EBT Card Replacement: How to Get a New Card Fast in Every State

An EBT card replacement starts with one phone call or one tap in your state’s EBT app. The moment you report the card lost, stolen or damaged, federal rules require the state to put a hold on it, so nobody can spend what is left on the account.

After that, your state has two business days to mail a new card or have one ready for pickup. In states that publish a delivery time, it then takes about 5 to 10 days by mail. The money in the account does not go away while you wait.

This guide covers what to do in each situation (lost, stolen, damaged or skimmed), what the federal rule at 7 CFR 274.6 promises you, how to lock a card in the ebtEDGE and ConnectEBT apps, and whether stolen SNAP can still be paid back. A verified phone table for all 50 states and DC is near the end.

Key Takeaways

• Call your state’s EBT customer service line or use its EBT app the moment the card is gone. The hold starts when you report, and the state is liable for anything taken from the account after that.
• Federal law gives the state two business days to mail a new card or make it available for pickup. States that publish a delivery time say about 5 to 10 days by mail.
• States may charge a fee, but it cannot be more than the cost of the card. Arizona’s first replacement each calendar year is free; Nebraska charges nothing.
• Federal repayment of skimmed SNAP benefits ended for thefts after December 20, 2024. California still pays victims back mostly with state money if they report within 90 days.
• Locking your card between shopping trips in ebtEDGE or ConnectEBT is one of the simplest protections against card skimming.

What is the fastest way to get an EBT card replacement?

The fastest route is a call to your state’s EBT customer service line, which federal rules require to be open at all times, or a request in the state’s EBT app or website. Both put an immediate hold on the old card. A few offices, such as New York City’s EBT Services Office, can hand you a permanent card the same day.

Here is the order that saves the most time and money:

1. Report it first. Call the number in the state table below or use the app. Ask the agent for a confirmation number and write down the date and time. Federal rules require the processor to keep a record of when you reported.
2. Check your balance. Look at recent transactions in the app or ask the agent to read them. Any purchase you did not make should be reported right away as theft, not just as a lost card.
3. Confirm your mailing address. Replacement cards go to the address on your case. If you have moved, update it with your SNAP office first, or the new card will go to the old address.
4. Ask about pickup. If you cannot wait for the mail, ask whether your local office issues cards in person. Policies vary by state and county.
5. Set a new PIN when the card arrives. Some states carry your old PIN over (Texas and Georgia say they do). If yours does and you think someone saw it, change it anyway.

If you are new to the card itself, our guide on how to use an EBT card covers activation, balance checks and what you can buy.

For the full item list, including the states that now block soda or candy, see our guide to what you can buy with food stamps.

Lost, stolen, damaged or skimmed: which one is it?

The steps look the same for every case: report, hold, replace. What changes is whether missing benefits can come back. Benefits spent after your report are the state’s responsibility. Benefits spent before you report, or taken by a cloned card, are usually gone unless your state pays them back itself.

Situation	What happened	What to do	Can lost benefits be replaced?
Lost	You misplaced the card and no one used it	Report, then request a new card	Nothing is missing, so nothing to replace
Stolen	Someone took the card itself	Report at once; also tell your SNAP office if purchases were made	Only purchases made after your report are covered by federal rule
Damaged	Cracked, bent, or the stripe or chip stopped reading	Request a replacement the same way as a lost card	No loss, as long as the card was not misused
Skimmed or cloned	Your card stayed with you, but the data was copied and used	Lock the card, change your PIN, request a new card, file a theft report with your SNAP office	No federal repayment for thefts after Dec. 20, 2024; a few states use their own funds
Food destroyed	Fire, flood or another household disaster ruined food you bought with SNAP	Tell your SNAP office within 10 days and sign a statement	Yes, up to one month’s allotment

Skimming is the case people mix up the most. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s stolen benefits page explains that thieves put a device on a store terminal or ATM to copy card data, then make fake cards. Your own card never leaves your wallet, so you may not notice until the balance drops.

A card that was simply damaged is the easy case. California, for example, lists the same four routes for a lost, stolen or damaged card: BenefitsCal, the ebtEDGE app or portal, the EBT helpline at 1-877-328-9677, or the county office (California Department of Social Services).

