Got new EBT card in mail - activate or keep using old one for CalFresh benefits?

Definitely activate the new card ASAP! Your old card will likely be deactivated within 7-10 days. When the county issues a new card, it's usually because your current one is about to expire or they're doing a security update. Your benefits/balance will automatically transfer to the new card when you activate it. Just call the number on the back of the new card and follow the prompts. Keep your old card until you've successfully used the new one, then destroy the old one.

the same thing happened to me last month lol. my old card stopped working at the checkout and it was so embarrassing!! had to put all my groceries back. found new card sitting in pile of mail when i got home that id ignored for weeks

This happens routinely with EBT cards. They typically expire after 3-4 years depending on your county, and new ones are automatically sent about a month before expiration. Check the expiration date printed on your current card - it's likely about to expire. Your benefits and balance transfer automatically, but you do need to activate the new card by calling the number on the back of it. You can use the same PIN or create a new one. Important: your old card will stop working once the new one is activated OR when it reaches its expiration date, whichever comes first.

ACTIVATE IT NOW!!! I didn't and my card stopped working in the middle of Walmart with a full cart! County offices don't warn you about this at all. The system is designed to make us fail I swear. I had to wait 2 days before I could get my benefits transferred and my kids were HUNGRY. The whole EBT system is a disaster and they just expect us to figure it all out ourselves.

anyone else notice the new cards look different? mine had some weird California landscape on it instead of the old design

To answer your follow-up question - your PIN can either stay the same or you can create a new one during activation. If you choose to keep your existing PIN, make sure to enter it correctly when prompted during the activation call. Also, check that the name on the new card matches yours exactly. If there are any discrepancies or issues activating, don't hesitate to call the EBT customer service line or your county CalFresh office.

my sister got a new card one time and she thought it was a scam so she threw it away LOL then her old one stopped working and she had to pay $5 for a replacement and wait like a week to get it in the mail

Glad to hear you got it activated! One more tip - be sure to keep your EBT card in a safe place away from electronics and magnets. The magnetic strip can get damaged easily. And remember to report immediately if your card is ever lost or stolen by calling the EBT customer service number (it's also on the California EBT app if you download that). They'll deactivate the card to protect your benefits and send you a replacement.

Just wanted to add - if anyone else is hesitant about activating a new EBT card, don't be! I was nervous too but the whole process took like 3 minutes on the phone. The automated system walks you through everything step by step. And like others mentioned, your old card WILL stop working eventually whether you activate the new one or not, so you might as well do it sooner rather than later. Better to be proactive than get stuck at the store with kids waiting in the car like some of us have experienced!