If you have a lost EBT card, or one that was stolen or damaged, the first step is always the same: call your state’s EBT customer service line right away and report it. Once you report it, the old card is canceled, so nobody else can spend your SNAP or cash benefits, and your remaining balance moves to the new card. Federal rules require states to make a replacement card available for pickup, or put it in the mail, within 2 business days after you report it.
This guide gives the EBT customer service number for every state, the steps to get a new card, how long it takes, fees, and what to do while you wait. It is part of our SNAP and EBT guides.
Lost EBT card replacement, step by step
- Call your state’s EBT line (table below) and choose the option for a lost or stolen card. Most lines have automated options that work day and night.
- Verify your identity. You may be asked for your case number, date of birth, Social Security number or address.
- Cancel the old card. Once canceled, it cannot be used even if you find it later.
- Choose how to get the new card. Most states mail it to the address on file; some let you pick it up at a local office the same day or next day.
- Confirm your address. If you moved, update it with your SNAP office first, or the card will go to the old address.
- Set a new PIN when the card arrives, through the phone line, app or website on the card instructions.
Many states also let you request a new card online through the state EBT portal or app.
Other ways to request a new card
| Method | Good for | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| EBT phone line | Fastest way to cancel, any hour | Automated menus; press the option for a lost or stolen card |
| State EBT app or cardholder website | Ordering a card and locking the old one from your phone | Setting up an account now, while you still have the card, makes this easier later |
| County or state SNAP office | Same-day or next-day pickup, where offered | Bring photo ID; call first to ask if they print cards on site |
| State benefits portal | Updating your address before the card ships | Update the address first, then order the card |
California is one example of all of these working together: the state’s EBT line (877-328-9677), the ebtEDGE app and the BenefitsCal portal can all be used to request a replacement card.
What if you find the old card?
Do not use it. Once you report a card lost, it is canceled for good and will be declined. Cut it up, including the magnetic stripe and chip, and wait for the new one.
EBT customer service numbers by state
The number is also printed on the back of your card. Save it in your phone now so you have it if the card goes missing.
| State | EBT card customer service line |
|---|---|
| Alabama | 800-997-8888 |
| Alaska | 888-997-8111 |
| Arizona | 888-997-9333 |
| Arkansas | 800-997-9999 |
| California | 877-328-9677 |
| Colorado | 888-328-2656 |
| Connecticut | 888-328-2666 |
| Delaware | 800-526-9099 |
| District of Columbia | 888-304-9167 |
| Florida | 888-356-3281 |
| Georgia | 888-421-3281 |
| Guam | 866-937-4826 |
| Hawaii | 888-328-4292 |
| Idaho | 888-432-4328 |
| Illinois | 800-678-5465 |
| Indiana | 877-768-5098 |
| Iowa | 800-359-5802 |
| Kansas | 800-997-6666 |
| Kentucky | 888-979-9949 |
| Louisiana | 888-997-1117 |
| Maine | 800-477-7428 |
| Maryland | 800-997-2222 |
| Massachusetts | 800-997-2555 |
| Michigan | 888-678-8914 |
| Minnesota | 888-997-2227 |
| Mississippi | 866-512-5087 |
| Missouri | 800-997-7777 |
| Montana | 866-850-1556 |
| Nebraska | 877-247-6328 |
| Nevada | 866-281-2443 |
| New Hampshire | 888-997-9777 |
| New Jersey | 800-997-3333 |
| New Mexico | 800-843-8303 |
| New York | 888-328-6399 |
| North Carolina | 888-622-7328 |
| North Dakota | 800-630-4655 |
| Ohio | 866-386-3071 |
| Oklahoma | 888-328-6551 |
| Oregon | 888-997-4447 |
| Pennsylvania | 888-328-7366 |
| Puerto Rico | 877-467-4832 |
| Rhode Island | 888-979-9939 |
| South Carolina | 800-554-5268 |
| South Dakota | 800-604-5099 |
| Tennessee | 888-997-9444 |
| Texas | 800-777-7328 |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 866-884-2868 |
| Utah | 800-997-4444 |
| Vermont | 800-914-8605 |
| Virginia | 866-281-2448 |
| Washington | 888-328-9271 |
| West Virginia | 866-545-6502 |
| Wisconsin | 877-415-5164 |
| Wyoming | 877-290-9401 |
Numbers can change, so if one does not work, use your state’s official EBT website or the USDA SNAP state directory. Your state SNAP office numbers are in our how to apply for SNAP guide.
EBT line vs. SNAP office: which number to call
Two different phone numbers get mixed up a lot. The EBT line above handles the card: lost or stolen cards, PINs, balances and transactions. Your SNAP office handles your case: applications, renewals, benefit amounts, address changes and reporting.
