How To Activate Food Stamp Card | EBT Cardholder Information
You will need to call the EBT customer service hotline in order to choose a Personal Identification Number, also known as a PIN before you can use the P-EBT Food Benefit card that was issued to your child.
How much P-EBT food will my child(ren) get?
Children will receive P-EBT food benefits based on how many days their school was closed or attendance was reduced due to COVID-19. A child may receive two amounts:
- Children who miss 1 to 12 days of school in a month will receive $82 in P-EBT food benefits.
- Children who miss more than 12 days of school in a month will receive $132 in P-EBT food benefits.
- Children whose schools report that their in-person attendance wasn’t affected by COVID won’t get a benefit for that month.
How to Get Your Food Stamp Card Activated:
- 1-888-328-6399 (touch-tone)
- Press ‘1’ for English when prompted.
- Enter the 19-digit card number on your phone’s keypad.
- You’ll hear options after entering the card number. If you’ve never used the card to access P-EBT food benefits, press 1.
- You’ll need the cardholder’s SSN’s last four digits. The P-EBT Food Benefit cardholder’s name is on the front.) Do not enter the child’s SSN. Enter the child’s birthday as MM/DD. Enter 0704 for a July 4 birthday. * Enter the child’s real birthday, not the one on the card.
- After the child’s birthday, enter your zip code.
- Enter a 4-digit PIN using your phone’s keypad. This PIN is needed to use your P-EBT Food Benefit card.
To place an order for a replacement prepaid electronic benefit transfer (P-EBT) food card:
P-EBT Food Benefit cards should only be replaced if they are lost, stolen, or damaged. Food benefits will be issued as schools and districts process monthly in-person attendance data. Ordering a replacement card won’t speed up your child’s P-EBT food benefits and may delay them.
1-888-328-6399 can replace your P-EBT Food Benefit card. Please provide security information, including the card’s 19-digit number.
- If you don’t have that number, you’ll be asked for the cardholder’s social security number. However, when ordering a replacement P-EBT Food Benefit card, you must enter 999-99 and the cardholder’s birthday (MM/DD).
- If your child’s birthday is July 4, enter 999-99-0704 for his or her SSN.
- You’ll be asked to enter the cardholder’s 8-digit birthday (MM/DD/YYYY) and 4-digit PIN for the P-EBT food benefits card you’re replacing. Follow the prompts to order a replacement card without a PIN.
Botton Line!
Children will receive P-EBT food benefits based on how many days their school was closed or attendance was reduced due to COVID-19. You will need to call the EBT customer service hotline in order to choose a Personal Identification Number, also known as a PIN. To place an order for a replacement prepaid electronic benefit transfer card, dial 1-888-328-6399 (touch-tone).