How to Replace a Texas EBT Card and Change Your PIN

If you use a Texas EBT card (also called the Lone Star Card) for SNAP food benefits or TANF cash assistance, losing your card or needing to change your PIN can feel stressful. The good news is that there is a clear process through official Texas benefits channels to get a replacement card and reset your PIN.

This guide from HowToGetAssistance.org explains how the process usually works in Texas, what to expect, and how to protect your benefits. HowToGetAssistance.org is not a government agency or benefits portal, but this article can help you understand your options before you contact the official offices.

Understanding the Texas Lone Star EBT Card

In Texas, SNAP and most TANF benefits are loaded onto a Lone Star Card, which works like a debit card at approved stores and ATMs (for TANF).

Your card is protected by a 4-digit PIN (Personal Identification Number). You use this PIN to complete purchases and check your balance. Keeping your card and PIN secure is essential, because benefits used with your card and PIN are usually not replaced if stolen.

When You Should Replace Your Texas EBT Card

You can usually ask for a replacement Lone Star Card any time your current card is:

• Lost
• Stolen
• Damaged (cracked, unreadable stripe/chip, worn out)
• Not working in stores or at ATMs
• Never received after approval or after a previous replacement request

If your card is lost or stolen, it is important to act quickly so no one else can use your benefits.

Step-by-Step: How to Replace a Texas EBT (Lone Star) Card

Most people in Texas replace their Lone Star Card by contacting the official Lone Star Card helpline or their local benefits office.

1. Gather Basic Information Before You Call

Having information ready can make the process faster. You may be asked to provide:

• Full name (as shown on your case)
• Date of birth
• Mailing address
• Last 4 digits of your Social Security number, if you have one on file
• EBT card number, if you still have the card or a copy
• Case or client number, if you know it

If you don’t know one of these, the official representative can usually verify your identity in other ways, but it may take longer.

2. Call the Official Lone Star Card Customer Service Line

To report your card lost, stolen, or damaged, you typically call the Lone Star Card customer service number printed on the back of the card (if you still have it) or listed on the official Texas benefits website.

You can usually:

• Call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Use an automated system to:
  • Report a lost/stolen card
  • Request a replacement
  • Change or reset your PIN
• Press a number to speak to a live representative if you need help

When you report the card lost or stolen, the system or representative will usually:

1. Disable your current card so it cannot be used anymore.
2. Confirm your mailing address for the replacement card.
3. Submit a request for a new Lone Star Card to be mailed to you.

3. Ask About Delivery Time and Fees

In Texas, replacement cards are typically:

• Mailed to your address on file
• Sent within a few business days (delivery times can vary by area and mail delays)

Common questions to ask the customer service representative:

• “How long will my replacement card take to arrive?”
• “Can I track my card or get a status update?”
• “Is there any fee for a replacement card?” (In many cases there is not, but policies can change.)

4. If You Never Received Your First Card

If you were approved for benefits but never got your first Lone Star Card:

• Contact the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) office handling your case or the Lone Star Card helpline.
• Let them know that you never received your card.
• Verify your mailing address and ask them to cancel the old card number (in case it was misdelivered) and send a new card.

How to Change or Reset Your Texas EBT PIN

You can usually change your Lone Star Card PIN any time, even if your card is not lost. You should change your PIN immediately if:

• You think someone else might know it.
• You noticed purchases you do not recognize.
• You gave your PIN to someone and no longer want them to use the card.

Options to Change Your PIN

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

1. By Phone (Most Common)

   • Call the Lone Star Card automated system.
   • Enter your card number and possibly other identifying information.
   • Choose the option to change PIN.
   • Enter a new 4-digit PIN and confirm it.

2. Through the Official Online Portal

   • Some cardholders may be able to manage their PIN through the official Texas EBT account website or state benefits portal.
   • You usually must create an online account or log in.
   • Look for a section such as “Manage Card” or “Change PIN”.

3. With Help at a Local Office

   • If you have trouble using the phone or online system, you can often go to your local HHSC benefits office.
   • Staff may guide you to call the official help line from the office or use a kiosk/phone there.

