CalFresh EBT card fraud protection - is monthly PIN changing really necessary?
I just got off the phone with my cousin who swears I need to be changing my CalFresh EBT PIN every single month to prevent fraud. She claims she had benefits stolen last year and now religiously changes her PIN the day before her benefits load. I've had my CalFresh benefits for almost 2 years and never once changed my PIN! Is this actually something we should all be doing? Seems excessive but also don't want to lose my benefits since my family of 4 really depends on them. Has anyone else been told to do this or experienced EBT fraud? Any official guidelines on this from CalFresh?
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Fatima Al-Mazrouei
I work for a community resource center that helps people with CalFresh applications, and while EBT fraud does happen, changing your PIN monthly isn't an official recommendation from the CalFresh program. That said, it's not a bad security practice. The official recommendations are: 1. Never share your PIN with anyone 2. Change your PIN if you suspect someone might know it 3. Cover the keypad when entering your PIN at stores 4. Check your EBT account regularly for suspicious transactions 5. Report lost/stolen cards immediately Changing it monthly is extra careful but not required. If it gives your cousin peace of mind, that's fine, but don't feel like you've been doing something wrong by not changing it.
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Giovanni Gallo
•Thank you for clarifying! I was starting to feel really guilty for not doing this. I'll definitely keep an eye on my transactions though. Is there an easy way to check those besides the receipts?
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Dylan Wright
my card got skimmed at a gas station atm last year and i lost all my benifits for the month. it was AWFUL trying to get emergency benefits while they investigated. took almost 3 weeks!! now i only use my card at major grocery stores, never gas stations or small markets. never had a problem since.
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NebulaKnight
•OMG that happened to me too but at a liquor store!!! The county worker basically accused ME of selling my benefits when I reported it. Like I would sell the only way to feed my kids?? They made me fill out so many forms and I had to wait FOREVER to get the stolen benefits replaced. The system is SO broken.
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Sofia Ramirez
While changing your PIN monthly isn't officially required, EBT card skimming has definitely increased in the past couple years. The most important thing is to be careful where you use your card and check your balance regularly through the EBT mobile app or by calling the number on the back of your card. If you want to be extra cautious, consider changing your PIN quarterly rather than monthly. It's a good middle ground. And NEVER use your PIN in sketchy card readers that look tampered with or have loose parts. For anyone who does experience fraud, report it immediately to both: 1. The EBT Customer Service number on your card 2. Your county CalFresh office The sooner you report it, the better chance of getting those benefits back.
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Giovanni Gallo
•This is really helpful, thank you! I didn't even know there was an EBT mobile app - just downloaded it. I think I'll start changing my PIN quarterly as you suggested. Better safe than sorry!
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Dmitry Popov
I change my pin every few months just to be safe, but I think your cousin is being a bit extreme doing it monthly lol. My caseworker did tell me that fraud has been increasing though, so it's not a crazy idea. Just make sure you pick a pin that's not obvious (not your birth year or 1234, etc). I keep mine written down in a secure place at home so I don't forget it.
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Ava Rodriguez
OK but is anyone else CONSTANTLY forgetting their PIN after changing it?? I tried changing mine and then couldn't buy groceries because I blanked on the new number 🤦♀️ Standing there with my kids and a full cart was so embarrassing!
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Dylan Wright
•omg yes!!! this is why i never change mine even tho probably should. i'd rather risk fraud then be stuck at checkout with no way to pay lol.
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Miguel Ortiz
Have you tried calling the CalFresh office to ask about this? I spent THREE DAYS trying to get through to my county office about a similar question last month. Kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Finally I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person in 20 minutes. They called the county line for me and connected me once a worker picked up. The worker confirmed that changing your PIN regularly is recommended but not required. She suggested doing it whenever you suspect someone might have seen you enter it or after using your card at a new or unfamiliar location. If you need to talk to a real person at CalFresh, check out Claimyr at claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8
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Ava Rodriguez
•Does that service actually work? I've been trying to reach someone about my recertification for days and keep getting the 'call volume too high' message.
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Miguel Ortiz
•It worked for me! I was skeptical at first but was desperate after waiting on hold for literally 2+ hours multiple days. They got me through to a live person pretty quickly. Apparently they know how to navigate the phone systems better than we do. Saved me a lot of stress.
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NebulaKnight
THE FRAUD IS EVERYWHERE!!! My neighbor's sister had $942 STOLEN from her EBT card last month!!!! They put SKIMMERS on the card readers at stores!!! You HAVE TO change your PIN constantly and CHECK YOUR BALANCE EVERY DAY!!! The government doesn't care if you get your benefits stolen - they make it IMPOSSIBLE to get your money back!!! I change my PIN weekly and I ONLY use my card at Safeway now because I don't trust anywhere else!!!
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Fatima Al-Mazrouei
•While I understand your concern, it's important not to panic. Yes, skimming does happen, but changing your PIN weekly is really not necessary and might cause more problems if you forget your number. The state does have a process for replacing stolen benefits - it can take time, but it exists. Being cautious is good, but there's no need to avoid using your benefits at legitimate stores. Just use common sense when using your card.
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Giovanni Gallo
Thanks everyone for your advice! I think I'm going to start changing my PIN quarterly as suggested, and be more careful about where I use my card. I had no idea skimming was such an issue with EBT cards. Going to download the app to monitor my balance too. Really appreciate all the information!
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Emily Sanjay
Just wanted to add that if you do decide to change your PIN regularly, try using a pattern or system that makes sense to you so you don't forget it. I use the last 4 digits of the month/year plus a number that corresponds to the season (like 0125-1 for January 2025, winter = 1). This way I can always reconstruct it if I forget, but it's still secure and changes regularly. Also, I've found that grocery stores with newer chip readers tend to be safer than older swipe-only machines. Stay safe everyone!
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