How to Replace a Rhode Island EBT Card and Change Your PIN

If you live in Rhode Island and use an EBT card for SNAP (Food Stamps) or cash assistance, losing your card or forgetting your PIN can be stressful. This guide walks through how people in Rhode Island typically:

• Report a lost, stolen, or damaged EBT card
• Request a replacement Rhode Island EBT card
• Change or reset your EBT PIN

This article is for general information only. HowToGetAssistance.org is not a government office and cannot issue cards, change PINs, or access your account. To take action, you will need to use official Rhode Island EBT and DHS channels.

Understanding Your Rhode Island EBT Card

In Rhode Island, an EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) card works like a debit card for certain public assistance programs, such as:

• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) – food benefits
• RI Works or other cash assistance – if approved for cash benefits

Your benefits are in your account, not on the physical plastic card. If your card is lost or damaged:

• Your benefits usually stay safe, as long as no one has your card and PIN.
• You need a new physical card to access those funds.

Because of that, it’s important to act quickly if your card is lost or your PIN may have been exposed.

When You Should Replace Your Rhode Island EBT Card

You’ll typically want a replacement card if:

• Your card is lost and you can’t find it
• Your card is stolen
• Your card is damaged (cracked, unreadable strip or chip, won’t swipe)
• Someone else knows your PIN and may try to use your card
• There are transactions you don’t recognize on your EBT account

In these situations, most people are advised to:

1. Call the official EBT customer service number right away
2. Request that the card be cancelled
3. Order a replacement card
4. Change your PIN as an added layer of protection

How to Report a Lost or Stolen Rhode Island EBT Card

The first step is usually to call the Rhode Island EBT customer service line listed on:

• The back of your card (if you still have the number written down or saved), or
• Official benefit notices or paperwork from the Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS), or
• The official Rhode Island EBT or DHS website.

When you call:

1. Follow the automated menu for “lost or stolen card.”
2. You may need to enter:
   • Your EBT card number (if you have it)
   • Or your Social Security Number and date of birth
3. Confirm you want the current card deactivated.

Once the card is deactivated, it can’t be used again. This helps protect any remaining benefits.

If you cannot find the correct phone number:

• Call Rhode Island DHS (the state agency that manages SNAP and cash assistance) and ask for the EBT customer service number.
• You can also call 211 in Rhode Island and ask to be connected to the Rhode Island SNAP/EBT office, though 211 is not the benefits office itself.

How to Request a Replacement Rhode Island EBT Card

After you report your card lost, stolen, or damaged, you can generally order a new card in one of these ways:

1. By Phone (Most Common)

Call the Rhode Island EBT customer service line and:

1. Verify your identity. You may be asked for:
   • Full name
   • Date of birth
   • Mailing address
   • Possibly the last 4 digits of your SSN
2. Confirm that you need a replacement card.
3. Confirm or update your mailing address where the new card should be sent.

Most replacement cards are mailed to the address DHS has on file. Many people receive them within 5–10 business days, but timelines can vary.

2. Through Your Local DHS Office

In Rhode Island, in some cases you may be able to:

• Call your local DHS office and ask what they recommend, or
• Visit in person to ask for help with a replacement card.

Some offices can help you:

• Confirm your identity and address
• Make sure your EBT account information is correct
• Direct you to the correct EBT customer service process

Whether they can issue a card on the spot or must have one mailed will depend on current Rhode Island policies. Staff at the office or on the main DHS phone line can explain the current process.

Typical Information You May Need to Replace Your Card

When requesting a replacement, it helps to have:

• Full legal name on the case
• Date of birth
• Current mailing address
• Phone number (if you have one)
• Your Rhode Island EBT card number (if available)
• The name of the primary person on the case, if you are an authorized household member

Having this information ready can make the call go faster.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Replacement EBT Card in Rhode Island?

Timeframes can vary, but typically:

• Standard mail replacement: often 5–10 business days
• Address verification issues or returned mail can cause delays
• During holidays or major system issues, replacements may take longer

If you have not received your card after the normal mailing window:

• Call the EBT customer service line and ask if the card was mailed and to what address.
• If the address is wrong, you may need to update your address with DHS and request another card.

How to Change or Reset Your Rhode Island EBT PIN

Your EBT PIN (Personal Identification Number) is a 4‑digit code that works like an ATM PIN. You need it to:

• Pay at the grocery store with SNAP
• Use an ATM or register with cash assistance (if applicable)

You should change your PIN if:

• You forgot it
• You think someone else knows it
• Your card was lost or stolen
• You see unfamiliar transactions on your account

Common Ways to Change Your EBT PIN

Most Rhode Island cardholders can change their PIN in one of these ways:

1. By Phone

1. Call the Rhode Island EBT customer service number.
2. Choose the option for “change PIN” or “PIN reset.”
3. Verify your identity (for example, SSN or card number plus personal details).
4. Enter your new 4‑digit PIN using the keypad.
5. Re‑enter the PIN to confirm.

