California issues CalWORKs and CalFresh benefits on Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards. As of April 29, 2025, all EBT cardholders with an active EBT card were issues a replacement chip/tap EBT card. The magnetic stripe cards for those cardholders were deactivated effective October 25, 2025.
There are approximately 34,000 magnetic stripe EBT cards still in circulation. These cards were not considered active when the chip/tap cards were issued, or were subsequently reactivated because of reapplication for food or cash benefits. Effective April 19, 2026, these remaining magnetic stripe cards will be deactivated. People who have these magnetic stripe cards can get a replacement chip/tap card by EBT Customer Service Helpline at (877) 328-9677, online at BenefitsCal or the ebtEDGE mobile application and cardholder portal, or by contacting their local county welfare department office.
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) will give counites a list of cardholders with magnetic stripe cards that will be deactivated. CDSS strongly recommends that counties conduct outreach to these cardholders.
Some counties may have chip/tap cards that were not picked up by cardholders. Those chip/tap cards must be securely destroyed by April 19, 2026. (ACWDL, March 19, 2026.)