What You Need to Change Your PIN

You will typically need:

• Your Lone Star Card number
• Personal details to verify your identity (like date of birth or case information)
• The ability to choose a new 4-digit PIN

✅ PIN tips:

• Choose a number that is easy for you but hard for others to guess.
• Avoid using:
  • 1234
  • 0000
  • Your birth year
  • Your address number
• Never write your PIN on the card or keep it in your wallet with the card.

Quick Comparison: Replace Card vs. Change PIN

Protecting Your Texas EBT Benefits While You Wait

After you request a replacement Lone Star Card, you will not be able to spend benefits until your new card arrives and is activated. However:

• Your benefit balance should stay on your account.
• New monthly deposits, if any, should still load onto your account normally.

Important reminders:

• Once you report your card lost or stolen, do not try to use it if you find it later. It is usually disabled and will not work.
• If you see transactions you do not recognize, report them to the Lone Star Card helpline as soon as possible. In many cases, benefits already spent cannot be restored, but it is still important to report suspicious activity.

Common Issues and How to Handle Them

1. Wrong Mailing Address on File

If your address is incorrect or outdated, your replacement card might:

• Be delayed
• Go to the wrong location

To fix this:

• Contact your local HHSC office or the official Texas benefits portal to update your address.
• Once your address is corrected, confirm that the replacement card will be mailed to the new address.

2. Multiple Replacement Requests

If you request several replacement cards in a short time, there may be:

• Additional security checks
• Possible delays while your identity or situation is reviewed

If this applies to you, be prepared to answer extra questions to verify your identity.

3. Trouble Using the Phone or Online System

If you:

• Have limited phone access
• Have difficulty navigating phone menus
• Have a disability that makes it hard to use the automated system

You can usually:

• Visit a local HHSC benefits office in person.
• Ask if staff can help you call from the office or provide accommodations, such as interpreter services.

What to Do If You Suspect Fraud or Scams

Because EBT cards carry real money value, scams are common. To protect yourself:

How to Recognize Official Contacts

In Texas, official communications about your Lone Star Card typically come from:

• Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
• The official Lone Star Card helpline
• The official state benefits portal

They should not:

• Ask you to share your full PIN by text, email, or social media
• Demand payment or gift cards to “unlock” your benefits
• Ask you to visit suspicious websites that do not clearly belong to the state

Safe Practices

• Only enter your card number and PIN:
  • On the official phone line
  • On the official state website or app you know is legitimate
• Hang up and call back using the number on your card or from the official state site if:
  • A caller pressures you
  • Something feels off or confusing
• If you think you gave your PIN to a scammer:
  • Change your PIN immediately
  • Consider reporting the situation to the Lone Star Card helpline and, if appropriate, to law enforcement

If You Don’t Have Benefits Yet, But Need Food or Cash Help

Replacing a Texas EBT card and changing your PIN assumes you already have SNAP or TANF benefits. If you:

• Have never applied for SNAP or TANF
• Used to get benefits but are no longer active

You may need to:

• Apply or reapply through the official Texas benefits portal, by phone, or at a local HHSC office.
• Provide required documents like:
  • Proof of identity
  • Proof of Texas residency
  • Proof of income
  • Household size information

If you are not eligible for SNAP/TANF or you are waiting for your card:

• Call 211 (in most areas) and ask about:
  • Food pantries
  • Emergency food assistance
  • Local charities or community organizations that help with groceries or bills

How to Verify You’re Using the Right Office or Website

Because HowToGetAssistance.org is not an official agency or application portal, you will need to go through Texas’s own systems to replace your card or change your PIN.

To make sure you are on an official channel:

• Look for the Texas Health and Human Services (HHSC) name or logo on:
  • Websites
  • Offices
  • Forms
• Use contact information:
  • Printed on official letters you have received
  • Printed on your Lone Star Card
  • Listed on the official Texas state government websites
• If you are unsure, you can:
  • Call 211 and ask to be connected to Texas SNAP/TANF/EBT information
  • Visit a local HHSC benefits office and ask staff directly

By following these steps—reporting a lost or stolen card quickly, requesting a replacement through the official Lone Star Card helpline or local office, and keeping your PIN secure—you can usually get your Texas EBT card replaced and your PIN changed with as little disruption to your benefits as possible.