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!

This is such helpful info! I'm new to CalFresh and had no idea they automatically send replacement cards before expiration. I was wondering why I got a new card in the mail when my current one still works fine. Reading everyone's experiences here makes me feel way more confident about activating it. Definitely don't want to end up embarrassed at checkout like some of you mentioned! Going to call the activation number right now before I forget.

Great question! I just went through this exact same situation last month. Definitely activate the new card right away - don't wait like I did! The new card is probably being sent because your current one is approaching its expiration date (check the date printed on your old card). Your benefits and balance will automatically transfer over when you activate it, so you won't lose anything. The activation process is super quick - just call the number on the back of the new card and follow the automated prompts. You can keep your same PIN or create a new one. Pro tip: test the new card with a small purchase first before doing your big grocery run, just to make sure everything works smoothly!

Just to add another perspective - I work at a grocery store and see this confusion with EBT cards ALL the time! Please don't feel embarrassed if your card gets declined - it happens to tons of people and we understand it's usually just a card activation issue, not anything you did wrong. Most of us cashiers know to suggest checking if you have a new card at home that needs activating. The worst thing is when people abandon their groceries because they think their benefits are gone, when really they just need to activate the replacement card sitting in their mailbox. The system definitely could do a better job of explaining this to people!

This thread has been so helpful! I'm a single mom and I always stress about anything that might affect my kids' food security. Reading everyone's experiences here really puts my mind at ease. I had no idea that new cards are sent automatically before expiration - I thought maybe there was fraud on my account or something when I got mine last week. The fact that the balance transfers automatically is such a relief. I'm going to activate mine tonight after the kids go to bed. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories, especially those who mentioned the embarrassment at checkout - it helps knowing other parents have been through the same thing and that it all worked out okay!

As someone who's helped family members navigate CalFresh, I can't stress enough how important it is to activate that new card right away! The county doesn't always do a great job communicating this, but they automatically send replacement cards about 30 days before your current one expires. Your benefits and balance will transfer seamlessly when you activate the new card, but your old one will stop working either when you activate the new one OR when it hits its expiration date - whichever comes first. The activation call literally takes 2-3 minutes and you can keep your existing PIN. Don't risk getting stuck at the store like some folks have mentioned - activate it today and then test it with a small purchase before your big weekend shopping trip. Better safe than sorry when it comes to feeding your kids!

Hey everyone! I'm fairly new to CalFresh and this thread has been incredibly helpful. I actually just went through this exact same thing two weeks ago - got a random new card in the mail and had no clue what to do with it. Like many of you, I was worried about messing up my benefits somehow. But after reading similar advice in other forums, I activated it right away and everything went smoothly. The automated phone system really does walk you through everything step by step, and my balance transferred over perfectly. One thing I'd add is to make sure you have your Social Security number handy when you call - they ask for it during the activation process. Also, if you're like me and tend to procrastinate on this stuff, just set a reminder on your phone to activate it today. It's so much better to do it proactively than to get caught off guard at the grocery store with kids in tow!

This whole thread is a perfect example of why communities like this are so valuable! I'm relatively new to CalFresh myself and honestly had no idea that replacement cards were sent automatically before expiration. When I got mine a few months ago, I spent way too much time worrying it was some kind of mistake or fraud attempt. Reading everyone's real experiences here - both the success stories and the cautionary tales about cards getting declined at checkout - gives such practical insight that you just don't get from official government materials. The fact that so many people have been through this exact situation and can offer reassurance about the process working smoothly is incredibly helpful. It's also really nice to see grocery store workers chiming in with their perspective - knowing that cashiers understand these technical issues happen makes the whole experience less stressful. Thanks to everyone for sharing their knowledge and supporting each other through these confusing system quirks!

I just want to echo what everyone else is saying - definitely activate that new card ASAP! I learned this the hard way when I ignored my replacement card for almost two weeks because I thought my old one was working fine. Then one day I went to buy groceries and my card just randomly stopped working at the register. It was so stressful, especially with my toddler getting fussy in the cart. Turns out my old card had hit its expiration date and got automatically deactivated. Luckily I remembered seeing that new card in my mail pile at home. The activation process really is super quick and easy - took maybe 5 minutes total. Your balance will be there waiting for you on the new card. Don't overthink it, just get it activated today so you can shop worry-free this weekend!

Just wanted to chime in with my own experience! I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago and was so confused when the new card showed up. Like many others here, I was worried about activating it and potentially messing something up. But after reading advice similar to what's been shared here, I called the activation number and it was honestly the easiest thing ever. The whole process took less than 5 minutes, I kept my same PIN, and my full balance was immediately available on the new card. What really helped me was testing it out with a small purchase first (bought a single banana for like 50 cents) just to make sure everything worked before doing my weekly grocery run. Pro tip: save the activation confirmation number they give you at the end of the call - I wrote mine down and kept it in my wallet for a few weeks just in case I had any issues later. Spoiler alert: I didn't need it, but it gave me peace of mind! The system really does work smoothly once you get over that initial anxiety about change.