Do my Cal fresh benefits roll over month-to-month or if I don’t use them one month will they be not available in the next month?

That's really helpful information, @Zainab Ahmed! I didn't know about the 365-day expiration rule. Does that apply to all CalFresh benefits, or are there any exceptions? Also, is there a way to check on your EBT card how old your oldest unused benefits are, so you know if any are getting close to expiring?

@Omar Farouk That s'a great follow-up question! The 365-day rule applies to all CalFresh benefits - there aren t'really exceptions to this policy. As for checking the age of your benefits, unfortunately the EBT card balance inquiry either (by phone, online, or at the ATM only) shows your total current balance, not when specific amounts were added. However, you can keep track by saving your monthly benefit letters or checking your county s'online portal if available. Some people keep a simple notebook to track their monthly deposits. If you re'worried about benefits expiring, the safest approach is to use your oldest balance first, but in practice most families use their benefits regularly enough that the 365-day limit isn t'usually an issue.

@Omar Farouk, the 365-day rule applies to all CalFresh benefits universally - no exceptions that I'm aware of. For checking benefit ages, you can call the EBT customer service number on the back of your card or check your account online/through the ConnectEBT app. They can tell you your balance breakdown by deposit date. Some people also keep track by taking photos of their receipts or writing down monthly benefit amounts. @Zainab Ahmed might know if there are other ways to monitor this - I d'love to hear if there are easier methods!

@Omar Farouk That s'a great follow-up question! The 365-day rule applies to all CalFresh benefits universally - there aren t'exceptions based on household size or other factors. As for checking the age of your benefits, unfortunately the standard EBT card balance inquiry calling (the customer service number or checking online only) shows your current total balance, not a breakdown by date. However, you can call the EBT customer service line and ask a representative to provide more detailed information about when specific amounts were deposited. Some people find it helpful to keep track of their monthly benefit amounts in a notebook or phone app to monitor usage over time. The key thing is just to make sure you re'using your benefits regularly - most families don t'have trouble with the 365-day limit since they use benefits for regular grocery shopping.

@Omar Farouk, great follow-up questions! The 365-day rule applies to all CalFresh benefits with no exceptions. As for checking the age of your benefits, unfortunately the EBT card itself doesn't show you which benefits are oldest, but you can call the EBT customer service line on the back of your card or check your online account if available in your county. Some people find it helpful to just use their benefits regularly rather than trying to track the dates - since you're getting new benefits each month, as long as you're using them somewhat consistently, you shouldn't have to worry about the expiration. @Shon Cormack, this might be useful info for you too!

@Omar Farouk That s'a great follow-up question! The 365-day rule applies to all CalFresh benefits - no exceptions. For checking your benefit ages, you can call the EBT customer service line at 1-877-328-9677, and they can tell you the dates of your oldest benefits. You can also check your balance and recent transaction history online at www.ebt.ca.gov or through the CalFresh app. While these don t'show exact benefit ages, keeping track of your monthly deposits can help you estimate. Some people find it helpful to use older benefits first by planning larger grocery trips when they notice their balance building up!