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Update 2024-09: New EBT Chip EMV/Tap-Enabled Card Technology (Revised)
Common Place Handbook
| Date | References | Clerical | Implementation |
| 08/01/24 (Revised 1-31-25) | ACWDL June 24, 2024; ACWDL Dec 19, 2024 | Yes | 02/24/2025 |
Background
To reduce electronic benefit theft in California, the State will upgrade the magnetic stripe EBT cards with EBT Chip EMV/Tap-enabled cards.
The Go-Live date for this effort is TBD. Once the State has provided the exact Go-Live date, this update will be revised.
Changes
The following subsections in the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Card topic have been added:
- EBT Chip Europay, Mastercard, and Visa (EMV) Tap Technology
- EBT Card Security Features
A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document regarding the New EBT Chip & Tap-Enabled Card Replacement has been added to the Eligibility Reference Material for Staff under the Subcategory: Multiple Programs.
Note: Pandemic EBT (P-EBT), Sun Bucks, and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) EBT cards are excluded from this EBT technology upgrade.
Automated Card Replacements
Go-Live date is February 24, 2025. All active cardholders will receive a replacement EBT card with Chip EMV/Tap functionality. For the purposes of this card replacement effort, “Active” is defined as EBT cards attached to a food or cash benefit account that have conducted transactions within the last nine months. Inactive cases with active cards will receive replacement cards according to program participation. Chip EMV/Tap card mailings will be prioritized according to program participation.
Chip EMV/Tap card replacements will occur in the following phases:
Phase 1:
Cardholders and Authorized Representative(s) with existing “Active” EBT cards linked with a combination of CalWORKs and CalFresh cases. This includes CalFresh cases linked with any cash benefit program, such as GA/GR, RCA, TCVAP, ECA, CAPI, and LIHEAP.
Phase 2:
Cardholders and Authorized Representative(s) with existing “Active” EBT cards linked with cash-only benefit cases.
Phase 3:
Cardholders and Authorized Representative(s) with existing “Active” EBT cards linked with food-only benefit cases.
Note: The cardholder's existing PIN and existing balances will carry over to the new card. Benefit load amounts will not be impacted.
Cardholder Outreach
Replacement EBT card mailings, by the State, will include:
- The new EBT EMV/Tap-Enabled card,
- An updated EBT card mailer, and
- Both the Pub 388 and the Pub 389.
Informational banners have been added to BenefitsCal and ebtEDGE, informing cardholders of the EBT EMV/Tap-enabled card replacement.
County Impact
During either the Semi-Annual Report or the Re-evaluation Eligibility Workers should direct cardholders to begin using their replacement cards as soon as the new card is received by mail. A successful transaction (administrative, such as a PIN change or a financial transaction using either food or cash) using the new card will activate it and automatically deactivate the old card. Cardholders will have approximately 180 days after issuance to activate the replacement card before the magnetic stripe-only card becomes unusable.
Data Systems
CATS has worked with District Office OMCs to deploy equipment needed for the EBT Chip EMV/Tap-enabled cards. This includes coordination to replace the old cardstock with the new Chip EMV/Tap-enabled cardstock.
Prior to the card mass mailing, the State will provide a list of cardholders who have their mailing address listed as a district office. This list is intended to support triage for cardholders experiencing housing insecurity and to avoid erroneously discarding replacement cards during the card replacement effort.
Forms
The California EBT Card (PUB 388) and How To Use Your EBT Card To Make A Purchase (PUB 389) have been revised to include information on the Chip Tap-enabled card activation and updated information on benefit theft prevention.
Programs Affected
CalWORKs (CW), CalFresh (CF), Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI), General Assistance (GA) and Refugee Cash Assistance/Entrant Cash Assistance (RCA/ECA).
Department of Employment & Benefits Services
Contact Person(s): Tino Sacasa, SSA Business and Policy Implementation Specialist