Is it normal to have CalFresh EBT PIN anxiety? Tips needed!

omg same!! i change mine at least 3-4 times before deposit day. better safe than sorry!! lost $400 once to fraud and the county took FOREVER to investigate. never again

Seriously? They stole your benefits even with your PIN? Now I'm even more paranoid! How long did it take for the county to fix it?

Changing your PIN occasionally is smart, but multiple times in one night isn't necessary and might actually confuse you when you go to use your card. CalFresh benefits have decent security protections in place. I recommend:\n\n1. Change your PIN once a month after your benefits are loaded and you've done your main shopping\n2. Never share your PIN with anyone\n3. Cover the keypad when entering your PIN at stores\n4. Check your EBT account regularly through the mobile app\n5. If shopping online with EBT, only use authorized retailers\n\nKeeping the same PIN for at least a month makes it less likely you'll forget it when you need to use your benefits.

Thank you, that's really helpful. I didn't even know there's a mobile app! Is that the one called \

Totally get the anxiety! The system does have good fraud protection, but here's what I do: I keep my PIN the same most of the time but change it immediately after I notice anything suspicious with my account. I also check my transaction history regularly using the EBT app. The risk of forgetting your own PIN and getting locked out is actually higher than someone randomly guessing it.\n\nMost EBT theft happens from card skimmers at stores, not from someone guessing PINs. So check the card reader before inserting your card - if it feels loose or has an unusual attachment, use a different terminal.

wait so should I b worried about using my card at like small neighborhood stores?? ive only been using mine at safeway cuz im scared of the small places

I HAD MY ENTIRE MONTH'S BENEFITS STOLEN LAST YEAR!!! $820 GONE OVERNIGHT! Called the county - USELESS. Automated system kept hanging up on me. Took 2 months to get my money back and they made me feel like I was lying about it. So yeah your anxiety is TOTALLY NORMAL. The system does NOTHING to protect us. I now withdraw all my benefits as soon as they hit my account and hide the cash at home.

I had a similar experience but I found a service called Claimyr that actually helped me reach a real person at the county when my benefits were stolen. I was getting disconnected constantly, but Claimyr got me through to a worker in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. The website is claimyr.com. Still took time to investigate, but at least I could talk to someone who could start the process.

changing pin 10 times is bit overkill lol but u do u. ive had calfresh 3 yrs never changed my pin once, never had problem

Really? You've never changed it even once? Maybe I am being paranoid then. Has anyone else gone years without changing their PIN?

i was told by my worker when i got approved to change my pin every 90 days just like passwords for other important stuff. but she also said to write it down somewhere at home (not in my wallet with the ebt card

That's actually really good advice from your worker! 90 days is a reasonable timeframe for PIN changes. Writing it down somewhere separate from your card is smart too, as long as it's not obvious what the number is for.

btw did u know if ur benefits get stolen u can report it but they only investigate if its over $75? my cousin had $40 stolen and they basically told her too bad

OF COURSE they have a minimum! Just another way they screw people who need help! I bet the workers steal from our accounts and know they won't get caught if they take small amounts!

To address the original poster's anxiety - what helped me was setting a specific schedule for PIN changes rather than doing it randomly when anxious. I change mine quarterly now (January, April, July, October) and right after I've used most of my monthly benefits. Having a system makes it feel more under control.\n\nI also recommend creating a PIN that's meaningful to you but not obvious to others - avoid birthdates and sequential numbers.

That quarterly schedule is a brilliant idea! I think having a system would definitely help my anxiety instead of changing it whenever I get nervous. Going to try implementing this starting next month.

I totally understand the anxiety! When I first got CalFresh, I was the same way - constantly worried about my benefits getting stolen. What really helped me was learning about the actual security measures in place. The EBT system tracks every transaction with timestamps and locations, so if fraud does happen, there's a clear paper trail. I settled into changing my PIN every 2-3 months and always check my balance before and after shopping. The mobile app someone mentioned is super helpful for this - you can see your transaction history in real time. Also, most fraud actually happens from card skimmers or people shoulder-surfing your PIN at the store, not from random PIN guessing. One thing that gave me peace of mind was calling the EBT customer service line (the number on the back of your card) and asking them to walk me through their fraud protection policies. Knowing exactly what steps to take if something did happen made me feel way more prepared and less anxious about it.