What does federal law require when you ask for a new card?

Under 7 CFR 274.6(b), the state must mail a replacement card, or make it available for pickup, within two business days after you report it lost, stolen or damaged. It must also put an immediate hold on the account and keep a reporting line open at all times.

The rule is short, but it gives you real protections that call center scripts rarely mention. These are the five parts that matter most for a household:

The hold and who pays after you report

The regulation says an “immediate hold shall be placed on accounts” when you report.

From that point, it says, the state “shall assume liability for benefits subsequently drawn from the account and replace any lost or stolen benefits.”

In plain terms: report fast, because the clock on your protection starts with your call.

The two-business-day deadline

Two business days is the deadline for the state to send or hand over the card, not the date it lands in your mailbox. Mail time is added on top. If a week and a half goes by with nothing, call again and ask the agent to confirm the address and the date the card was sent.

The fee limit

A state “may impose a replacement fee by reducing the monthly allotment,” but the fee “may not exceed the cost to replace the card.” States may also set good cause rules that waive the fee. More on what states actually charge below.

The four-cards-in-12-months rule

States may treat many replacements as a warning sign of benefit trafficking. The threshold cannot be lower than four cards requested within 12 months. On the fourth request, the state must send you a written notice saying your account is being monitored, or that your next card needs a call to the agency first.

One protection is easy to miss. If your state holds back a card until you call, it must still mail the card within two business days of that call, “regardless of whether or not an explanation was provided.”

The rule also tells states to protect homeless, elderly and disabled people and crime victims who lose cards but are not committing fraud.

One account only

The state cannot set up a second account for you. Your new card connects to the same benefits, so whatever balance was on the old card is still there once the new one is active. Texas, for example, says your “PIN and balance will transfer to your new card” (Texas Health and Human Services).

How long does an EBT card replacement take to arrive?

States that publish a delivery time say a replacement card arrives by mail within about 5 to 10 days. Texas says seven calendar days, Massachusetts and Minnesota say 5 to 7 days, and California says usually within 10 days. Picking it up at an office, where offered, is faster.

Many state pages give no mail time at all, including New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Michigan. If you have no food in the house while you wait, a local food pantry can bridge the gap. Your SNAP balance is safe on the account and will be there when the card comes.

New York City is one place with a published same-day option. NYC311 says you can get “a same day permanent replacement EBT card” at the Common Benefit Identification Card (CBIC) EBT Services Office, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Elsewhere, ask your county office whether it prints cards on site.

Does it cost money to replace an EBT card?

Sometimes. Federal rules let a state take a replacement fee out of your next benefit, capped at what the card costs the state. Many states charge nothing, some waive the first card, and some charge about $5 for repeat replacements.

State	What the state says about fees
Arizona	“The first replacement card in a calendar year is free. You are charged $5 for each additional replacement card.” (Arizona DES)
Massachusetts	No fee for now while the state moves to chip cards; DTA says clients “are usually charged $5.00” (Mass.gov)
Nebraska	“Nebraska no longer charges a fee for replacement cards.” (Nebraska DHHS)

If your state charges a fee and the card was stolen, ask whether a good cause waiver applies. The federal rule lets states set exception rules where no fee is collected, and a police report or theft report often helps.

How do you lock or freeze your EBT card?

You lock an EBT card in your state processor’s app or website. States that use FIS have the ebtEDGE app, which can freeze the card and block out-of-state and internet purchases. States that use Conduent have the ConnectEBT app, with a “Lock/Unlock Card” button on the home screen.

Locking does not stop your benefits from loading. New Jersey’s human services department says residents “will still receive benefits or refunds even if their card is locked, but no online or in-store purchases can be made” (New Jersey DHS, April 4, 2025).

Locking in ConnectEBT (Conduent states)

Ohio’s step-by-step page for the ConnectEBT app lays out the flow (Ohio Department of Job and Family Services):

1. Download the free ConnectEBT app from the Apple or Android store and sign in.
2. Tap “Lock/Unlock Card” on the home screen.
3. Choose “Lock My Card Everywhere,” or “Block High Risk Transactions” to stop only out-of-state and online purchases.
4. Tap OK to confirm.
5. Before you shop, choose “Unlock My Card” and pick 30, 60 or 90 minutes. In Ohio the unlock lasts only for the window you pick.

