I just want to say how amazing this community is! @Ethan Brown you've gotten such incredible, detailed advice from everyone here. As someone who's been through government assistance headaches before, I know how stressful and overwhelming these situations can feel, especially when you're worried about fraud. Reading through all these responses, it's clear you have a solid game plan now: call early morning (around 8 AM), have all your documents ready (EBT card, SSN, recent transactions), be patient with the process, and don't hang up until you've tested your login. The fact that multiple people have shared similar positive experiences should give you confidence that this is totally solvable. It's also really reassuring to see how many people mentioned that customer service reps are understanding about this issue - apparently forgotten security questions are super common, so you definitely shouldn't feel bad about it happening to you. Wishing you the best of luck getting this sorted out quickly! Please update us on how it goes - I'm sure others will find your experience helpful too. This thread is going to be such a valuable resource for anyone else who runs into the same problem! 🙏✨

Wow, @Ethan Brown you've gotten some absolutely fantastic advice here! I went through this same issue about 4 months ago and can confirm that calling early morning (I called at 7:45 AM on a Tuesday) really does make a huge difference with wait times. One thing I'd add that I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you have any old paperwork from when you first applied for EBT benefits, grab that too. The rep asked me about the date I first received benefits and the office location where I applied, which I wouldn't have remembered without looking it up. Also, totally agree with everyone about writing down your new security questions immediately! I actually created a secure note in my phone with hints rather than the full answers (like "childhood street + mom's middle name" instead of writing out the actual answer) - that way if someone sees it, they still can't access my account but I have enough info to remember. The whole process was honestly way less painful than I expected. You've got this! The community has given you an amazing roadmap. Definitely let us know how it goes - your experience will help the next person who runs into this issue! 💪

I went through this exact same thing last year! What worked for me was calling the customer service line first thing in the morning (around 8 AM) and selecting the option for "lost or stolen card" instead of PIN unlock - sometimes that gets you through faster to a human. Once you get someone on the line, they can help with the PIN unlock too. Also, make sure you have your SSN, date of birth, and the last 4 digits of your EBT card ready. The whole process took about 15 minutes once I actually got through to someone. Hang in there - I know how stressful this can be when you need access to your benefits!

I actually had success getting through by calling during lunch hours (around 12-1 PM) when most people aren't calling. Also, if you have a smartphone, try downloading the ebtEDGE mobile app - sometimes you can manage your PIN through there without having to call at all. I know it's frustrating when you need your benefits and can't access them. Another tip: if you're still stuck, try reaching out to your local food stamp office directly - they might be able to help reset your PIN or at least give you a direct number that has shorter wait times.

I actually work at a local DSS office and deal with these issues daily. A few tips that might help: 1) Call right at 8 AM when they open - wait times are definitely shorter then. 2) Have your EBT card number, SSN, DOB, and current address ready. 3) If you remember ANY purchases from the last 30 days (even approximate amounts/dates), have that info handy too. 4) Be patient with the rep - they want to help but have to follow security protocols. The good news is they can absolutely reset your security questions once they verify your identity. Don't stress too much about the exact wording of your old answers - the system is designed to help people in situations like yours!

I had this exact same problem a few weeks ago! What a nightmare, right? I ended up having to call the customer service line multiple times before I finally got through. Here's what I learned: definitely call right when they open at 8 AM like others have mentioned, but also have your EBT card physically in front of you when you call. They asked me for the card number, expiration date, and the 3-digit code on the back along with all my personal info. They were able to reset my security questions after verifying everything, and it only took about 10 minutes once I got connected. The rep also told me to write down my new security question answers somewhere safe this time - lesson learned! Hang in there, you'll get it sorted out soon! 💪

This is why I always transfer my benefits to my bank account as soon as they hit. Easier to dispute fraud with a bank than deal with EBT customer service imho.

So sorry this happened to you! 😔 I went through the exact same thing a few months ago. Here's what worked for me: 1. Call the EBT fraud hotline immediately (not just regular customer service) - they have a separate line for fraud cases 2. Ask them to put a "fraud alert" on your account while they investigate 3. Request emergency replacement benefits - they can sometimes issue these within 24-48 hours for fraud cases 4. File a police report online if your local PD allows it (saves time) 5. Document EVERYTHING - take screenshots of your transaction history, write down case numbers, etc. The whole process took about 2 weeks for me, but I got every penny back. Also, they'll send you a new card with a new number automatically. Hang in there - the system does work, it's just slow! 🙏