How to Replace a New Jersey EBT Card and Change Your PIN

If you use an EBT card in New Jersey for SNAP (Food Stamps) or cash assistance, losing your card or forgetting your PIN can feel stressful. The good news is that the state has clear processes for replacing a New Jersey EBT card and changing your EBT PIN.

This guide from HowToGetAssistance.org explains how those processes typically work, what to expect, and how to move forward through official state channels. This site is not a government agency, not a caseworker office, and not a place to apply or manage benefits. Instead, it’s meant to help you understand your options so you can contact the right official office quickly.

Understanding Your New Jersey EBT Card

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

• SNAP (Food Stamp) benefits
• Cash assistance (such as TANF or General Assistance), if you receive it

Your EBT card is linked to your benefits account, not to a bank. When you use the card, you enter a 4‑digit PIN (Personal Identification Number) to confirm it’s really you.

You might need to replace your card or change your PIN if:

• Your card is lost, stolen, or damaged
• You forgot your PIN
• You think someone else might know your PIN
• You received a new card and need to set or reset your PIN

What To Do Immediately if Your New Jersey EBT Card Is Lost or Stolen

If you suspect your card is lost or stolen, time matters. Benefits used before you report the problem are usually not replaced, so you want to act fast.

Typical first steps:

1. Call the New Jersey EBT Customer Service number right away.
   • You can find this number on:
     • Any old EBT paperwork you still have
     • The back of your EBT card (if you still have it)
     • The official New Jersey EBT or benefits website
     • Materials from your county Board of Social Services
2. Use the automated system or speak to a representative to:
   • Report your card as lost or stolen
   • Block the card from further use
   • Request a replacement card
3. Write down:
   • The date and time you called
   • Any confirmation number or reference number
   • The name of the representative if you spoke to one

⚠️ Important: Do not share your full Social Security Number or PIN with anyone who contacts you unexpectedly by phone or text. Only give information when you have called a verified, official number or are speaking to your local county office.

How To Replace a New Jersey EBT Card

1. Report the Card Lost, Stolen, or Damaged

Replacement usually starts by calling the official New Jersey EBT customer service line. The automated system often gives you menu options such as:

• “Report a lost, stolen, or damaged card”
• “Request a replacement card”
• “Speak to a representative”

You may be asked to confirm identity details like:

• Your EBT card number (if you have it)
• Your date of birth
• Possibly the last 4 digits of your Social Security Number
• Your mailing address on file

If you don’t have your card number, you can usually continue with other identifying information. If the system can’t verify you, you may be told to contact your county Board of Social Services for help.

2. Confirm Your Mailing Address

New Jersey typically mails replacement EBT cards to the address on file. During the call, you’ll usually be asked to confirm:

• Current mailing address
• Apartment or unit number, if any
• ZIP code

If your address is incorrect or outdated, customer service may tell you to update your address with your local county welfare or social services office before a card can be sent. In many cases, address changes cannot be completed through EBT customer service alone.

3. Wait for the Replacement Card

Most people receive their replacement New Jersey EBT card in the mail within several business days, though timelines can vary by location and mail speed.

While you wait:

• Your existing benefits remain in your account
• You cannot use them until you receive the new card and set or use your PIN

If your card does not arrive within the expected time frame, you can:

• Call the EBT customer service line again to check status
• Contact your county Board of Social Services for guidance

Setting or Resetting Your EBT PIN in New Jersey

Your PIN is key to protecting your benefits. You may need to set a new PIN if:

• You got a replacement card
• You forgot your PIN
• You think someone else might know your PIN
• You simply want to change your PIN for security reasons

How To Change or Reset Your New Jersey EBT PIN by Phone

Most cardholders in New Jersey can change their EBT PIN using the EBT customer service number:

1. Call the official New Jersey EBT customer service line.
2. Select the menu option for PIN change, PIN selection, or forgot PIN.
3. Enter the details requested by the system, which may include:
   • Your EBT card number
   • Certain digits from your social security or personal information
   • Other identity verification questions
4. When prompted, choose a new 4‑digit PIN:
   • Avoid simple combinations like 1234 or 0000
   • Don’t use obvious numbers like your birth year
5. Confirm the PIN by entering it a second time when asked.

Typically, your new PIN is active immediately, and you can use your card right away, as long as it is not blocked or replaced.

Changing Your PIN in Person

If the system won’t let you change your PIN over the phone, or if you are having trouble with the automated system, you can:

• Visit your county Board of Social Services or local welfare agency and:
  • Ask a staff member where to change or reset your EBT PIN
  • Request help navigating the EBT phone line from the office phone or kiosk, if available

Some offices may have equipment or support specifically for setting or resetting EBT PINs, while others may direct you to use the EBT customer service number from their lobby phones.