A lost EBT card is an EBT-line call first. If you moved or need same-day pickup, you may also need the SNAP office. Two numbers people often search for:
| State | SNAP office (case questions) | EBT line (card problems) |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | DCBS Family Support: 855-306-8959 | 888-979-9949 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) |
| New York | Temporary Assistance Hotline: 800-342-3009 (in NYC: 877-472-8411 or 311) | 888-328-6399 |
For other states, the SNAP office number is on your approval notice and in the how to apply for SNAP guide.
How long a new card takes
| Delivery method | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Pickup at a local office (where offered) | Same day to 2 business days |
| Mailed | About 5 to 10 days, depending on the state and mail |
Federal rules require the state to have the card ready for pickup or in the mail within 2 business days of your report. The rest of the wait is mail time.
Your benefits are safe on your account while you wait. Nothing is lost when a card is replaced; the balance just moves to the new card. New monthly benefits still load on your normal date.
Fees and limits
| Rule | What to know |
|---|---|
| Replacement fee | Some states charge a small fee, usually taken from your benefit balance. Many do not charge for the first replacement or when the card was stolen. Federal rules say the fee cannot be more than it costs the state to replace the card, and states can waive it for good cause. |
| Frequent replacements | On your 4th replacement request in 12 months, federal rules require the state to send you a notice. The state may hold the new card until you explain what happened. This is meant to stop card selling. |
| Damaged cards | Treated like a lost card; the old card is canceled. |
Lost EBT card vs. stolen benefits
Replacing a card protects the balance that is still on it. It does not bring back money someone already spent. If you see purchases you did not make, report them and follow our guide on stolen SNAP benefits. Federal replacement of stolen SNAP ended for thefts after December 20, 2024, so fast reporting matters.
Protect your new card
- Choose a PIN that is not easy to guess, and never write it on the card.
- Change your PIN each month before benefits load.
- Use card lock tools in your state’s EBT app, if available, to freeze the card between shopping trips.
- Never give your card number or PIN in response to a text or call. States do not ask for your PIN.
- Keep the card in a safe place, separate from any note with your case number.
While you wait for your lost EBT card replacement
- Ask your SNAP office whether a temporary card or same-day pickup is available.
- Contact a local food bank or call the USDA National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY for food help.
- If you receive cash benefits on the same card, ask the office about emergency access.
- If you have run out of food because of a disaster, see Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) for food replacement options.
Free phone with EBT: how SNAP connects to Lifeline
Searches for “free phones with EBT” or “EBT phones” are really about Lifeline, the federal phone and internet discount. Your EBT card does not buy a phone. What it shows is that you get SNAP, and SNAP is one of the programs that qualifies you for Lifeline.
With Lifeline you get up to $9.25 a month off phone or internet service (up to $34.25 on Tribal lands). Many Lifeline providers use that discount to offer a plan at no cost to you, and some include a phone. Only one Lifeline benefit is allowed per household.
To apply, you use the National Verifier at getinternet.gov or apply through a Lifeline provider. You will be asked to show you get SNAP, so a SNAP approval letter helps more than the card itself. Our free government phone guide covers providers, and the free tablet with EBT guide covers tablets. Ads for a “free iPhone with EBT” come from phone companies, not from SNAP, so read the terms before you sign up.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a police report to replace a lost card? No. A police report is only useful if benefits were stolen and your state asks for one.
Can someone else pick up my card? Usually only the cardholder or an authorized representative on your case. Ask your office.
Will my PIN stay the same? No. You usually set a new PIN for the new card.
Can I use my benefits before the new card comes? Usually not at a store, since you need a working card. Ask your SNAP office whether same-day pickup is offered.
Does my SNAP balance carry over to the new card? Yes. Everything left on the old card moves to the new one.
How many times can I replace my EBT card? There is no fixed limit, but on the 4th request in 12 months your state will send a notice and may ask you to explain before sending another card.
My card works but the magnetic stripe is scratched. What should I do? Request a replacement before it fails at checkout. Some states now issue chip cards that are harder to copy.
Where can I learn how EBT works? See what EBT is. Remember to renew SNAP on time so benefits keep loading; see SNAP recertification.
Your SNAP household also qualifies for Lifeline; if your phone was lost along with your card, see lost Lifeline phone replacement.
Sources: eCFR: 7 CFR 274.6 (card replacement), USDA: SNAP state directory, Propel: EBT customer service numbers for all states, USDA: Addressing stolen SNAP benefits, Kentucky CHFS: SNAP, NY OTDA: SNAP frequently asked questions, Santa Clara County: Deactivation of magnetic stripe EBT cards (PD 26-04), FCC: Lifeline consumer guide.