The same lock can be set on the ConnectEBT website. Pennsylvania offers a “Lock My Card Outside PA” choice (Pennsylvania OSIG) that still allows purchases inside the state.

Freezing in ebtEDGE (FIS states)

California’s social services department lists what the ebtEDGE app does: order replacement cards, freeze and unfreeze the card, block out-of-state transactions and block internet transactions (CDSS ebtEDGE page). The app is free in the Apple and Google stores; search for “ebtEDGE.”

FIS has also released a newer app named “ebtEDGE NEW!” California says it does not support that version yet, so check your state’s EBT page before you pick one. Florida says a frozen card cannot complete any transaction until you unfreeze it.

Which app does your state use? The table further down links each state’s EBT page, and that page names the app. A few states, such as Texas (the Your Texas Benefits app) and Louisiana (the LifeInCheck app), use their own.

Can you get stolen SNAP benefits back?

Usually not for recent thefts. Congress let states use federal money to replace skimmed SNAP benefits stolen from Oct. 1, 2022 through Dec. 20, 2024. That authority lapsed, so thefts on or after Dec. 21, 2024 get no federal repayment. California still pays victims back with mostly state money.

The USDA states it plainly: the American Relief Act, 2025 “did not extend this authority for benefits stolen beyond December 20, 2024.” While the program ran, a household could get back the amount stolen or two months of its benefits, whichever was less (USDA, Addressing Stolen SNAP Benefits, updated Sept. 8, 2026).

States have closed their windows. West Virginia said claims for benefits stolen after December 20, 2024 “will be denied.” New Jersey said it cannot use “federal or state funds” to restore SNAP or its cash aid stolen on or after December 21, 2024, unless Congress acts.

California still pays theft victims back

California is the clear exception. The governor’s office said in January 2026 that when a theft is reported and confirmed by a county caseworker, the county reimburses the victim, and “these reimbursements are largely paid for by the state.” That covers CalFresh food benefits and CalWORKs cash on the same card.

The CDSS theft page sets two conditions: the card must have been with you when the theft happened, and you must report it to your county office within 90 days. If you live in California and your balance was drained, do not wait.

What Congress is considering

Bills to bring back federal replacement have been filed but not passed. The Ending Stolen SNAP Benefits Act of 2026 (H.R. 9359) was introduced on June 18, 2026 and sent to the House Agriculture Committee, where it still sits. Watch your state SNAP agency’s news page for any change.

Even without repayment, report every theft to your SNAP office in writing. A dated report protects you if repayment comes back or if your state opens its own program.

Food lost in a fire or flood is different

One kind of replacement never expired. Under 7 CFR 274.6(a), if food you bought with SNAP is destroyed in a household misfortune such as a fire or flood, the state must replace it. You have to report the loss within 10 days and return a signed statement within 10 days of your report.

The replacement can be up to one month’s allotment, and the state must issue it within 10 days of your report or two working days after it gets your statement, whichever is later.

The state checks the loss through a fire department or Red Cross record, a call to someone who knows, or a home visit. If it denies you, you have a right to a fair hearing.

Will a chip card stop skimming?

Chip cards make skimming harder. California’s social services department says inserting or tapping the card instead of swiping is the best defense. As of Oct. 28, 2026, USDA lists eight states that have issued chip SNAP cards: Alabama, California, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Virginia.

USDA’s EBT modernization page lists seven more with chip projects in progress: Arkansas, Iowa, Maine, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Pennsylvania. (USDA’s older stolen benefits page still says no state issues chip cards, so go by the newer modernization map.)

California was first, starting in February 2025. The governor’s office said reported theft of food and cash benefits fell about 83% since January 2024, with chip-and-tap cards among the new tools behind the drop.

Even with a chip card, CDSS says to insert or tap rather than swipe, because “not all devices that accept EBT cards can use chip/tap.”

Oklahoma is mailing chip cards in a plain white envelope, and benefits move over on their own. If cards have reached your ZIP code and yours has not come within 10 days, Oklahoma says to call 1-888-328-6551. In chip states, a card that did not arrive is a replacement request, not something to wait out.

