If you lost your EBT card in Maryland, call 1-800-997-2222 right away to freeze the account, then request a replacement by phone, online at the state benefits portal, or in person at your local Department of Social Services office. Federal rules require the state to mail your new card within two business days of your report.1eCFR. 7 CFR 274.6 – Replacement Issuances and Cards to Households
Freeze the Card Before You Do Anything Else
The moment you notice the card is gone, call 1-800-997-2222. The line runs around the clock, and the automated system will place an immediate hold on your account so no one else can spend your balance.1eCFR. 7 CFR 274.6 – Replacement Issuances and Cards to Households
Timing is the whole game here. Once the hold is in place, the state takes responsibility for any benefits drawn from the account. Anything spent before you report the card is much harder to get back. Don’t wait for morning or for a trip to the office to make the call.
Three Ways to Request a Replacement
Once the card is frozen, you can order a new one through whichever channel fits your situation:
- By phone, through the same 1-800-997-2222 line. Follow the prompts to request a replacement after reporting the loss.
- Online, by logging in to the state benefits portal at benefits.maryland.gov and submitting the request there.
- In person, at your local Department of Social Services office. This is a good choice if you’ve had mail delivery problems before.
The old card is permanently deactivated as soon as the replacement request goes through. If the lost card later turns up in a coat pocket, it won’t work.
Information You’ll Need
Expect to verify your identity with your full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number. The agency matches those against your existing case file. You’ll also need to confirm the mailing address where the new card should be sent.
If you don’t remember your card number, your case number works instead. You can find it on any benefit approval letter or redetermination notice the state has sent you. Having it ready speeds things up whether you’re calling, going online, or walking in.
When the New Card Arrives
Federal rules require Maryland to mail the replacement within two business days of your report.1eCFR. 7 CFR 274.6 – Replacement Issuances and Cards to Households Add standard mail time, and most people see the card within about a week. The envelope doesn’t carry obvious program branding on the outside.
Follow the activation instructions inside the envelope. You’ll call 1-800-997-2222 to activate the card and set or update your PIN.2Maryland Department of Human Services. EBT Theft Reimbursement Pick a PIN that isn’t easy to guess. Once activated, you’ll have access to whatever balance remained in your account when you reported the loss.
If about ten days go by and nothing has arrived, call your local Department of Social Services. They can confirm the address on file and resend the card if a mailing error occurred.
If Benefits Were Spent Before You Reported
Losing the card is one problem. Discovering that someone already drained the account is another. Maryland’s Department of Human Services will replace 100% of EBT and P-EBT benefits confirmed stolen, dating back as far as January 1, 2021.2Maryland Department of Human Services. EBT Theft Reimbursement
To file, complete the EBT Stolen Benefits Attestation Claim Form, available through the state benefits portal. The form asks you to describe the theft and attest that you did not voluntarily give your card and PIN to the person who used them. If you handed your card and PIN to someone who then spent your benefits, the state will not reimburse you.2Maryland Department of Human Services. EBT Theft Reimbursement
Two deadlines matter. You have 45 days from becoming aware of the theft to submit the claim, and the state will review and respond within 10 business days. Cards for approved reimbursements go out within 24 hours of the decision.2Maryland Department of Human Services. EBT Theft Reimbursement
One caveat worth knowing: the federal authority funding this replacement program expired in December 2024, and its long-term future depends on whether Congress renews it.3Food and Nutrition Service. Replacing Stolen SNAP Benefits: State Plan Approvals As of this writing, Maryland’s program remains active.
How Often You Can Replace Before the State Flags Your Account
One or two replacement requests is nothing unusual. If you hit four within a 12-month period, federal rules require Maryland to send you a written notice stating that your account is being monitored for potential trafficking or misuse. The notice will list how many cards you’ve requested and over what time frame.1eCFR. 7 CFR 274.6 – Replacement Issuances and Cards to Households
After that fourth request, the state can require you to contact the agency and explain why you need another card before issuing one. If the explanation doesn’t satisfy the caseworker, or the pattern looks like trafficking, the case can be referred to a fraud investigation unit.1eCFR. 7 CFR 274.6 – Replacement Issuances and Cards to Households
None of this should keep you from reporting a card that is genuinely lost or stolen. The monitoring is built to catch patterns, not to punish bad luck. If a notice does arrive, answer it promptly and honestly, and a reasonable explanation resolves the issue.