I work at a Sam's Club in Sacramento and can confirm what others have said - we definitely cannot add EBT cards to the app or use them for online orders. The system just isn't set up for it due to federal regulations. However, I wanted to share a few tips that might help make your in-store experience smoother: 1) Our customer service desk can pre-approve your EBT card before you shop, which sometimes helps avoid issues at checkout, 2) If you're buying in bulk, consider splitting large quantities between EBT-eligible and non-eligible items BEFORE you get to checkout (like if you're buying 24 bottles of water, make sure they're not mixed with non-food items), and 3) We typically have at least one cashier per shift who's well-trained on EBT transactions - don't hesitate to ask for them specifically if the first cashier seems unsure. Hope this helps make your Sam's Club trips easier!

Just to add another perspective - I've been using EBT at Sam's Club for about 2 years now and while you definitely can't add it to the app, I've found a workaround that helps with planning. I use the Sam's Club app to browse and add items to my "favorites" list, then I screenshot the list and use a notes app to mark which items are EBT-eligible before I go shopping. This way I can still take advantage of the app's features like seeing current prices and special offers, but I'm prepared for checkout with my physical card. It's not as convenient as having everything integrated, but it's better than going in blind! Also, pro tip: the Sam's Club website has a search filter for "SNAP eligible" items which can help with meal planning even though you can't actually order online with EBT.

Welcome to CalFresh! This thread has so much great info already. One thing I'd add that really helped me as a newcomer - don't be afraid to ask the cashier for help your first few times using the card. Most grocery store employees are used to helping people with EBT and can walk you through the process if you let them know it's your first time. Also, just a heads up that some items that seem like they should be covered aren't (like energy drinks, prepared hot foods, or anything with supplements added). When I first started I got confused about what was eligible, but you'll learn quickly. The good news is if you accidentally try to buy something that's not covered, the register will just remove it from your EBT total and you can pay for it separately with cash/card if you want. One last tip - keep your receipts! Not just for budgeting, but because they show your remaining balance and transaction details. Super helpful for tracking your spending throughout the month.

Hey! Welcome to CalFresh! I just wanted to add something that helped me a ton when I was starting out - if you have a smartphone, you can actually add your EBT card to your phone's wallet app (like Apple Wallet or Google Pay) for contactless payments at many stores now. It's super convenient and means you don't have to worry about forgetting your physical card at home. Also, I noticed someone mentioned the Market Match program earlier - definitely look into that! Many farmers markets will match your EBT spending dollar-for-dollar up to a certain amount, so if you spend $10 in EBT benefits on fresh fruits and veggies, you get an additional $10 in Market Match tokens. It's an amazing way to stretch your benefits and get really fresh, local produce. One more thing - don't stress if you don't spend all your benefits in one month. They roll over to the next month, so there's no "use it or lose it" pressure. Just plan your shopping based on what you actually need rather than feeling like you have to spend everything right away.

I'm experiencing the exact same issue! Been trying to upload my pay stubs for my CalFresh recertification since Sunday and the site just freezes every single time. My deadline is in 4 days and I was starting to panic thinking it was just me or my internet connection. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea there was a mobile app or that counties had direct email submission options! Going to try the early morning mobile app approach that worked for @StarSeeker, and also email my documents to my county office as backup like @Aisha Abdullah suggested. It's so frustrating that we have to become IT specialists just to submit basic paperwork for benefits we qualify for, but I'm really grateful for this community sharing real solutions when the official system fails us. Will definitely update here with what ends up working in case it helps others dealing with the same problem!

OMG thank you all so much for sharing your experiences and solutions! I've been struggling with this exact same problem for the past week trying to upload documents for my CalFresh renewal. The site keeps timing out right when I click upload and I was starting to think I was doing something wrong. @StarSeeker so glad you got it working! I'm definitely going to try the mobile app early tomorrow morning like you did. And @Aisha Abdullah that county email information is a lifesaver - I had no idea that was even an option. Going to email my docs as backup too. It's honestly insane that in 2025 we're dealing with a government benefits system that can't handle basic file uploads, but this community sharing real solutions when the official channels fail is exactly what we need. You've all probably saved multiple people from losing their benefits due to technical issues that are completely out of our control. Will update tomorrow on whether the early morning mobile app trick works for me too! 🙏

This is exactly the kind of resource sharing that makes this community so valuable! I'm in Riverside County and wondering if we have anything similar down here. The transportation struggle is real - I've been using rideshare apps for essential trips and it's draining my budget fast. @Sydney Torres you're absolutely right that these programs should be better advertised. I'm going to call my county office tomorrow and ask if they have any transportation assistance programs for CalFresh recipients. Even if they don't have something as comprehensive as Sacramento Mobility Access, maybe there are other resources I don't know about. Thanks to everyone who contributed to figuring this out - this thread turned into a goldmine of information!

@Amara Eze I'm in Riverside County too! I actually called our county office last week about transportation help and they told me about something called the "Riverside County Transportation Assistance Program" - it's not as comprehensive as Sacramento's but they do offer some limited ride vouchers for medical appointments and job interviews. You have to go through the CalFresh office to apply and there's income verification beyond just having CalFresh. The worker said they also partner with some local nonprofits that provide gas cards. It's worth asking specifically about "transportation assistance for CalFresh recipients" when you call - I almost gave up until I used those exact words and got transferred to someone who actually knew about the programs. The process is kind of a pain but definitely better than paying full price for rides!

I'm completely new to CalFresh - just got my approval notification this morning and my deposit date is the 18th! This entire thread has been such a goldmine of information. I was absolutely planning to stay up until midnight like the original poster, but now I know that 4-5 AM window is where the magic happens. Already downloaded the ebtEDGE app based on everyone's recommendations here. The practical tips about calling stores ahead to check their EBT systems and avoiding early morning self-checkout have been eye-opening - these are exactly the kinds of real-world details that don't come with the official paperwork. It's so reassuring to see the consistency across different counties with that early morning timeframe. As someone who's never navigated this system before, I really appreciate how welcoming and informative this community is. Reading everyone's experiences has made me feel much more prepared for my first deposit. Thank you all for sharing such helpful insights!

I'm brand new to this community and CalFresh - just got my approval letter today and my deposit date is the 20th! This thread has been absolutely incredible for understanding what to actually expect. Like so many others here, I was totally planning to check at midnight, but reading everyone's experiences with that consistent 4-5 AM window across different counties has been so helpful. I've already downloaded the ebtEDGE app based on all the recommendations, and I'm definitely taking notes on the practical tips about calling stores ahead and being aware of early morning self-checkout limitations. It's amazing how much real-world knowledge this community shares that you just don't get from the official paperwork! As someone who's never used EBT before, I'm feeling much more prepared thanks to everyone's detailed experiences. The timing consistency across LA, San Diego, Sacramento, Orange County, and all the other places people have mentioned is really reassuring. Thank you all for creating such a welcoming space for newcomers to learn from your experiences!