Typical Documents and Information You May Need

You normally do not have to provide a long list of documents just to replace a card or change a PIN. Still, it helps to have:

• Your current or old EBT card (if you still have it)
• Your case number (found on eligibility notices)
• A photo ID, if you go to a local office
• Your current address and phone number
• Any mail from the county Board of Social Services related to your case

If you go in person, bring at least one form of ID, such as:

• State ID or driver’s license
• Passport
• School ID (in some cases)
• Another government-issued photo ID

Each county may handle this slightly differently, so the exact requirements can vary.

Quick Comparison: Replacing a Card vs. Changing a PIN

What Happens to Your Benefits When You Replace Your Card

When you request a replacement EBT card in New Jersey:

• Your existing benefits stay in your account
• The old card is usually deactivated so no one can use it
• When the new card arrives, you can:
  • Set or confirm your PIN
  • Use your benefits as normal, up to the balance in your account

In many cases, benefits that were already spent before the loss or theft was reported are not replaced. If you believe benefits were used fraudulently after you reported the card lost or stolen, you can ask the EBT customer service line or your county office how to report that situation. Decisions on replacement of stolen benefits are made by official agencies, not by guidance sites like this one.

If You Never Receive Your New Card

If you requested a new card but it never arrived, consider these steps:

1. Wait the typical mailing time stated on the EBT phone line or by your county office.
2. If that time has passed:
   • Call New Jersey EBT customer service to:
     • Confirm that a replacement card was issued
     • Verify the mailing address they used
   • If the address is wrong or incomplete, you may need to:
     • Update your address with your county Board of Social Services
     • Request that a new card be mailed again once the address is corrected
3. Ask whether your current card is active, blocked, or replaced, so you understand what you can and cannot use.

Keep a record of all calls, including dates, times, and any reference numbers.

Common Problems and How To Handle Them

1. Automated System Not Recognizing Your Information

If the EBT phone system:

• Says your info is incorrect, or
• Repeats the menu without moving forward

You can:

• Try entering the information again carefully
• If possible, speak to a live representative
• If that does not work, contact your county Board of Social Services for help confirming your identity and account details

2. Suspected Card Skimming or Fraud

If you believe:

• Your card was used at a store you did not visit, or
• Your benefits are disappearing faster than you spent them

Act immediately:

1. Call the EBT customer service line to:
   • Change your PIN
   • Possibly request a replacement card
2. Contact your county Board of Social Services and explain:
   • Why you suspect fraud or card skimming
   • When you noticed the issue
3. Ask how to formally report suspected fraud and whether any benefit replacement is possible in your situation. Policies can change, and only the official agency can confirm your options.

3. Trouble with PIN Changes

If you keep getting locked out when changing your PIN:

• Wait a short time and try again following the prompts carefully.
• Make sure you are:
  • Using the correct card number
  • Following any identity verification steps properly
• If problems continue, contact:
  • EBT customer service and ask to speak to a representative, or
  • Your local county social services office for assistance

How To Make Sure You’re Using Official New Jersey EBT Channels

Because scammers sometimes pretend to be EBT or “benefit-help” services, it’s wise to double-check that you are using official contacts.

Here are ways to verify:

• Use the phone number listed on:
  • The back of a real New Jersey EBT card
  • Letters or notices from your county Board of Social Services
  • The official NJ state benefits or EBT website
• If unsure, call your county Board of Social Services directly using a phone number you find in:
  • The government pages of your local phone directory, or
  • The official county website
• Be cautious of:
  • Text messages or emails asking you to click a link and enter your EBT card number or PIN
  • Anyone asking you to give your PIN. Official staff should not need your full PIN.

If something feels suspicious, hang up and call a number you know is official.

Additional Resources If You Need Extra Help

If you are still unsure where to start:

• County Board of Social Services / County Welfare Agency

  • Handles your SNAP and cash assistance case
  • Can explain how to replace an EBT card, update your address, or get PIN help

• NJ EBT Customer Service Line

  • Used to check balances, replace cards, and change PINs
  • Number is printed on the back of EBT cards and in official mailings

• NJ 211 or Local Information Lines

  • While not specific to EBT, these services may help you find the correct county office or state benefits contact if you are unsure where to call.

Remember: HowToGetAssistance.org cannot access your account, replace your card, or change your PIN. All applications, changes, and official decisions are handled only through state and local government offices or their official phone lines and websites.

By understanding the basic steps—calling to report a lost card, confirming your address, waiting for the new card, and setting a secure PIN—you can move more confidently through the official New Jersey EBT system and protect the benefits your household relies on.