EBT withdrawal time restrictions - anyone able to access funds after midnight instead of 6AM?

Ugh, that's so frustrating. Did you ever try calling to see if there's a way around it?

Are you SURE about this? Because my cousin swears that sometimes her benefits load earlier, like at midnight! But maybe she's confused about which day they're supposed to come in the first place lol

Yes, I'm certain about the 6AM release time. What your cousin might be experiencing is that sometimes the benefit date falls on a different day of the month based on case number. So if she's expecting it on the 11th but it actually loads on the 10th at 6AM, then checking after midnight on the 11th would show funds that seem to have loaded early - but they actually loaded at 6AM on the 10th. This is a common source of confusion.

wait what??? iv'e had CalFresh for 3 years and never heard about this! Is this for real? what payment app do you use?

This information is not accurate. There is no official CalFresh Mobile app that allows transfers to payment apps, and EBT funds cannot be transferred to other payment systems - they can only be used directly for eligible food purchases through the EBT card itself. Please be careful about following unofficial workarounds as they may violate program rules or potentially compromise your benefits.

You're right, I apologize for the confusion. I was thinking of a different program I used in another state. California's CalFresh benefits are indeed locked to the 6AM release time, and there's no official way to access them earlier.

That's actually really smart about the delivery services! I never thought about that workaround. Which ones have you used successfully? And do they charge extra fees that eat into the benefit amount?

I tried once but got so frustrated with the automated system. Was on hold forever and then got disconnected. I'll try again but not feeling hopeful about getting through.

I haven't tried talking to my caseworker specifically about this. That's a good idea. Though I doubt they can change the whole system just for me, but maybe they have heard of solutions from other night workers.

That sounds really helpful actually. I'm going to check it out because I have a few other questions I need answered about my benefits too. Thanks for sharing!

Yeah, I think you're right. Just was hoping there might be some secret trick I didn't know about. Guess I'll have to adjust my schedule instead.

@Eloise Kendrick call customer service perss 5 for sunbucks support to get to human and ask them to lift the overnight purchase restriction. takes a few days but after that shouldnt be an issue

@Eloise Kendrick Walmart Plus has been a huge benefit! I think $6.99 a month which is a reduced membership fee when you provide proof of eligibility, which is basically your EBT card, for free unlimited deliveries. Expedited options are available for 5 or $10 additional but otherwise unlimited free deliveries with ability to schedule in advance as well

That's such good advice about the grocery pickup! I never thought about scheduling it in advance for right after my shift. Do you know which stores let you schedule pickup the night before? That would be perfect for my schedule - I could place the order during my break and then just grab it on my way home. The emergency stash idea is smart too, I should definitely build one up so I'm not scrambling on benefit days.

Target and Kroger both let you schedule pickup orders the night before for early morning slots! I've had good luck with Target especially - you can place the order online and schedule pickup as early as 7AM the next day. Just make sure to double-check that your local store does early pickup because some locations don't start until 8 or 9AM. The emergency stash has saved me so many times - I keep stuff like peanut butter, crackers, canned soup, pasta, things that won't go bad and can get me through a few days if needed.

That's actually really smart about checking the balance at 5:45AM first! I never thought about doing that before heading out. And wow, I had no idea some stores would let you shop early and just wait at checkout until 6AM - that's such a game changer! Do you think most 24-hour stores would be cool with that, or is it just certain ones? I'm definitely going to try this approach next time my benefits load. Thanks for sharing these tips, this is exactly the kind of practical advice I was hoping for!

I think it really depends on the store and the specific employees working that shift. In my experience, the bigger chain stores with self-checkout are more flexible about it - places like Safeway, Walmart, and Target. The employees at smaller stores or ones without self-checkout tend to be less accommodating since they have to manually process your transaction. I'd say just ask politely and explain your situation - most night shift workers understand the struggle and are pretty cool about it. Worst case they say no and you just wait outside for a few minutes until 6AM. Also definitely try the balance check trick, it's saved me multiple wasted trips when there were system delays or I got my benefit date mixed up!

This is such comprehensive advice, thank you! I really like the combination approach you described. The grocery pickup scheduled for 7AM sounds perfect for my situation - I finish work at 1AM so I'd have time to get home, maybe catch a quick nap, and then swing by for pickup before settling in for my main sleep. The emergency stockpile is something I definitely need to build up too. Can I ask which stores you found most reliable for the early morning pickup slots? And did you ever run into issues with them not having your order ready right at 7AM, or were they pretty consistent with timing?

Target has been the most reliable for me with early morning pickup - they're usually ready right at 7AM and their app gives you real-time updates. Walmart is hit or miss, sometimes ready early but other times you might wait 10-15 minutes. Safeway was decent but their earliest slot is usually 8AM at most locations. One tip: when placing your pickup order, add a note explaining you're coming from night shift work - I've found the staff are more understanding and sometimes even have your order ready a few minutes early. The emergency stockpile has been a lifesaver - I keep canned goods, pasta, peanut butter, crackers, and some frozen meals that I can grab when I'm too exhausted to deal with shopping logistics.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It's really helpful to hear from someone who's actually been through this exact situation. I'm definitely going to try the grocery pickup approach - it sounds like the perfect solution for my schedule. I had no idea you could add notes to pickup orders explaining your situation, that's such a smart tip! I'm also going to start building up that emergency stockpile this week. It's frustrating that the system doesn't work better for night shift workers, but at least there are workarounds. Really appreciate you taking the time to share all these practical strategies!