With electronic benefit theft on the rise, and no reimbursement currently available for stolen funds, the Lakewood Resource and Referral Center (LRRC) urges all SNAP and Work First New Jersey (WFNJ) households to take two critical actions:

1. Lock your Families First EBT card whenever it is not in use.
2. Report any suspected theft right away and file a police report to document the loss.

New Lock/Unlock Feature Keeps Benefits Safe

Cardholders can now lock and unlock their EBT cards, preventing unauthorized purchases:

1. Create an online account by going to NJFamiliesFirst.com. After the account is created, you can download the ConnectEBT mobile app and sign in with the same credentials.
2. Log into your account on NJFamiliesFirst.com or on the mobile app. Under the "Card" dropdown, select "Lock/Unlock Card" or click the icon on the top right corner of the website.
3. Select "Lock My Card Everywhere" and click "Submit." Your status will say "Locked Everywhere" when locked.
4. You can choose an automatic re-lock timer—30, 60, or 90 minutes—to ensure the card relocks after you shop. Even when locked, your card will still receive new deposits; it simply can't be used until you unlock it.

No smartphone or reliable internet access? Visit the LRRC during open walk-in hours to create the account and set the automatic lock. Save EBT Customer Service (1-800-997-3333) to your contacts; you can call to unlock your card when you're ready to pay. (Customer Service cannot lock a card.)

Additional Security Tips

1. Out-of-State Lock: You can restrict card use to New Jersey only, but this does not block online transactions.
2. Change your PIN the night before benefits load to reduce the risk of skimming fraud.

What to Do if Your Benefits Are Stolen

Follow these steps to protect any remaining funds and support the investigation:

1. Report theft immediately to your County Social Services Agency (CSSA) by phone, email or in person.
2. File a police report to document the incident. Bring your EBT card and transaction details if available.
3. Email the Fraud Identification and Recovery Management Unit (DFD FIRM) at DFD.FIRM@dhs.nj.gov if you prefer to report directly to the State.
4. Keep copies of all correspondence and the police report for your records.