I'm new to CalFresh and this thread is really helpful - I had no idea weekend delays were a thing! My benefits are supposed to load on the 15th this month which falls on a Saturday. Based on what everyone's saying here, should I expect it to actually come on Monday the 17th instead? I'm trying to plan my grocery shopping and don't want to end up in the same stressful situation. Also, is there any way to find out ahead of time if your county tends to have these weekend delays, or do you just have to learn from experience?

This is such a common issue and it's really frustrating that CalFresh doesn't clearly communicate the weekend delay pattern. I've been receiving benefits for about a year now and have noticed that Saturday deposits almost always get pushed to Monday, despite what the official policy says. What really helped me was starting to track my deposit dates and patterns in a simple notebook - after a few months I could predict when delays would happen. For anyone dealing with this regularly, I also recommend checking if your local food banks have weekend hours or emergency food programs. Many offer Saturday distributions specifically because they know about these EBT delays. It shouldn't be necessary, but having that backup option has been a lifesaver when my kids needed meals and the benefits were delayed. The system definitely needs to be more transparent about these delays instead of leaving families scrambling!

Just wanted to add another data point for folks dealing with delays - I'm in LA County and my benefits typically post on the 8th of each month (case number ends in 6). But when I first got approved last year, it took almost 2 weeks because there was an issue with my SSN verification that nobody told me about. The automated phone system kept saying "benefits will be available soon" but gave no real info. Only found out what the actual problem was when I finally got through to a caseworker. So definitely push to speak with a real person if you're experiencing delays - the automated systems don't tell you if there are specific holds or issues on your account.

Just wanted to share my recent experience for anyone else dealing with delays - I had a similar situation where my benefits were delayed for over a week after approval. Turned out my case was flagged because I had moved counties between my old CalFresh case and my new application, even though the old case was from 3 years ago! The worker had to manually clear the flag and my benefits posted the next day. Pro tip: when you call, ask specifically if there are any "system flags" or "holds" on your account - don't just accept "benefits coming soon." Also, if you're calling and getting disconnected constantly, try calling your local office directly instead of the main county number. Sometimes the local offices have shorter wait times. Hope this helps someone!

Wow, what a journey but I'm so relieved this worked out for your mom! This thread is incredibly valuable - I had no idea that caseworkers weren't automatically applying these deductions. It really seems like there should be a standardized checklist they go through for SSI recipients to make sure they're getting all the deductions they qualify for. The fact that she went from $23 to $237 just by mentioning medical expenses and shelter costs shows how broken the system can be. I'm bookmarking this thread because I know several elderly neighbors who might be in similar situations and not even realize they're missing out on benefits. Thank you for taking the time to update us with the resolution - it gives hope to others dealing with the same frustrating bureaucracy. Your persistence really made the difference here!

This is such an important success story! As someone new to this community, I'm amazed at how helpful everyone has been in walking you through the process. It's really eye-opening to see how a $23 benefit turned into $237 just by knowing which deductions to ask for. What strikes me most is that your mom shouldn't have had to fight for benefits she was already entitled to. The fact that caseworkers aren't automatically checking for medical expense and shelter deductions for SSI recipients seems like a serious systemic issue. How many other elderly folks are getting shortchanged simply because they don't know the magic words to say during recertification? I'm definitely saving this thread for future reference - the detailed breakdown of what counts as medical expenses (including transportation costs!) is incredibly valuable. Thank you for taking the time to share both the problem and the solution. Your persistence not only helped your mom but will likely help many other families who find this thread when facing similar issues. Really glad your mom will now be able to afford the food she needs with her dietary restrictions!

Just wanted to add that if you're ever traveling or temporarily staying somewhere else, your benefits will still load on your regular day regardless of where you are! I was worried about this when I had to stay with family in another county for a few weeks, but everything worked normally. Also, pro tip - if you're ever unsure about whether a store accepts EBT, most grocery store websites have a "payment methods" section that lists if they accept SNAP/EBT. This saved me from some embarrassing situations when I was new to the program. The first few months are definitely the hardest while you're learning everything, but it gets so much easier!

This thread has been so incredibly helpful! As someone who just got approved for CalFresh last week, I was completely lost about when benefits would load. The last digit system makes perfect sense now - my case number ends in 2, so I'll be getting benefits on the 2nd of each month. I've already downloaded the EBT Connect app and set up my BenefitsCal account. It's amazing how much clearer everything becomes when you have people explaining the real-world aspects that aren't covered in the official paperwork. Thank you all for being so welcoming and sharing your experiences - it makes navigating this whole system feel much less overwhelming!

UPDATE: I had my interview this morning and explained the family emergency situation. They're going to restore my benefits under the 'good cause' provision! The worker said there might be a slight delay, but I should get my full benefit amount for next month. She also explained that the payment I get on the 25th is actually from the CAPI program for my elderly mother who lives with us, not P-EBT or CalFresh. So that would have continued regardless. Thank you everyone for your help and advice! And special thanks to whoever recommended Claimyr - that's the only reason I got through to reschedule my interview so quickly.

That's awesome news! Really happy to hear they approved the good cause restoration. It's such a relief when the system actually works in our favor for once. Your story will probably help other people in similar situations too - knowing that family emergencies can qualify for good cause and that there are resources like Claimyr to help get through to the county offices. Thanks for posting the update!