CalFresh EBT overnight withdrawals - midnight or 6am deposit timing?

Benefits are supposed to be available at midnight on your designated day. Your case number ending in 5 means you get them on the 5th of the month, not the 1st. Each case number gets their benefits on the matching day (1 on the 1st, 2 on the 2nd, etc). But honestly, I've had times where they didn't show up until 2-3am, so it's not always exactly at midnight. If you absolutely need food tonight, midnight shopping might be risky.

The previous response isn't quite accurate. In California, CalFresh benefits are distributed over the first 10 days of each month based on the last digit of your case number. If your case number ends in 5, your benefits will be available on the 5th of each month. As for the time - officially benefits are available at midnight, but the system sometimes has delays during processing. I recommend waiting until at least 6am before checking to avoid disappointment. If you're in an emergency food situation right now, call the CalFresh hotline at 1-877-847-3663 and ask about emergency food resources in your area.

I've had my benefits for 3 years now and DEFINITELY tested this many times. Benefits are loaded based on the last digit of your case number, and they're SUPPOSED to be available at midnight, but the system often runs slow. I've had times where they showed up at 12:01am exactly, and other times where they didn't appear until 6am or even later. If you're really in a bind for food tonight, you should call 211 for emergency food assistance or check if there's a food bank open near you. Don't risk going at midnight and having your card declined - that's embarrassing (been there!).

MY BENEFITS NEVER COME AT MIDNIGHT EVER!!!!! The county ALWAYS says midnight but I swear they lie about this. I've stayed up plenty of times and checked exactly at 12:00 and NOTHING until morning. One time I even went to Walmart at midnight and my card got declined and the cashier gave me the most judgmental look ever. So embarrassing I wanted to DIE right there. Just wait till morning, seriously.

The EBT system does a nightly update which is why there are sometimes delays. Technically benefits are released at midnight, but the system processes thousands of accounts, so there can be delays of a few hours. When I worked at the grocery store we had people come in at midnight all the time to use their EBT and sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. Also, just want to confirm what others have said - benefits in CA are distributed over the first 10 days based on case number's last digit. The 1st isn't everyone's day.

If you're having trouble reaching anyone at CalFresh to discuss your benefits timing or if you need emergency food assistance, I'd recommend trying Claimyr.com. They helped me actually get through to a real person at the county when I had a similar issue with my benefits not showing up when they were supposed to. You can see how it works in their video: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 I was skeptical at first but it saved me hours of waiting on hold. They got me through to someone who explained exactly when my benefits would be available and helped me find emergency food resources in the meantime.

i think all the counties are different tbh. my cousin in san diego gets hers at like 4am but im in alameda and mine never show up until like 8am even tho the website says midnight. so annoying they cant just be consistent!!!

To clarify for anyone reading this thread later - the official CalFresh policy is that benefits are available at midnight on your assigned day (based on the last digit of your case number), but due to system processing, there can sometimes be delays. If you're in an emergency situation, you can request expedited services (3-day processing) when you apply, or if you're already a recipient, contact your county office about emergency food resources.

Glad you got your benefits figured out! Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - if you're ever unsure about your specific benefit date, you can also check the EBT Edge mobile app or call the customer service number on the back of your EBT card. They'll tell you exactly when your benefits are scheduled to be loaded. Also, some grocery stores will let you check your EBT balance at the customer service counter without having to make a purchase, which can save you the embarrassment of a declined transaction at checkout.