More change is coming. In October 2026, USDA proposed a rule that would require every state to move to chip and tap (NFC) cards, require SNAP stores to accept them, make states offer card security services and stop the use of common PINs.

It is only a proposal; comments are due Dec. 22, 2026 (USDA proposed rule). The replacement rules above stay in force until a final rule says otherwise.

EBT customer service numbers in 15 large states

These are the official lines and online options in 15 large states. Each was checked on a state agency page on Oct. 28, 2026. Save the number in your phone now, because you cannot read it off something you have lost. Sources for each number are linked in the full table below.

State	Phone	Online or app replacement
California	1-877-328-9677	BenefitsCal, ebtEDGE app or cardholder portal
Texas	1-800-777-7328	Your Texas Benefits app
Florida	1-888-356-3281	MyACCESS
New York	1-888-328-6399	ebtEDGE website and app
Illinois	1-800-678-5465	Illinois Link card website (ebtEDGE)
Pennsylvania	1-888-328-7366	Phone; ConnectEBT for locking
Ohio	1-866-386-3071	ConnectEBT (lost or stolen section)
Georgia	1-888-421-3281	ConnectEBT portal
Michigan	1-888-678-8914	Phone, 24 hours a day
North Carolina	1-888-622-7328	ebtEDGE portal and app
New Jersey	1-800-997-3333	NJFamiliesFirst.gov or ConnectEBT app
Washington	1-888-328-9271	Phone
Arizona	1-888-997-9333	Phone (TTY 1-800-367-8939)
Virginia	1-866-281-2448	Phone or local social services office
Massachusetts	1-800-997-2555	DTA Connect website or app

Our state food stamps pages go deeper on each program, for example California CalFresh, Texas SNAP and New York SNAP.

EBT card replacement phone numbers for all 50 states and DC

Every number below appears on an official state agency or EBT processor page, linked in the right column. We checked all 51 on Oct. 28, 2026. If a number has changed, the USDA SNAP state directory links each state’s agency.

State	Phone to report and replace a card	Where we verified it
Alabama	1-800-997-8888 (listed as the EBT customer service helpdesk)	dhr.alabama.gov
Alaska	1-888-997-8111	health.alaska.gov
Arizona	1-888-997-9333	des.az.gov
Arkansas	1-800-997-9999	humanservices.arkansas.gov
California	1-877-328-9677	cdss.ca.gov
Colorado	1-888-328-2656	cdhs.colorado.gov
Connecticut	1-888-328-2666 or DSS Benefit Center 1-855-626-6632	portal.ct.gov
Delaware	1-800-526-9099	dhss.delaware.gov
District of Columbia	1-888-304-9167	dhs.dc.gov
Florida	1-888-356-3281	myflfamilies.com
Georgia	1-888-421-3281	pamms.dhs.ga.gov
Hawaii	1-888-328-4292	humanservices.hawaii.gov
Idaho	1-888-432-4328	healthandwelfare.idaho.gov
Illinois	1-800-678-5465 (1-800-678-LINK)	dhs.state.il.us
Indiana	1-877-768-5098	in.gov
Iowa	1-800-359-5802	hhs.iowa.gov
Kansas	1-800-997-6666	dcf.ks.gov
Kentucky	1-888-979-9949	chfs.ky.gov
Louisiana	1-888-997-1117	ldh.la.gov
Maine	1-800-477-7428	maine.gov
Maryland	1-800-997-2222	dhs.maryland.gov
Massachusetts	1-800-997-2555	mass.gov
Michigan	1-888-678-8914	michigan.gov
Minnesota	1-888-997-2227	dcyf.mn.gov
Mississippi	1-866-512-5087	mdhs.ms.gov
Missouri	1-800-997-7777	dss.mo.gov
Montana	1-866-850-1556	dphhs.mt.gov
Nebraska	1-877-247-6328	dhhs.ne.gov
Nevada	1-866-281-2443	dss.nv.gov
New Hampshire	1-888-997-9777	dhhs.nh.gov
New Jersey	1-800-997-3333	nj.gov
New Mexico	1-800-843-8303	hca.nm.gov
New York	1-888-328-6399	otda.ny.gov
North Carolina	1-888-622-7328	ncdhhs.gov
North Dakota	1-800-630-4655	hhs.nd.gov
Ohio	1-866-386-3071	dam.assets.ohio.gov
Oklahoma	1-888-328-6551	oklahoma.gov
Oregon	1-888-997-4447 to cancel at once, then 1-855-328-6715 (business hours) for the new card	oregon.gov
Pennsylvania	1-888-328-7366 (1-888-EBT-PENN)	pa.gov
Rhode Island	1-888-979-9939	dhs.ri.gov
South Carolina	1-800-554-5268	dss.sc.gov
South Dakota	1-800-604-5099	dss.sd.gov
Tennessee	1-888-997-9444	tn.gov
Texas	1-800-777-7328	hhs.texas.gov
Utah	1-800-997-4444	jobs.utah.gov
Vermont	1-800-914-8605	outside.vermont.gov
Virginia	1-866-281-2448	dss.virginia.gov
Washington	1-888-328-9271	dshs.wa.gov
West Virginia	1-866-545-6502	bfa.wv.gov
Wisconsin	1-877-415-5164	dhs.wisconsin.gov
Wyoming	1-877-290-9401 (listed as the EBT line; the page names it for balance checks)	dfs.wyo.gov

