Pennsylvania DHS Asking EBT Recipients to Change PIN Monthly to Prevent Theft

The Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Office of State Inspector General (OSIG) advise Pennsylvanians who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to change their EBT card PINs ahead of their monthly SNAP benefit distribution as thieves often strike right after a monthly benefits payment is made.

The reminder comes amid nationwide instances of SNAP theft, especially reports of card skimming, where SNAP benefits are stolen off EBT cards after skimming at a point-of-sale machine. But the actual theft of benefits rarely happens right away – thieves often hold on to stolen EBT card information until monthly distributions occur, when larger amounts of benefits can be stolen.

Due to the end of Congressional authorization of funds to replace stolen benefits, benefits stolen after December 20, 2024, cannot be reissued by DHS.

SNAP recipients can change their EBT card’s PIN:

• By Phone: DHS’ EBT Recipient Hotline is available at 1-888-EBT-PENN (1-888-328-7366) and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
• Online: Users can change their PIN online through DHS’ EBT contractor, Conduent, via their Connect EBT website.
• Via Mobile App: Users can also change their PIN online through two separate apps:
  • Conduent’s secure ConnectEBT app, available for free on Apple and GooglePlay app stores.
  • DHS’ myCOMPASS PA mobile app, Pennsylvania’s official, safe, and secure mobile app, available for free on Apple and GooglePlay app stores. SNAP recipients can also monitor their SNAP benefits and transactions regularly through the myCOMPASS PA mobile app.  

DHS has implemented enhanced EBT card PIN security in response to these skimming incidents, such as prohibiting simple passwords like 1234.

Pennsylvanians are urged to take an extra look before swiping their card at a point-of-sale machine to ensure there is no skimming attachment. 

Retailers must also remain vigilant and be responsible for the removal of skimming devices in order to protect their customers. 

Skimming devices, often called skimmers, are designed to blend in and deceive customers, but there are ways to identify a fraudulent device:

• Observe the size. Skimming devices are often placed over the legitimate card reader, making them larger and thicker than legitimate card readers. 
• Skimming devices are often attached with glue or tape.
  • Pull at the edges of the keypad before entering your PIN.
• Look for security stickers. Some legitimate devices may have a security label or holographic decal on the front or top of the card reader. 

This image shows the slight differences between a skimming device and a legitimate card reader. The device on the left is a skimmer. The edges are larger than the legitimate device shown on the right. These subtle differences are designed to trick consumers.

If a customer finds a skimming machine at a point-of-sale, they should immediately alert the retailer and should also call law enforcement and the OSIG Public Benefits Fraud hotline at 1-800-932-0582.

If SNAP benefits are stolen from an EBT card, that theft should be immediately reported to local law enforcement and to OSIG by calling 1-800-932-0582.

If an individual’s benefits are stolen, they should request a replacement EBT card as soon as possible from DHS’ EBT contractor, Conduent, at 888-328-7366, or by contacting their local County Assistance Office. Card replacement fees are waived when electronic theft is reported.  

Due to the end of Congressional authorization of funds to replace stolen benefits, benefits stolen after December 20, 2024, cannot be reissued by DHS.

SNAP benefits are issued onto EBT cards monthly. For immediate food needs, Pennsylvanians can call 211, text their zip code to 898-211, use our chat feature, or visit our guided search page to connect with various local food resources and can also visit www.feedingpa.org to find local food banks and other food assistance programs.