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Cost & Benefits

EBT card stolen: what to do

Simple answer

Change the PIN now, then call your food stamps (SNAP) office.

Federal replacement does not cover a theft on or after December 21, 2024. We never ask for the card number or the PIN.

  1. 1. Change the PIN with the phone number on the back of the card.
  2. 2. Look for charges you did not make.
  3. 3. Tell the local SNAP office. A caller who asks for your PIN is not the state.
  4. 4. Ask the office for a new card if the old one was copied.

Replacement status

Federal funds can replace SNAP stolen from October 1, 2022 through December 20, 2024. A theft on or after December 21, 2024 is not eligible for federal replacement. A state may use its own money. USDA says there is no promise that state money will be paid back with federal funds.

The cap, when federal replacement did apply, was the amount stolen or two months of benefits, whichever was less. Source: FNA addressing stolen SNAP benefits, page updated 2026-09-08. Last checked 2026-10-16.

The dashboard says it lists states that no longer accept claims. The spreadsheet we opened is claim counts, not that list. We did not verify which states still pay with state money.

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