A few notes on the table. Alabama and Wyoming list their number as the general EBT customer service line rather than naming it for lost cards.

Oregon uses two lines: 1-888-997-4447 to cancel right away, then 1-855-328-6715 during business hours to order the new card, which Oregon says should arrive within 5 business days. Maryland’s reimbursement page shows a different number that belongs to California, so use 1-800-997-2222 from the state’s EBT theft page.

How do you buy food while you wait for the new card?

You cannot spend SNAP without a working card, but your balance stays safe on the account. Use the wait to line up a food pantry, ask your office about in-person pickup, and make sure the address on your case is right.

• Food pantries. Pantries do not ask for an EBT card. Your local food bank can point you to one nearby.
• Summer meals for kids. If you have school-age children, check whether your state runs Summer EBT for grocery help over the summer break.

If you think your benefit amount itself is wrong, that is a separate question for your caseworker. Our guide to how much SNAP you will get explains the math, and SNAP benefits by state compares programs.

How do you spot a fake EBT replacement call or text?

Real EBT agencies do not call or text to ask for your PIN or card number. USDA says state agencies and EBT processors “will never call or text to ask for your PIN or card number.” Any message that does is a scam, even if it uses your state’s name.

A lost card is a good moment to be extra careful with calls and texts. Only call the number on your state’s official page, like the ones linked in the table above. USDA also tells cardholders to:

• Avoid simple PINs such as 1111 or 1234.
• Cover the keypad when entering your PIN.
• Change your PIN at least once a month, right before your benefits load.
• Check the account often for charges you did not make, and change the PIN at once if you see any.

Our scam watch section tracks benefit scams, and the same rules apply to other cards, like the steps in our guide on replacing a Social Security card.

Does replacing the card affect cash benefits too?

Yes. In many states, SNAP and cash aid such as TANF sit on the same card, so one replacement restores access to both. California’s ebtEDGE page covers CalFresh and CalWORKs, and New Jersey’s card lock covers SNAP and its WFNJ cash program.

Cash taken from a skimmed card follows your state’s rules. California pays back stolen cash and food benefits. New Jersey has said it cannot. Learn more about cash aid on our TANF program page.

What if the state refuses or delays your card?

Ask for the reason in writing and ask for a fair hearing. If a state holds your card because of many past replacements, federal rules say it must still send the card within two business days after you contact the agency, whether or not you explain.

For a denied food replacement after a fire or flood, the rule gives you the right to a fair hearing. Keep copies of every report, the confirmation numbers from the EBT line, and any letters from your office.

If something else is wrong with your case, such as a closed case or missing renewal, the card may not be the real problem. Our SNAP application guide covers reapplying, and the SNAP program page has the federal basics.

Related reading

• SNAP work requirements
• SNAP income limits
• Florida food stamps
• Pennsylvania food stamps