If you receive SNAP or Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) benefits and live in New Jersey, you have an urgent deadline: November 20, 2026. That is the last day to activate the new chip-enabled EBT card the state has mailed to recipients. The old magnetic-stripe cards stopped working on October 20, which means that if you have not yet activated your new card, you cannot use your benefits until you do.
New Jersey is now one of the first states in the country to complete the full transition to EMV chip EBT cards — the same technology that has been standard on bank credit and debit cards for years. The goal is to eliminate benefit theft through skimming devices, which copied data from the magnetic stripe to drain card balances.
How to activate your new EBT card
Activating the new card is quick and can be done in three ways. The first option is online at NJFamiliesFirst.gov. The second is through the ConnectEBT app, available for iPhone and Android. The third is by calling 1-800-997-3333. In all cases you will need your new card on hand to enter the required information during the process.
Once activated, your benefits transfer automatically to the new card. You do not need to spend your old card’s balance first — the balance moves over automatically. Once you have activated the new card, destroy the old one to avoid any issues.
What happens if you don’t activate before November 20
If you do not activate your new card before the deadline, your November benefits are at risk. Since the old cards stopped working on October 20, without an active new card you will not be able to make purchases at any store. To resolve the situation you will need to contact your county social services agency, which will verify your mailing address and arrange for a replacement card — a process that can take several days.
How to use the new card at stores
The new Families First EBT card works differently from the old one. Instead of swiping it through the reader, you need to insert it into the chip slot or, if the terminal supports it, tap it on the reader for contactless payment. Do not swipe the magnetic stripe — participating retailers have already updated their terminals to accept the chip.
You can also lock and unlock your card at any time through the ConnectEBT app or NJFamiliesFirst.gov — a feature that did not exist with the old cards and that adds an extra layer of protection if you suspect your card has been compromised.
Who needs to take action?
All SNAP and WFNJ recipients in New Jersey who received the new chip card must activate it. The state began distribution in July 2026 with a pilot in Cumberland, Essex, and Mercer counties, and expanded the program statewide in September. If you received the new card but have not yet activated it, act before November 20.
If you have not received the new card or are unsure whether you need to do anything, call 1-800-997-3333 or contact your county social services agency.