This is such a wonderful thread to read! As someone who just got approved for CalFresh about 3 weeks ago, I had no idea that birthday cakes were eligible items. I was literally just wondering about this for my own child's upcoming birthday next month. It's so reassuring to see all the positive experiences people have shared here - from Safeway to Costco to local bakeries, it sounds like this is a completely normal and accepted use of benefits. I love how supportive this community is and how willing everyone is to share their real-world experiences. The tips about calling ahead if you're unsure and asking about decoration charges are so helpful. James, I hope your son has the most amazing 5th birthday party! And thank you for asking this question - it's helped way more people than just you! 🎂✨

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm fairly new to CalFresh (about 5 months now) and was actually just stressing about this exact same situation for my nephew's birthday next week. I was worried about asking at the store and potentially being told no in front of other customers. Reading through everyone's experiences - especially hearing from people who work at grocery stores and have processed these transactions regularly - gives me so much confidence. It's really reassuring to know that this is such a normal, accepted use of benefits across so many different stores. The tips about calling ahead and asking about decoration charges are brilliant too. James, your son is going to have such a wonderful 5th birthday! Thank you for asking this question that's helped so many of us feel more confident about using our benefits for our kids' special celebrations! 🎂

Oh wow, this is so timely! I literally just had the EXACT same issue yesterday with the EBT Connect app. I was panicking because I needed to check if my benefits loaded before heading to the store. The app kept saying "invalid credentials" even though I knew my login was correct. After reading through all these comments, I'm definitely going to try the password reset without special characters - mine also has symbols in it! It's really frustrating that they don't warn you about this when the app updates. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions. This thread is going to save me so much time and stress! Also @c9ca11007d05 I'm so glad you got it sorted out! Your update at the end really helps knowing there's a light at the end of the tunnel when dealing with these technical issues.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who works with folks navigating these systems - this thread is incredibly valuable! I've seen so many people struggle with the EBT Connect app issues lately, especially after that April update. The tip about avoiding special characters in passwords is gold - I wish the app would actually tell users this upfront instead of just failing silently. For anyone still having issues, here's one more thing that sometimes helps: make sure your phone's operating system is fully updated too. Sometimes there are compatibility issues between older phone software and the newer app versions. Also, if you're on a very slow internet connection, the login can timeout and give confusing error messages. Really appreciate everyone sharing their real experiences here - it helps so much more than the generic troubleshooting guides that never seem to address the actual problems people face!

I'm brand new to CalFresh (just applied two weeks ago and still waiting to hear back) but I've been doing research on how the online system works. After reading through all these comments, I'm honestly both relieved and kind of amazed that EVERYONE has the exact same reaction to seeing "EBTWM" for the first time! It's like they designed the most confusing acronym possible on purpose. I was already worried about navigating all these new government systems, but now I know that when I eventually see those four mysterious letters, I shouldn't panic and think something's broken. Thanks so much for asking this question and to everyone who shared their stories - it's making me feel way more prepared for when I finally get to use the system myself. It's incredible how helpful this community is for figuring out all the confusing parts of these programs!

I just want to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm literally in the middle of my CalFresh application process right now (should find out if I'm approved next week) and I've been trying to research everything in advance so I'm not completely lost when I start using the system. Reading through everyone's experiences with the "EBTWM" confusion is both hilarious and so reassuring - it's like you've all given me a preview of exactly what to expect! Now when I eventually see those four letters, instead of thinking my computer is broken or I'm on a fake website, I'll know it's just another example of government agencies choosing the most confusing names possible for their systems. It's honestly wild that SO many people have had this identical moment of panic over what should be a straightforward login page. Thank you all for sharing your stories and making this whole process feel way less intimidating for those of us who are just getting started!

Hi Paolo! I'm new to this community but your situation really hits close to home for me. My 4-month-old son also has his father's last name but dad isn't listed on the birth certificate - he was out of the country for work when I gave birth and couldn't be there to sign the paperwork. I was in the same boat as you, really stressed about how to handle the CalFresh application with this complication. But after reading through all these incredibly helpful responses, I feel so much more confident! It's amazing to see how many of us have dealt with similar situations and how supportive this community is. The consistent advice from everyone - including former CalFresh workers - is so reassuring: they really only care about who physically lives in your household and shares meals with you. The different last names just aren't the red flag we thought they'd be. I especially love the suggestion about preparing that simple statement: "Household of 2 - me and my child, father not on birth certificate and doesn't live with us." Having that clear explanation ready would definitely help if nerves kick in during the interview. Thank you for being brave enough to ask this question! It's helped so many of us realize we're not alone in these situations. I'm definitely going to apply for CalFresh now, and I'll also look into WIC since I'm breastfeeding. You're doing an amazing job advocating for your daughter - we've all got this! 💕

Hi Paolo! I'm new to this community but your post really resonates with me. My daughter also has her father's last name but he's not on the birth certificate (he was traveling for work when she was born). I was so anxious about applying for CalFresh because I thought the different last names would cause major issues. Reading all these responses has been such a huge relief! It's incredible to see how common this situation actually is and how knowledgeable and supportive everyone here is. The consistent message from former workers and people who've been through the process is so reassuring - CalFresh really does just care about who lives in your household, not the complicated family history behind the names. I love the advice about preparing that simple statement: "Household of 2 - me and my child, father not on birth certificate and doesn't live with us." That takes all the complexity out of it and focuses on what actually matters for the application. Thank you for asking this question! It's helped so many of us realize we're not alone in dealing with these situations. Your bravery in posting this has probably helped dozens of single moms who were putting off applying because of similar worries. You're doing an amazing job advocating for your daughter, and this community is lucky to have you! Good luck with your application - you've definitely got this! 💕

I've been using EBT for online grocery pickup for about a year now and Safeway has been pretty consistent with their refund timing in my experience. Usually takes 2-4 business days, but I've found a few things that help: First, definitely save your cancellation confirmation and take a screenshot of your current EBT balance so you have documentation. Second, if you're really stressed about the timing, you can call the EBT customer service number after day 2 and ask if they see any "pending transactions" - they can often confirm the refund is processing even before it shows up as available balance. Also, the refunds usually post early in the morning (like 3-6 AM) rather than during business hours, so don't panic if you don't see it during the day. I know waiting is stressful when every dollar counts, but from what I've seen Safeway is actually one of the more reliable stores for EBT refund processing. Hang in there!

I've been through this same situation with Safeway pickup twice in the past year! In both cases, my EBT refunds took exactly 3 business days to show back up on my card. One thing I learned is to check your balance early in the morning (like 6-7 AM) because that's when the refunds seem to post, not during regular business hours. Also, make sure you keep that cancellation confirmation email - I had to use mine once when there was a delay and it really helped speed up the resolution. The waiting is definitely stressful when you're budgeting carefully, but Safeway has been pretty reliable in my experience. If you don't see it by Friday, I'd recommend calling both the EBT customer service line and Safeway's customer service to check on the status. But based on when you cancelled, I'd expect to see those funds back by Thursday or Friday at the latest!