How to Reset Pennsylvania EBT Card PIN

Are you locked out of your Pennsylvania EBT Card account because you cannot remember your PIN? Your ACCESS EBT card will not work without a PIN. If you forget or want to change your Pennsylvania EBT Card PIN, we can help. In this post, we are going to walk you through the step-by-step process of how to reset Pennsylvania EBT Card PIN by phone, online, or in person.

Table of Contents:

About Your Pennsylvania EBT Card
How to Reset Pennsylvania EBT Card PIN
How to Protect Your PIN

Where you can use your Pennsylvania EBT Card
What Fast Food Places Take Pennsylvania EBT
Can you shop with Pennsylvania EBT Card online for Delivery?

How to Check Pennsylvania EBT Card Balance

About Your Pennsylvania EBT Card

PIN stands for Personal Identification Number and contains four (4) numbers.

Your PIN is your electronic signature for your ACCESS EBT Card. It is the key that unlocks your benefit accounts.

To use your EBT card, you must enter your four-digit numeric PIN into the ATM or POS.

Your Pennsylvania ACCESS EBT card will not work without your PIN.

When you use your Pennsylvania EBT Card, you have up to three chances to enter the right PIN.

After three wrong tries, you will be locked out of your account. You will not be able to use your card until the next day.

If you cannot remember your PIN, call your County Assistance Office (CAO) to make an appointment to choose a new PIN.

You can also follow the steps below to choose a new PIN.

Here are the steps to select or change your Pennsylvania EBT Card PIN:

If you do not remember your PIN, you can select a new one by completing the following instructions:

First, call 1-888-328-7366.

Follow the prompts to select or change your PIN.

You will need the following information to select your Personal Identification Number (PIN):

The 19 digit card number on the front of your ACCESS EBT card.

The last four digits of the primary EBT account holder’s SSN.
The primary EBT account holder’s Date of Birth.

You can also change your PIN online after you create a user account and log in.

For help to create a PA EBT online account and change/select a PIN, see our post on How to Create Pennsylvania EBT Account Online.

How to Protect Your PIN

As mentioned above, your PIN is your electronic signature for your ACCESS EBT Card. It is the key that unlocks your benefit accounts.

It is important to keep your PIN information safe.

If someone steals your PIN and manages to use your card, you won’t be able to get those benefits back.

Here are the steps you can take to protect your PIN:

Keep your PIN a secret.

Never write your secret PIN on your card.
Never let anyone see your secret PIN —not even a store clerk! If a person has your card and knows your PIN, they can use all of your benefits.
Unfortunately, if someone else uses your secret PIN and card, your benefits will not be replaced.

If someone learns your PIN without your okay, call the recipient hotline to protect your benefits.

Where you can use your Pennsylvania EBT Card

You can use your Pennsylvania EBT card anywhere you see the Quest® Mark or
Pennsylvania EBT logo, as shown below.

Here are the different places you can use your PA EBT Card:

You can use your Pennsylvania EBT Card at:

ATMs

To access your cash benefits

To obtain your cash account balance

Point of Sale (POS) Machines (Checking out at a Cashiers)

You can use your SNAP benefits to buy food at authorized retailers.

Also, you can use your cash benefits to buy food

Additionally, you can use your cash benefits to buy non-food items like diapers and clothing.

Furthermore, you can use your cash benefits EBT Card to:

Pay bills

Withdraw cash after you buy something (get cashback)
Withdraw cash from your cash account without buying anything
Check your EBT card balances

Where to Find ATM and/or POS machines

You may find ATM and/or POS machines at:

Banks
Grocery stores

Convenience stores
Gas stations
Department stores

Utility companies

Pennsylvania EBT FAQs

Here are the most frequently asked questions about Pennsylvania EBT:

What Fast Food Places Take Pennsylvania EBT/Food Stamps/SNAP?

The Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) is a federal program that enables qualified elderly, disabled, and homeless food stamps recipients to buy food at authorized restaurants. Any state or county can enroll in the Restaurant Meals Program.

The purpose of the program is to help expand food access to those who do not have a place to store and cook food, who may not be able to prepare food or who don’t have access to a grocery store.

Not all states participate in the RMP.

Currently, the Restaurant Meal Program is running in the following states:

California
Arizona
Illinois

Maryland
Michigan
New York

Rhode Island

In the state of Pennsylvania, some restaurants accept Food Stamp benefits from some homeless, elderly, or disabled people in exchange for low-cost meals.

Contact your County Assistance Office for a list of these restaurants.

Can you shop with Pennsylvania EBT Card online for Delivery?

Yes. As of November 2021, you can use your Pennsylvania EBT card to make purchases online for pick-up and/or Delivery at the following grocery stores:

ALDI
Amazon

BJs Wholesale Club
Giant Company, LLC
Giant Eagle

Martin’s
Price Chopper Supermarkets
ShopRite

TheFreshGrocer
Tops Market
Walmart

How to Check Pennsylvania EBT Card Balance

There are three ways to check your Pennsylvania ACCESS Card balance.

Option 1 – Via Phone

Call the Pennsylvania EBT recipient phone number at 1-888-EBT-PENN (1-888-328-7366).

Option 2 – Online

You can check the balance online here.

Option 3 – Using the Last Transaction Receipt.

You can also check the balance by locating your Last Receipt