Can I use my California EBT card in Nevada? Need to buy groceries during family visit

yea u can use it in any state! i use mine when i visit my cousins in arizona all the time. works the same way, just swipe and enter ur pin. the only thing is u cant use the restaurant part (CalFresh restaurant meals program) in other states cuz thats just a california thing

Oh that's such a relief! Thank you! I wasn't sure if there were state restrictions since different states have different programs.

Yes, you can absolutely use your California-issued EBT card in Nevada or any other state. The SNAP program (which CalFresh is California's version of) is a federal program that works nationwide. Your California EBT card will work at any authorized SNAP retailer across the country. This includes most major grocery stores, supermarkets, and even many farmers markets.\n\nJust be aware that:\n1. You still follow California's rules regarding what you can purchase (no hot prepared foods unless you're in the Restaurant Meals Program)\n2. Your balance and benefit dates remain the same\n3. You cannot use the Restaurant Meals Program outside of California, as the previous commenter mentioned

ALSO CHECK UR BALANCE before u go!! I made this mistake going to Oregon thinking I had enough but turns out my benefits loaded a day later than I thought and I was so embarrassed at checkout 😫 download the BenefitsCal app to track ur balance and deposit date

I used mine in Nevada last summer and it worked fine at Walmart and Albertsons BUT when I tried using it at this small local market it didn't work. I think some smaller stores might not accept out-of-state EBT so maybe stick to the big chains to be safe?

This happened to me too! I think the small stores have to specifically set up their system to accept out-of-state EBT cards. Walmart and Smiths always work though

Just adding my experience - I visit my mom in Reno every few months and my CA EBT card works perfectly fine there. I've used it at Safeway, Walmart, and WinCo without any issues. The funds come from your California account, so you're still using your California benefits, just in a different location. \n\nOne thing I noticed is that the receipt will sometimes show \

That's really helpful! I'll be staying near a WinCo so that's perfect. Good tip about checking my balance before shopping - I'll make sure to do that.

I'd just like to add that while you can definitely use your CalFresh benefits in other states, you should be mindful if you're gone for extended periods. CalFresh has residency requirements, so if you're planning to be out of California for more than 30 days, you should notify your county office. A two-week visit is completely fine though and won't affect your benefits status at all.\n\nIf you have any issues with your card while traveling, you can call the EBT Customer Service number on the back of your card from anywhere in the US.

Yes this is so important! My cousin went to stay with her mom in Texas for 2 months and didn't tell the county, ended up getting a huge overpayment notice when she got back because they said she wasn't a CA resident during that time. Such a headache for her to fix

hey not to be off topic but has anyone else been having issues calling their county office lately?? been trying to report an address change for THREE WEEKS and cant get through!! so frustrating!!

omg YES i thought it was just my county! ive been calling santa clara county for days and keep getting disconnected after waiting like an hour

@OP yes your EBT works fine out of state but if you keep having issues calling your county about anything, try using Claimyr. I had to update my income last month and couldn't get through for days, then found this service that calls for you and holds your place in line. When they reach a person, they call you to connect. Saved me literally HOURS of waiting. Their site is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

wait this is GENIUS!! going to try this tomorrow. ive been pulling my hair out trying to get someone on the phone

UPDATE: Just got back from my Nevada trip and wanted to let everyone know my California EBT card worked perfectly fine at WinCo, Albertsons, and even a local Mexican market. Thanks everyone for your help! And @user3 - I might try that Claimyr service when I need to do my recertification next month.

That's awesome that everything worked out for you! Thanks for the update - it's always helpful when people come back to share their actual experience. I'm planning a trip to Arizona next month so this gives me confidence that my EBT will work there too. Hope you had a great time with your sister in Vegas!

So glad to hear your trip went well! I've been hesitant to travel out of state because I wasn't sure about using my EBT card, but your experience (and everyone else's) really helps put my mind at ease. I'm planning to visit family in Portland this summer and was worried about grocery shopping while I'm there. It's great to know that the major chains like WinCo and Albertsons work reliably. Thanks for taking the time to update us with your actual experience - that's really valuable info for the community!

That's so helpful about the Portland farmers markets! I didn't even think about them accepting EBT. I love visiting farmers markets when I travel - there's something special about getting fresh local produce. The tip about bringing cash for smaller vendors is smart too. I'm getting more excited about my Portland trip now knowing I'll have good options for both regular grocery stores and the markets. Thanks for sharing your experience living there!