Got duplicate EBT cards - one from office pickup and one in mail. What should I do with the extra CalFresh card?

Same thing happened to me last year! It's actually not a big deal. When they issue a new card, the old one gets deactivated automatically. So most likely only ONE of your cards actually works. Try checking the balance on both cards using the EBT phone number or app - I bet the mailed one doesn't work anymore since they gave you a replacement.

You can safely destroy the extra card. The system automatically deactivates the previous card when a replacement is issued. However, make sure you're absolutely certain which card is active before destroying either one. You can verify which card is active by: 1. Checking the EBT app or calling the number on the back of the card (1-877-328-9677) 2. Checking the last 4 digits of each card - the county records should show which one is currently linked to your benefits Technically, you don't need to report this to your caseworker as it's a common occurrence, but it never hurts to send a quick message through BenefitsCal just to document that you received both cards.

I work with CalFresh recipients regularly, and this happens all the time. Here's what you should do: 1. Verify which card is active (sounds like you already did this) 2. Cut up the inactive card and dispose of it securely 3. There's no need to contact your caseworker specifically about this The two cards are linked to the same account, but only one can be active at a time. When they issued you the replacement at the office, their system automatically deactivated the one in the mail. This is a security feature to prevent benefits fraud. If you ever need to contact your county office about other CalFresh issues and keep getting stuck in the phone system, try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They help you skip the phone queue and get directly connected to a worker. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Really helpful when you have urgent benefit questions.

DID ANYBODY TELL YOU TO CHECK THE ISSUE DATES?!!! Sometimes the mailed card is actually the NEWER one even if it arrived later!!! I almost threw away the wrong card. Look at the date printed on each card and KEEP THE NEWEST ONE. The county systems are all messed up and sometimes they don't deactivate right. DON'T JUST ASSUME!!!

Call the EBT customer service directly (not your caseworker) and tell them you have two cards. They can verify which one is active and officially deactivate the other one in the system. I had three cards once because my mail kept getting sent to my old address lol.

make sure u dont let anyone else use the extra card even family members. thats considered fraud and they can kick u off calfresh for that. my cousins friend got caught sharing her card and had to pay back everything and got 6 month penalty

Just wanted to add that if you're ever unsure about which card is active, you can also try making a small purchase with each card at a store. The active one will work and the deactivated one will be declined. But honestly, checking the dates like Taylor mentioned is the easiest way - always keep the one with the most recent issue date. I had a similar situation a few months back and the county office told me this is super common, especially when there are mail delays. You're handling it exactly right by checking everything before destroying the extra card!

This is such helpful information from everyone! I went through something similar recently and it's good to see the community sharing practical advice. Just to add one more tip - if you're someone who frequently needs to contact your county office but struggles with long wait times, you might also want to update your contact preferences in BenefitsCal to receive text notifications. That way you can get updates about your case without having to call as often. Also, when you do destroy the inactive card, make sure to cut through the chip and magnetic stripe completely so the card data can't be recovered. Stay safe everyone!

I had this exact same situation happen to me about 6 months ago! It was so stressful at first because I thought I might get in trouble for having two cards. What I learned is that this is actually really common - the county offices deal with this all the time. The most important thing is to check which card is actually active (which it sounds like you already figured out). Once you confirm the inactive one shows $0 balance, you can safely destroy it. I kept mine for about a week just to be extra sure, then cut it up completely. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - if you ever have to go pick up a replacement card at the office again, ask them to confirm they're canceling any cards that might still be in the mail. Sometimes they can put a note in the system to prevent this from happening again. But honestly, you're handling this perfectly and there's nothing to worry about!

I'm so glad you found this thread helpful! This exact situation happened to me when I first started getting CalFresh benefits and I was panicking because I didn't know what to do. The community here really knows their stuff! Just wanted to add that if you're ever in doubt about anything CalFresh-related in the future, don't hesitate to ask questions here. People are super supportive and there's usually someone who's been through the same situation. It sounds like you've got everything figured out now - check the dates, keep the newer active card (the 4/24 one), and destroy the old one completely. You're doing great navigating the system as a new recipient!