📌 Tip: Choose a PIN that is:

• Easy for you to remember
• Hard for others to guess (avoid birthdays, “1234,” or repeating digits)

2. Through an Official Online EBT Portal (If Available)

Some states offer an official online EBT account portal where you can:

• Check your balance
• Review transactions
• Change your PIN

If Rhode Island supports this, you would:

1. Go to the official Rhode Island EBT or DHS website (not a search ad or third‑party site).
2. Create or log in to your account.
3. Look for a “Change PIN” or “Account Settings” section.
4. Follow the steps to update your PIN.

Always make sure you are on an official state or EBT provider website before entering personal info.

Quick Comparison: Replace Card vs. Change PIN

Protecting Your Rhode Island EBT Card and PIN

To keep your benefits safe:

• Never share your PIN with friends, family, store staff, or anyone who calls or texts you.
• Do not write your PIN on the card or keep it in your wallet.
• Be careful at the checkout or ATM:
  • Cover the keypad when entering your PIN
  • Watch for card skimmers or anything that looks unusual on the machine
• Regularly check your EBT balance and recent transactions using:
  • The official EBT phone line
  • The official EBT website or mobile app (if available)

If you notice charges you don’t recognize, report them to:

• The Rhode Island EBT customer service line, and
• Your local DHS office to ask about next steps

In many places, benefits spent by someone else using your card and PIN may not always be replaced, so reporting issues quickly is very important.

What If You Don’t Remember Your EBT Card Number?

If your card is lost and you don’t have the number:

• Call Rhode Island EBT customer service and follow the prompts for lost or stolen cards.
• You may be able to verify your identity with:
  • Your name
  • Date of birth
  • Address
  • Possibly the last 4 digits of your SSN

If the automated system cannot identify you, you may need to:

• Speak with a live agent, or
• Contact your local DHS office for help confirming your information and getting your card replaced.

Updating Your Address Before Ordering a New Card

If you have moved recently, make sure your mailing address is updated with Rhode Island DHS; otherwise, your new card could go to the wrong place.

To update your address, people in Rhode Island commonly:

1. Contact their local DHS office or the central DHS phone line.
2. Use the official benefits portal (if Rhode Island offers online case management) to report a change.
3. Provide any verification the agency requests, such as:
   • A lease, utility bill, or official mail showing your new address.

Ask DHS staff how long it will take for the new address to update in the system, and wait until it is updated before requesting your replacement EBT card.

Common Problems and How to Handle Them

Here are some issues people often run into when trying to replace an EBT card or change a PIN, and what may help:

• Long call wait times

  • Try calling early in the morning or later in the evening, if the hotline hours allow.

• Card never arrives

  • Confirm your address with DHS.
  • Ask EBT customer service when and where the card was mailed.
  • You may need to reorder the card once your address is corrected.

• PIN not working at stores

  • Make sure:
    • You are using the correct card
    • The new PIN has been set and confirmed
  • If it still fails, contact the EBT hotline and ask to reset the PIN again.

• Suspicious calls or texts about your EBT

  • Official agencies typically do not ask for your full PIN.
  • If anyone contacts you asking for your PIN or full card number, hang up and call the official EBT number listed on DHS materials or the state website.

How to Make Sure You’re Using Official Rhode Island Channels

To avoid scams and misinformation:

• Look for “.gov” in Rhode Island government websites, or visit the Rhode Island Department of Human Services main site and navigate from there.
• Use the phone numbers printed on official DHS letters, EBT paperwork, or the back of your EBT card (if you still have an older card).
• Be cautious of:
  • Search engine ads that promise “instant EBT replacement” or “bonus benefits”
  • Websites that ask for your full SSN, full card number, and PIN on the same page
• When in doubt, call your local DHS office or 211 and ask how to reach the official Rhode Island EBT customer service line.

If You Still Need Help

If the process is confusing or you are having trouble reaching the right office, you can:

• Contact Rhode Island DHS directly and ask to speak with someone about your EBT card.
• Call 211 and ask for help finding the official Rhode Island SNAP/EBT contact information.
• Ask a trusted case manager, social worker, or community organization to help you call the correct number or navigate the phone system.

Remember: HowToGetAssistance.org is an informational resource only. To actually replace your Rhode Island EBT card or change your PIN, you must go through the official Rhode Island EBT customer service line, DHS offices, or the official online portal.