • Follow any instructions that arrive with the card, or call the EBT customer service line and ask if you’re unsure.

4. Check your balance and last transactions

   • When you get your new card and PIN, you can usually:
     • Check your current balance
     • Review recent transactions by phone or through the official EBT portal (if Maine offers online access)
   • If you see charges you don’t recognize, report them to:
     • EBT customer service, and
     • Your local DHHS office

What If Benefits Were Stolen From Your Maine EBT Card?

In many states, if benefits are used before you report your card lost or stolen, they might not be replaced, especially if the correct PIN was used. Policies can vary and may change, including new protections for certain kinds of EBT theft, such as card skimming.

If you believe your Maine EBT benefits were stolen:

1. Report it immediately to:

   • The EBT customer service number
   • Your local DHHS office

2. Ask:

   • Whether Maine has any process for reporting EBT fraud or theft
   • Whether you may qualify for replacement benefits
   • If any forms need to be completed

3. Consider:

   • Changing your PIN right away
   • Checking your card regularly for unexpected transactions

The final decision on benefit replacement is made by Maine’s official benefits agencies, not by independent information sites like HowToGetAssistance.org.

Updating Your Information with Maine DHHS

If you’re having card or PIN problems, it’s a good time to make sure your contact information is current, because:

• Replacement cards go to your mailing address on file
• Notices about your case go to your listed mailing address, phone, or email

You may need to contact your local Maine DHHS office or use the official benefits portal or forms to update:

• Mailing address
• Phone number
• Email address
• Authorized representatives or other household members allowed to use the EBT card

Ask your DHHS office how they prefer you to report these changes, since some updates must be done in writing or through official forms.

Common Problems and How People Usually Resolve Them

“My card never arrived after I was approved.”

Steps people typically take:

1. Contact Maine DHHS to confirm:

   • Your application was approved
   • Your benefits start date
   • The address where the card was mailed

2. If the card was mailed but never arrived:

   • Call the EBT customer service line to:
     • Report the card not received
     • Request a replacement

“My card is demagnetized or not reading at the store.”

If the card is physically damaged or won’t swipe:

1. Try using the chip, if available (if Maine cards have this feature).
2. If it still does not work, call EBT customer service and report a damaged card.
3. Request a replacement card. You may still need to wait for it to arrive by mail.

“My PIN keeps getting rejected.”

This can happen if:

• You’ve forgotten the PIN
• The system locked you out after too many wrong tries

What people usually do:

1. Call the official EBT customer service number.
2. Use the “change PIN” or “forgot PIN” option.
3. Wait a short period if the system has a temporary lockout and try again with the new PIN.

How to Make Sure You’re Using Official Maine EBT Channels

Because EBT involves money and personal information, scams do exist. To protect yourself:

Signs you’re on an official channel

• You called a phone number listed:
  • On the back of your Maine EBT card, or
  • In official letters from Maine DHHS, or
  • On a .gov website for Maine state government
• Staff do not ask for:
  • Your full Social Security number over text or social media
  • Your PIN itself (staff may ask you to enter it on a keypad or automated system, but not to say it out loud)
• The website address ends in “.gov” and is clearly associated with the State of Maine

Red flags to watch for

Be cautious if:

• Someone calls or texts you and asks for your PIN, full card number, or Social Security number out of the blue
• You’re directed to a website that does not end in “.gov” but claims to manage Maine EBT
• A person or website promises to sell you extra benefits, “boost” your SNAP, or trade benefits for cash

If you’re unsure, you can:

• Call 211 and ask to be connected to Maine DHHS or official EBT customer service
• Visit or call your local DHHS office using contact information from an official state directory or mailed notice

If You Don’t Qualify for SNAP/TANF or Need Extra Help

If your EBT issues are part of a broader financial or food emergency, there may be other resources in Maine:

• Food pantries and community food banks – offer groceries without using EBT
• Community action agencies – may help with housing, utilities, or emergency needs
• 211 – can connect you to local programs for food, housing, legal help, and more
• Local charities and faith-based organizations – sometimes provide emergency assistance, meals, or grocery cards

These organizations are separate from Maine DHHS and EBT. They cannot fix your EBT card directly, but they may help with food or basic needs while you resolve card or PIN problems through official state channels.

By understanding how to replace your Maine EBT card, change your PIN, and avoid scams, you can better protect your benefits and keep access to essential food and cash assistance. For any action on your account—ordering a new card, changing your PIN, reporting fraud, or updating your address—you will need to work directly with Maine DHHS, the official EBT customer service line, or the state’s official benefits portal.