Welcome to the CalFresh community! I'm so glad you found this thread helpful - your situation is actually super common and you're handling it exactly right. I've been receiving CalFresh benefits for about 2 years now and I remember how overwhelming everything felt at first. The duplicate card thing happened to me too during my first few months, and just like everyone else said, it's really no big deal once you know what to do. One thing I learned from experience is to always save the customer service number (1-877-328-9677) in your phone for quick reference. I also recommend downloading the ebtEDGE mobile app if you haven't already - it makes checking your balance and transaction history so much easier than calling the automated line. You've gotten amazing advice from everyone here about checking dates, destroying the inactive card properly, and not sharing cards with anyone. The CalFresh program can seem complicated at first, but once you get familiar with the basics, it becomes much more manageable. Don't hesitate to ask questions here - this community has been a lifesaver for me when I've had confusing situations with my benefits. You're doing great!

Hey there! I just wanted to chime in as someone who's been navigating CalFresh for a while now - you're absolutely doing everything right! This duplicate card situation is honestly one of the most common issues new recipients face, and it sounds like you've already figured out the key steps thanks to all the great advice here. I love seeing how supportive this community is! When I first started getting benefits about 3 years ago, I had so many questions and felt overwhelmed by the system. Having a place like this where people share real experiences and practical tips makes such a huge difference. One small additional tip from my experience - if you ever need to request a replacement card in the future, I've found it helpful to ask the county office worker to give you the exact date the new card will be issued and to confirm in writing (or email) that any previous cards are being deactivated. This creates a paper trail and can prevent confusion if there are any system delays. You handled this situation perfectly by checking both cards' balances and dates before taking any action. That's exactly the kind of careful approach that will serve you well as you continue using CalFresh benefits. Welcome to the community!

I'm so glad this thread exists! As someone who just started receiving CalFresh benefits last month, this is exactly the kind of practical information I needed to see. I haven't run into the duplicate card issue yet, but now I know exactly what to do if it happens - check the dates on both cards, verify which one is active through the app or customer service line, and safely destroy the inactive one by cutting through the chip and magnetic stripe. What really stands out to me is how common this situation is and how supportive everyone is being. It's reassuring to know that these kinds of mix-ups happen regularly and aren't something to panic about. I've already saved the EBT customer service number (1-877-328-9677) in my contacts and downloaded the ebtEDGE app based on the recommendations here. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and advice - this is such a valuable resource for people navigating the CalFresh system for the first time!

This thread has been incredibly helpful to read through as someone who's still pretty new to CalFresh myself! I got my first EBT card about 6 weeks ago and I've been learning so much from this community. Your situation with the duplicate cards is actually really reassuring to see handled so well - it shows that even when confusing things happen with the system, there are always people here with experience who can guide newcomers through it. I love how everyone jumped in with practical advice and personal stories. I just wanted to add one small tip that my caseworker mentioned to me during my initial appointment: she said to always keep the customer service number and your EBT card number written down somewhere separate from your actual card, just in case you ever lose it or need to report issues. That way you can call immediately without having to wait for paperwork or go to the office. It sounds like you've got everything figured out now with keeping the newer card (4/24) and destroying the old one. Thanks for sharing your experience - I'm sure other new recipients will find this thread super valuable!

I'm really glad I found this thread! I just started receiving CalFresh benefits about a month ago and this whole conversation has been so educational. Even though I haven't experienced the duplicate card issue yet, reading through everyone's advice has given me so much confidence about how to handle various EBT situations that might come up. What I love most about this community is how supportive everyone is - no judgment, just practical help from people who've been there before. I've already implemented several of the tips mentioned here: downloaded the ebtEDGE app, saved the customer service number in my phone, and wrote down my card number separately like Emma suggested. As a newcomer to CalFresh, it's honestly overwhelming sometimes trying to figure out all the rules and processes, but threads like this make it so much less intimidating. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences - you're making the system much more navigable for people like us who are still learning the ropes!