EBT card PIN security after benefits theft - must I change my PIN after every transaction?

I had my benefits stolen last yr ($550) and ya its the worst feeling. The county told me the same thing about not being able to get the $$ back. But changing ur pin after EVERY purchase is crazy talk! Nobodys doing that, the foodbank ppl are being paranoid. Just be careful where u use ur card, avoid sketchy stores and those atms that look tampered with. I change my pin like once a month now, thats enough imo.

Thank you! Once a month seems doable. Did the county at least expedite getting you a replacement card? They told me it would take 7-10 business days and I had to beg for emergency food boxes.

As someone who works closely with benefit recipients, I can tell you that changing your PIN after every single transaction is not an official CalFresh recommendation, though it would theoretically provide maximum security. Here are the actual security practices recommended by CDSS:\n\n1. Change your PIN periodically (monthly is reasonable)\n2. Cover the keypad when entering your PIN\n3. Inspect the card reader for skimming devices before inserting your card\n4. Monitor your EBT balance regularly through the mobile app or by calling the number on your card\n5. Use your EBT card at reputable retailers\n\nBenefit theft is unfortunately becoming more common. If it happens again, file a police report immediately and notify your county office - policies about replacement benefits may evolve as theft increases.

This is really helpful, thank you! I had no idea there was a mobile app to check my balance. Going to download that right now. And I'll start changing my PIN monthly on the day my benefits deposit.

after every time????!!! no way thats crazy who has time for that???? ive had my benefits for 3 yrs & never changed my pin even once lol maybe i should start but im not doing it every time i shop thats insane

I've been helping CalFresh recipients with this exact issue recently. The skimming problem has gotten much worse in 2025, especially in certain counties. \n\nOne thing nobody mentioned yet - when you do change your PIN, don't use obvious numbers like birthdays, address numbers, or sequential digits (1234, etc). Thieves can sometimes guess these common PINs even without skimming devices.\n\nAlso, many people have trouble reaching their county workers to report the theft. If you're having trouble getting through to report a theft or request a replacement card, I've had clients have success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to skip the long hold times. They have a service that gets you through to a real CalFresh worker quickly. There's a demo video here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. My client was able to get her replacement card expedited after using this to actually reach someone with authority.

I tried calling the county last week about a different issue and gave up after being on hold for 2 hours and then getting disconnected. Is this Claimyr thing legit? Has anyone else used it? I'm always skeptical of these services.

I used it once when my recertification was

THE WHOLE SYSTEM IS BROKEN!!!!! I've had my benefits stolen TWICE this year and the county basically accused me of selling my benefits or giving away my PIN (I DID NOT!!!). They make it so we have to jump through hoops while thieves are getting more sophisticated. Changing your PIN constantly is just putting the responsibility on US instead of THEM fixing their broken security!!! The EBT cards should have chip technology by now but the government is too cheap to upgrade them. Meanwhile we're supposed to remember new PINs every day? RIDICULOUS!!

I feel this so much! I was pretty much accused of being careless with my PIN too, when I am extremely careful. Didn't even get an \

For real they should have chips!! Even my prepaid walmart card has better security than EBT!

Quick update on this topic - California is actually rolling out enhanced EBT cards with chip technology starting in late 2025, though the rollout will take time to reach all counties. Until then, changing your PIN monthly and being cautious about where you use the card remain your best protections. Also, as of January 2025, there's a pilot program in 5 counties allowing some replacement of stolen benefits, but it's limited to once per year and up to $1,200. Check with your county office to see if your county is participating in this pilot.

This is the first I'm hearing about any possibility of replacement benefits! I'm in San Diego County - do you know if we're part of the pilot program? And thank you for the info about chip cards coming eventually.

San Diego is indeed one of the pilot counties! The others are Los Angeles, Sacramento, Alameda, and Fresno. If you experience theft again (hopefully you won't), be sure to report it within 5 days and specifically ask about the EBT Theft Replacement Pilot Program.

I ALWAYS change my pin daily bcuz my brother had his stolen 3 times!! But I just use the same 4 pins and rotate them, lol probably defeats the purpose but its easier to remember. Mondays=one pin, tuesday=another etc. might not be the BEST but better than nothing right??

wait if ur using the same 4 pins over and over isnt that kinda useless??? like the thieves would figure that out eventually right??

Maaaybe but they'd have to track my purchases for at least a week to figure out the pattern, by then I'd have spent most of my benefits anyway 😂 better than the same pin forever right???

When I got my benefits stolen last year the county office gave me this flyer with tips. One thing it said was that thieves often install the skimmers on weekends when store managers aren't around to check the machines. So I started only using my EBT card on weekdays at major stores like Walmart or grocery chains where they check their machines more often. Haven't had a problem since. Maybe try that instead of the constant pin changing? Also I found out my friend's benefits got stolen when she used her card at a gas station convenience store. Those places seem to be the worst for skimmers.

That's a really good point about weekends! I think mine got skimmed at a small corner market near my apartment. I'll stick to the big chain stores from now on. Thanks for the tip!

this is why i always take all my money out the first day its available and keep the cash at home...cant steal whats not on the card lol

I understand the concern, but I should mention that this approach isn't recommended for CalFresh/SNAP benefits. Unlike cash benefits, CalFresh cannot be withdrawn as cash - it can only be used to purchase eligible food items directly. Also, keeping cash at home comes with its own security risks. Using the card as intended but with proper security measures (monthly PIN changes, using at reputable retailers) offers the best balance of security and proper benefit usage.

ohhhh i was thinking of calworks not calfresh my bad! i get both so i get confused sometimes lol