Lost or Damaged North Dakota EBT Card? How to Get a Replacement and Change Your PIN

If you use an EBT card in North Dakota for programs like SNAP (food assistance) or TANF (cash assistance), losing your card or forgetting your PIN can be stressful. This guide walks through the typical steps to:

• Report a lost, stolen, or damaged North Dakota EBT card
• Request a replacement card
• Change or reset your EBT PIN
• Protect your benefits and avoid common problems

HowToGetAssistance.org is not a government agency or application site. This guide is for information only so you can better understand how to work with official North Dakota EBT offices and hotlines.

Understanding Your North Dakota EBT Card

An Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card works like a debit card. North Dakota loads your approved SNAP and sometimes TANF benefits onto this card every month.

You use it:

• At grocery stores and some farmers markets (SNAP)
• At ATMs or stores that give cash back (if you receive cash benefits)
• With a 4-digit PIN you create and must keep secure

If your card is lost or stolen, anyone with the card and the PIN might be able to spend your benefits. That is why reporting problems quickly is important.

Step 1: Report a Lost, Stolen, or Damaged North Dakota EBT Card

Who to contact

In North Dakota, EBT cards are usually handled through:

• A 24-hour EBT customer service hotline (automated system plus live representatives)
• Your local county social services or human service zone office

The exact phone number is printed on:

• The back of your EBT card (if you still have it)
• EBT program letters you received when you were approved
• The North Dakota Department of Human Services (or similarly named state agency) website

If you do not know the right number, you can:

• Call your local county human service zone office and ask for the EBT customer service number
• Dial 2-1-1 and ask to be connected to North Dakota SNAP/EBT information

What to say when you call

When you reach the official EBT customer service line:

1. Follow the automated menu for “Report lost or stolen card” or “Card problems”.
2. Be ready to provide:
   • Your EBT card number (if you have it)
   • Your full name
   • Your date of birth
   • Possibly your Social Security number (SSN) or last 4 digits
   • Your mailing address on file

If your card was stolen or you think someone else might know your PIN, make that clear to the representative.

Why you should report immediately

When you report your card as lost or stolen:

• The old card is usually canceled so it can’t be used
• Future unauthorized transactions may be prevented
• A replacement card can be ordered

Most programs clearly state that benefits already used before you report the loss usually cannot be replaced, so timing matters.

Step 2: Request a Replacement North Dakota EBT Card

Once you’ve reported your card as lost, stolen, or damaged, the next step is to ask for a replacement.

How replacement usually works

During your call to the EBT customer service line:

• Tell them you need a replacement EBT card.
• Confirm your mailing address and ask how long delivery usually takes.
• Ask if there is any fee for replacement cards (some states charge after multiple replacements; policies can change).

In many cases:

• The card is mailed to your address on file
• Delivery may take 5–10 business days, but timing can vary
• Your benefits stay in your account; they are not lost when the card is replaced
• The new card may arrive with either:
  • A new PIN by mail, or
  • Instructions to call and set a new PIN by phone

If you moved recently or think your address is incorrect, you may need to contact your county human service zone office first to update your address before requesting a replacement. The EBT customer service line usually can only mail to the address on file with the state.

If you need a card urgently

Policies can vary by county and over time, but in some areas:

• You may be able to get a faster replacement by visiting your local human service zone office in person.
• Ask if they can issue an EBT card on-site or if they only mail cards.

Because this can differ by location, call your county office first and ask:

• “Can I get a same-day replacement EBT card if I come in?”
• “What do I need to bring with me?”

Step 3: How to Change or Reset Your North Dakota EBT PIN

Your PIN (Personal Identification Number) is the 4-digit code you use to access your EBT benefits. You should change it if:

• You forgot your PIN
• You think someone else knows your PIN
• Your card was lost or stolen, even if it is later found
• You just want a more secure number

Ways to change your PIN

Most North Dakota cardholders can change their EBT PIN using one of these options:

1. By phone through the EBT customer service line
2. At a PIN selection device in a local office (if available in your county)
3. Through an official EBT web portal, if the state offers that feature (varies by state and by year)

Because options can change, it is safest to:

• Call the EBT customer service number listed on EBT mail or the state’s benefits website.
• Follow prompts for “Change PIN” or “PIN setup”.

