Confused about CalFresh EBT cash withdrawals at midnight - can I withdraw my $66 monthly benefit?

You're mixing up two different benefits! CalFresh (formerly food stamps) is ONLY for food purchases and CANNOT be withdrawn as cash. What you're seeing posts about is probably CalWORKs, which does provide cash aid that can be withdrawn. They both use the same EBT card in California, but they're completely separate programs with different sections on your card. If you only qualified for $66 in CalFresh, you're seeing just the food benefit portion.

ppl get confused about this ALL THE TIME! food benefits = only for food, cash benefits = can withdraw. check ur balance on the app, it'll show if u have both or just food

I was in the exact same situation last year! I was reading about people getting cash and wondering why I couldn't do that with my CalFresh benefits. Turns out you need to specifically apply for CalWORKs to get the cash aid portion. They have stricter requirements though - my family of 4 qualified for CalFresh but not for CalWORKs because our income was too high for cash aid but still low enough for food assistance. Also, the midnight/6am thing is because that's when benefits are typically deposited based on your case number.

If you're only getting $66 for a family of 3, you might want to request a recalculation of your benefits! That seems REALLY low for CalFresh in 2025. The minimum for a family of 3 should be closer to $150-200 unless you have significant income. Did you report all your expenses like rent, utilities, childcare? Those deductions can significantly increase your benefit amount.

You've gotten good answers already, but just to clarify: Your CalFresh benefits ($66/month) can ONLY be used for eligible food purchases at approved retailers. The people posting about midnight/6am withdrawals are referring to CalWORKs cash benefits, which is a completely separate program (though it uses the same EBT card). Based on your benefit amount being so low for a family of 3, I highly recommend calling your county office to make sure all your expenses are being counted properly. Childcare costs especially can make a huge difference in your CalFresh allocation. Don't wait until recertification - you can report changes anytime with the SAR7 form.

Try using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to CalFresh without the endless wait times. I was in a similar situation last month trying to update my childcare expenses and kept getting disconnected. Claimyr got me through to a real person in under 10 minutes! They have a demo video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Seriously saved me hours of frustration.

Yep! Works for all CA counties. They basically wait on hold for you then call you when they get a real person. Was skeptical too but it worked great for me when I needed to update my address after moving.

Just to add some clarity on benefit amounts: CalFresh benefits are calculated based on your household income MINUS allowable deductions. The most important deductions are: 1. 20% deduction of earned income 2. Standard deduction (about $193 for households of 1-3) 3. Excess shelter costs (rent/mortgage + utilities that exceed 50% of your net income) 4. Dependent care costs (like your $1,100/month childcare) If you didn't report your childcare costs, that alone could increase your monthly benefit by $100-200. You can report this change immediately using a SAR7 form or by calling your caseworker. Changes that INCREASE your benefits can be processed right away - you don't need to wait for recertification.

Yes, utility bills absolutely count toward your shelter deduction! You have two options: 1. Standard Utility Allowance (SUA): A fixed amount (around $487 in 2025) if you pay heating or cooling costs 2. Limited Utility Allowance (LUA): A smaller fixed amount if you pay utilities like water, garbage, phone, etc. but not heating/cooling For most people, the SUA is better if you qualify. Make sure to mention ALL utilities you pay when you call.

Welcome to the group! You're definitely not alone in this confusion - the EBT system can be really confusing when you're new to it. Everyone here has given you excellent advice already. I just wanted to add that when you do call to update your information, make sure to ask them to walk you through exactly how your current benefit was calculated. Sometimes caseworkers miss deductions during the initial application process, especially if the interview was rushed. With $2,200 rent + $1,100 childcare for a family of 3, you should definitely be getting more than $66/month unless your income is quite high. Don't feel bad about not knowing this stuff - the system is complicated and they don't always explain it well during the application process!

Hey LilMama23! Don't worry, this is actually one of the most common questions we see here - you're definitely not alone in the confusion! 😊 The midnight withdrawal posts are referring to CalWORKs cash aid, which is totally separate from CalFresh food benefits. Your $66 CalFresh can only buy food, never cash. But honestly, $66 for a family of 3 sounds way too low! With $2,200 rent and $1,100 childcare, you should probably be getting several hundred dollars more per month. Those childcare costs alone should bump up your benefits significantly. Definitely call and get that updated ASAP - you might be missing out on a lot of grocery money that your family really needs! The Claimyr suggestion is solid too if you're having trouble getting through to your county office. Good luck and keep us posted on how it goes! 💪