The phone number for New Jersey Families First is 1-800-997-3333. The toll-free line is open to anyone with a Families First EBT card and handles balance checks, PIN changes, transaction history, and reports of a lost, stolen, or damaged card. It is the fastest option when you need to freeze a card right away.
What to Have Ready Before You Call
Have the EBT card in your hand before you dial. The automated system asks you to key in the card number early in the call, and hunting for it mid-prompt can time the session out. Be ready to confirm your identity with your Social Security Number and date of birth. Resetting a forgotten PIN may trigger extra verification.
One warning worth repeating: never give your card number, PIN, or personal details to anyone who calls or texts you claiming to be from the program. Phishing against EBT holders has grown, and spent benefits are hard or impossible to get back.
What the Line Can Do
Most routine card tasks can be finished on 1-800-997-3333 without a trip to a county office:
- Check your SNAP and cash balances before you shop.
- Review recent transaction history and spot anything you didn’t authorize.
- Change your PIN, either because you suspect someone else knows it or just to refresh it.
- Report a lost, stolen, or damaged card, freeze the account, and request a replacement.
The call starts with a language choice between English and Spanish, then prompts you for the card number. Once you’re verified, a numbered menu covers the tasks above. If none of them fits, you can ask to be transferred to a live representative. After an action like ordering a replacement card, the system reads back a verbal confirmation so you know the request went through.
What the Line Can’t Do
The phone line only covers card and account tasks. Anything about your application, your eligibility, or the amount of your benefit has to go to your local county social services agency instead.1New Jersey Department of Human Services. Work First New Jersey – Using Your Benefits Calling 1-800-997-3333 about an eligibility question will not get you an answer.
Faster or Alternative Ways to Reach Your Account
The same core tasks are available online at NJFamiliesFirst.com and through the ConnectEBT mobile app.1New Jersey Department of Human Services. Work First New Jersey – Using Your Benefits After creating a login you can see your balances, review up to 12 months of transactions, change your PIN, lock or unlock the card, and request a replacement. The app also supports biometric login and card scanning.2State of New Jersey. NJ SNAP – Check Your Balance
In April 2025, New Jersey added a card lock feature that blocks all purchases on your card without canceling it. Choosing “Lock My Card Everywhere” in the app or on the website stops any online or in-store transaction while the lock is on. Benefit deposits still arrive on schedule, and you can unlock the card whenever you’re ready to shop again.3New Jersey Department of Human Services. Human Services Launches New Lock Feature on EBT Cards The lock is a good first move if something looks off and you aren’t sure yet whether the card has been compromised.
In the app, tap “Lock/Unlock Card,” then “Lock My Card Everywhere,” and confirm. On NJFamiliesFirst.com, click “Lock/Unlock Card” at the top right, pick the same option, and submit.3New Jersey Department of Human Services. Human Services Launches New Lock Feature on EBT Cards
If You Think Your Benefits Were Stolen
Call 1-800-997-3333 right away to freeze the card, and report the theft to your local SNAP office.4Food and Nutrition Service. Addressing Stolen SNAP Benefits One hard fact to know going in: because of a change in the federal budget, SNAP and WorkFirst NJ benefits stolen electronically on or after December 21, 2024 are not eligible for replacement.5New Jersey Department of Human Services. Electronically Stolen Benefits Freezing the card quickly, and using the lock feature or regular balance checks between shopping trips, is now the main defense.