my benefits used to come on the 8th but now they come on the 10th and nobody can explain why??? anyone else have their day change for no reason??

Welcome to CalFresh! The confusion is totally understandable - there's a lot of information to process when you first get approved. Just to echo what others have said, your benefits will be loaded on the 7th of each month since your case number ends in 7. One thing I wish someone had told me when I started: benefits usually post overnight, so if you check your balance late on the 6th (like after 10 PM), they might already be there. Also, grocery stores sometimes have delays processing EBT transactions early in the morning on benefit days, so if your card gets declined around midnight-2 AM, try again a bit later. The approval paperwork can be overwhelming, but definitely keep it all in a safe place - you'll need to reference it for things like your reporting requirements and recertification dates. Good luck with your grocery shopping!

For anyone who's had their benefits stolen or is worried about it happening, here are some additional prevention tips from my CalFresh worker: 1. Never use your card at gas station pumps - go inside to pay 2. Only use your card at major grocery stores (they have better security) 3. Change your PIN on payday before shopping 4. Check your balance before and after every purchase 5. If possible, use up your benefits within the first week they're available These steps have kept me safe since my theft last year!

This is such valuable information, thank you for sharing your timeline! I've been putting off reporting what I think might be fraudulent activity on my account because I was scared about being without benefits for months. Knowing you got yours back in just 15 days is really encouraging. I noticed some transactions at stores I've never been to about 3 weeks ago - should I still report it even though it's been a while? Also, did you have to provide anything besides bank statements to prove you weren't at those locations?

One more thing to note - if the 8th falls on a weekend or holiday, your benefits should still load on that day. CalFresh deposits don't get delayed like some other government payments. Just want to make sure you know that for future months!

Hey Jayden! Just wanted to add that you can also download the "ebtEDGE" mobile app if you haven't already. It's the official EBT app and it works even when the BenefitsCal website is down. You can check your balance, see your transaction history, and it shows your next deposit date right on the main screen. Super helpful for planning grocery trips when you're running low! The app has been way more reliable than the website in my experience.

o ya forgot 2 say mandela foods coop in west oakland does somthing similar 2. not sure if its the same program but they give u extra $ 4 veggies when u use ebt

This thread has been so helpful! I'm actually a new CalFresh recipient myself (just got approved two weeks ago) and had no idea about any of these programs. I'm in Sacramento but travel to the Bay Area sometimes for my job. Does anyone know if Sacramento has similar Market Match programs? I'd love to stretch my benefits further, especially since I'm trying to eat healthier. Also wondering - do these programs work the same way everywhere or are there different rules depending on the county? Thank you all for sharing your experiences - this community is amazing for newcomers like me who are still learning how to navigate all these resources!

Thank you so much for this information! I'll definitely use those exact terms when I call on Tuesday. I've now uploaded everything to BenefitsCal, taken screenshots as proof, and written down the date/time of my uploads. Fingers crossed they can restore my benefits quickly because we're really counting on that food assistance.

I went through something similar a few months ago! The exact same thing happened - got a discontinuance letter but the website still showed active. Unfortunately the letter was correct and no benefits loaded on my usual date. What saved me was calling the county EBT customer service line (not the eligibility office) first thing in the morning - they could see in real time that my case was actually discontinued even though the website hadn't updated yet. Also, if you have kids, definitely look into emergency food assistance through local food banks while you wait for this to get sorted out. Many don't require any paperwork and can help bridge the gap. Good luck getting it resolved on Tuesday! 🤞