What you usually need to change your PIN

When changing your PIN, you will typically:

• Verify your identity using:
  • Your EBT card number
  • Your date of birth
  • Some form of personal information (such as the last 4 digits of your SSN)
• Choose a new 4-digit PIN

✅ PIN tips:

• Avoid numbers that are easy for others to guess, such as:
  • 1234
  • 0000
  • Your birth year or birth month + day
• Do not write your PIN on the card or keep it in your wallet with the card.
• Do not share your PIN with anyone, including store cashiers, friends, or relatives who are not authorized on your case.

Quick Comparison: Replacement Card vs. PIN Change

Below is a simple overview of when and how to handle each issue.

What Documents and Information You May Need

To replace your North Dakota EBT card or change your PIN, you usually do not need to submit full application documents again. However, you should have:

• Your EBT card number (if available)
• Your full legal name
• Your date of birth
• Your Social Security number or last 4 digits, if requested
• Your current mailing address
• Case information, such as:
  • Your case number (if you have it)
  • The county human service zone managing your case

For in-person visits to a local office, you may want to bring:

• A photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, tribal ID, etc.)
• Any recent letters from the North Dakota Department of Human Services or the local human service zone office

Local offices may have different identification policies, so it can help to call ahead and ask what they require.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Replacement EBT Card in North Dakota?

Timeframes can change, but many people report:

• Mail delivery within about 5–10 business days after the replacement is ordered
• Possible mail delays due to holidays, weather, or postal issues

To avoid running out of food while waiting:

• Ask the EBT hotline or your county office if there is any faster option in your area.
• Contact local resources such as:
  • Food pantries
  • Community action agencies
  • Faith-based organizations
  • 211 for local food and assistance programs

HowToGetAssistance.org does not provide food or benefits directly, but these are types of resources many North Dakota residents contact while waiting for a new card.

Common Problems and How to Handle Them

1. You never received the replacement card

If two weeks or more have passed and you still do not have your card:

1. Call the EBT customer service hotline.
2. Confirm:
   • That a replacement was actually ordered
   • The mailing date
   • The address they sent it to
3. If necessary, call your county human service zone office to update your address and then ask EBT to send another replacement.

2. The PIN doesn’t work

If your new PIN fails at the store or ATM:

• Make sure you are using the most recent PIN you set.
• Try again carefully; if you enter the wrong PIN too many times in a row, your card may be temporarily locked.
• Call the EBT hotline and:
  • Ask if your card is locked
  • Ask if your PIN was successfully changed
  • Request to reset the PIN again if needed

3. Benefits seem missing or spent

If you see transactions you do not recognize:

1. Write down:
   • The date
   • The time
   • The store or location
   • The amount of each suspicious charge
2. Call the EBT hotline right away to:
   • Report possible fraud or unauthorized use
   • Ask about the process for disputing transactions

Policies about replacing stolen benefits are strict and can change over time. The hotline or your local county office can explain what may be possible under current rules.

How to Make Sure You’re Using an Official North Dakota EBT Channel

Because EBT benefits are valuable, scams and fake “help” sites sometimes appear. To protect yourself:

• Do not enter your EBT card number or PIN on:
  • Unfamiliar websites
  • Social media messages
  • Text links from unknown numbers
• Do not share your PIN by phone unless:
  • You dialed an official EBT number you trust, and
  • The automated system specifically asks you to enter it through the keypad (not to say it aloud to a person)

To verify you are on a legitimate channel:

• Use phone numbers listed on:
  • Your EBT card
  • Official North Dakota Department of Human Services or equivalent state agency materials
  • Letters or notices you received when approved for benefits
• If you are unsure a website is official:
  • Call your local county human service zone office and ask them to confirm the correct website and phone numbers.
• You can also dial 211 and ask for help locating the official North Dakota SNAP/EBT contact information.

Remember:
HowToGetAssistance.org cannot check your balance, issue a card, change your PIN, or update your case. Those actions can only be done through official state systems and offices.

If You Don’t Qualify for EBT or Need Other Help While You Wait

If you are:

• Not currently approved for SNAP/TANF in North Dakota, or
• Waiting for your replacement card and need food right now,

You might explore:

• Local food pantries and food banks
• Community action agencies in North Dakota
• Tribal social services, if applicable
• Churches or faith-based food programs
• Calling 211 to be connected to food and emergency assistance resources in your area

These organizations are separate from the EBT program, and each will have its own eligibility rules.

By contacting the official North Dakota EBT customer service hotline and, when needed, your county human service zone office, you can usually:

• Report a lost, stolen, or damaged EBT card
• Request a replacement card
• Change or reset your PIN
• Protect your existing benefits

Use the steps above as a checklist so you know what to expect and what information to have ready when you reach out through official channels.