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What time do CalFresh EBT benefits deposit? Can't access funds at 12:01 AM
I'm usually awake late at night and was hoping to do some early morning grocery shopping when my CalFresh benefits hit my EBT card. This month I waited until 12:01 AM on my deposit date (the 10th), but when I tried to check my balance at the ATM, nothing was there yet. Does anyone know what exact time CalFresh loads benefits onto EBT cards in California? I've heard some people say it's midnight, others say it's like 4 AM or 6 AM. Trying to plan my shopping trip and wondering if there's an actual set time or if it varies by county?
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Called by (858)812-6564 for CalFresh renewal - is this legitimate?
I got a missed call from (858)812-6564 yesterday claiming to be about my CalFresh renewal. Left a voicemail saying they need to verify some info or my benefits might get discontinued next month. I'm nervous about returning calls to numbers I don't recognize - too many scams these days! Has anyone gotten legitimate calls from this number for EBT/CalFresh renewals? My recertification isn't due for another 3 months according to my last approval letter, so this seems fishy. Don't want to ignore if it's real though!
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i had something similar happen last month. turns out i had crossed the IRT (Income Reporting Threshold) without realizing it because of some overtime at work. they were calling to tell me i needed to update my income info. worth checking if anything has changed with your income or household recently.
If your household income goes over the IRT (Income Reporting Threshold) for your household size, you need to report it within 10 days, even outside your regular SAR7 reporting period. For a household of 3 in 2025, the IRT is around $3,750 monthly gross income. If your daughter's job pushed you over that limit, that's likely why they're calling.
@Oliver Fischer is absolutely right about the IRT reporting requirement. Even if the individual income change seems small, when you add it to your existing household income it can push you over the threshold. I d'definitely check your BenefitsCal account to see if there s'a notice about income reporting, and then call the main county number to clarify what they need. Better to handle it proactively than risk a discontinuance.
What exactly is an IRT for CalFresh? Got a letter mentioning it but don't understand the consequences
So I got a letter from the county about my CalFresh benefits mentioning something called an 'IRT' that I supposedly need to report if I go over. I honestly have no idea what this means or why it matters. The letter says my household IRT is $2,700 monthly but doesn't really explain what happens if I earn more than that. I'm worried because I might pick up some extra shifts at work next month and could go over this amount. Will they immediately cut off my benefits? Is this different from the regular income reporting on the SAR7? I'm confused and don't want to lose my food assistance by accident.
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Just wanted to add that if you're worried about remembering to report within the 10-day window, you can set a reminder on your phone for when you expect to get that extra pay. I learned this the hard way when I almost missed the deadline after picking up overtime shifts. Also, keep in mind that the 10 days starts from when you RECEIVE the income (like when your paycheck hits your account), not when you work the extra hours. The county workers are usually pretty understanding if you're proactive about reporting - it's way better than them finding out later through their system checks.
Im only getting 1294.00 and it say my income is high
Irma, sorry for the late reply. The IRT is the income level where you have to report: if your household's gross monthly income goes over it, tell the county within 10 days. Benefits can be lowered or stopped based on income over the IRT, and not reporting can create an overpayment. If you think your amount is wrong, ask your worker for the budget they used (income and deductions). If you still disagree, you have 90 days to request a state hearing.
BenefitsCal.com login issues preventing me from submitting my CalFresh recertification - any workarounds?
Is anyone else getting locked out of BenefitsCal.com? I've been trying to log in for 3 days straight to complete my CalFresh recertification (due in 5 days!!) and keep getting error messages. First it said "system maintenance" but now it just freezes after I enter my username/password. I've tried different browsers, cleared my cache, even used my daughter's laptop. Nothing works! My benefits will stop if I don't submit this recertification on time and I can't get through on the county phone number either - just get endless hold music then disconnected. Anyone having similar problems or know any workarounds? Getting desperate here!
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I just wanted to jump in and share my experience from last month when I had similar BenefitsCal login issues. What finally worked for me was clearing not just my browser cache, but also all stored passwords and cookies specifically for benefitscal.com, then restarting my browser completely before trying again. Sometimes the site gets confused with old login tokens. Also, if you have a local library nearby, they often have computers you can try - sometimes it's an issue with your home internet connection or device. The librarians at mine were super helpful and even knew about the BenefitsCal problems because other people had been coming in with the same issue. Worth a shot if the mobile app and late-night attempts don't work out! Keeping my fingers crossed that the 10-day extension gives everyone enough time to get this sorted.
That's such a great tip about clearing all the stored passwords and cookies specifically for the site! I never would have thought of that. The library idea is brilliant too - I didn't realize other people were having the same issue there. It's actually kind of reassuring to know this is such a widespread problem that librarians are familiar with it. I'm definitely going to try the complete browser reset first, and if that doesn't work I'll head to the library tomorrow. Thanks for sharing what worked for you!
CalFresh benefits stolen - reported theft but 'Bene Avail' only shows $10 after 11 days?!
I'm freaking out because someone stole all my CalFresh benefits at the beginning of November. I reported the theft right away on the 6th, but the county didn't start the 'process' until the 12th. The worker told me I'd get my benefits refunded within 10 days, but it's already been 11 days and when I check my account it only shows $10 and says 'Bene Avail.' Does anyone know what 'Bene Avail' means? And why am I only seeing $10 when they stole my entire monthly amount ($675)? I have three kids and we're struggling BAD right now. I've tried calling back but keep getting disconnected after waiting forever. Has anyone actually gotten their benefits back after theft??
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Isabella Silva
I'm new to CalFresh and this thread has been super informative! I was wondering the same thing since I just got approved last week. My deposit date is the 15th so I haven't experienced this yet. It's good to know it's typically early morning rather than midnight - I was planning to stay up late too! The EBT app tip is really helpful since I don't have a car and the nearest ATM is a bit of a walk. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!
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Preston Dschaak
Well actually it depends on what your birth year is based off of is the time that it hits
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