CalFresh EBT getting new chip cards in 2025? Worried about benefit transfer

Yes, California is rolling out chip-enabled EBT cards to help prevent skimming fraud. According to what I've read, they'll start distributing them in August 2025 with everyone getting them by December. Your benefits should automatically transfer to the new card once activated, but you'll need to create a new PIN. The rollout will be regional, so different counties will get them at different times. They should mail you the new card with instructions - you don't need to request it.

they did this in oregon last yr my cousin said it was a NIGHTMARE!!! ppl not getting cards, wrong addresses, benefits not transferring, system crashes etc. typical govt BS 🙄 better start saving some food just in case

I went through something similar when they updated the CalFresh system in 2023. What helped me was calling my county worker DIRECTLY before the transition to verify my address and make sure everything was set up correctly. The direct lines are impossible to get through though - I had to use this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a real person in about 15 minutes instead of waiting for hours or getting disconnected. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Totally worth it for peace of mind on something this important.

Why r they wasting money on new cards when they keep cutting peoples benefits??? My sister just got reduced by $200/month for no reason and now they spending $$ on plastic cards? Makes no sense smh

I just read the article about this. Here's what it says: - New cards will be mailed between August-December 2025 - You'll need to activate the new card and set a PIN - Old cards will still work for a short transition period - The change is to prevent skimming fraud which has increased 300% - Benefits will automatically transfer to the new card My daughter works for the county and she said they're planning training sessions for staff about 2 months before the rollout in each county.

I work with CalFresh recipients, and while the chip card transition is needed for security, I understand your concerns. Here's my advice: 1. Make sure your address is current in the system (update through BenefitsCal or your county office) 2. When you receive your new card, activate it immediately 3. Write down your current EBT balance before the transition 4. Keep both cards until you've verified the new one works 5. Save some shelf-stable food as backup if possible If you experience any issues during the transition, document everything - dates, times, who you spoke with, etc. This helps if you need to request expedited assistance.

my friend in texas got the chip card last month and she said it was actually fine, no problems at all. maybe california will do better than oregon did?? 🤷‍♀️

I'm new to CalFresh (just started receiving benefits last month) and this chip card transition has me really anxious too. My family of 4 gets $1,200/month and we can't afford any disruption either. From reading everyone's comments, it sounds like the key things are: 1) Keep your address updated, 2) Activate the new card right away when it comes, 3) Maybe keep some backup food just in case. I'm going to call my county office next week to double-check my address is correct. Has anyone heard if they'll send text or email reminders about the transition, or will it just be regular mail? I sometimes miss mail notifications and I don't want to miss anything important about this.

I'm also really worried about this transition! I have two young kids and we get $847/month in benefits that we absolutely depend on. After reading everyone's experiences here, I'm going to be extra proactive. I'm planning to: 1) Call my county office this week to verify my address is current, 2) Set up text alerts on BenefitsCal if I haven't already, 3) Start building up a small emergency food supply now (just buying an extra can or box each grocery trip), and 4) take screenshots of my benefit balance before the transition happens. It's frustrating that we have to worry about basic food security during what should be a simple security upgrade, but I'd rather be over-prepared than caught off guard. Has anyone heard if there will be any kind of expedited process if people do run into problems during the rollout?

I'm also nervous about this chip card rollout! I've been on CalFresh for about 6 months now and my family gets $1,050/month for our household of 4. Reading about Oregon's problems is really concerning. I think I'm going to follow everyone's advice here and call my county office to make sure my address is updated, plus maybe start buying a few extra shelf-stable items each shopping trip just in case there are delays. Does anyone know if we'll be able to use both the old and new cards at the same time during the transition period, or do we have to immediately switch over once we activate the new one? I'm in San Bernardino County if that makes a difference for timing.

This whole chip card transition is making me so anxious! I'm a single mom with 3 kids and we get $1,325/month in CalFresh benefits - it's literally what keeps us fed. After reading about Oregon's nightmare rollout, I'm really scared something will go wrong. I'm going to start preparing now by: 1) calling my county office to triple-check my address is correct, 2) signing up for text alerts on BenefitsCal, 3) starting to buy extra canned goods and rice/pasta each shopping trip to build up a small emergency stash, and 4) writing down all the important phone numbers and keeping them handy. It's so stressful that we have to worry about losing access to basic food assistance during what should be a routine security upgrade. Has anyone heard if there will be any kind of hotline or emergency assistance specifically for chip card transition problems? I really hope California learned from other states' mistakes and this goes smoothly for all of us families who depend on these benefits.