Got WINS approval notice for $10 but nothing on EBT card - what is this CalFresh supplement?

WINS is a bonus benefit for CalFresh households that have someone working at least 20 hours per week. It's supposed to automatically add to your EBT card the same day as your regular CalFresh benefits. The $10 is per eligible working person in your household. Since you're working at Target 25 hours weekly, you qualify! If it's been 2 weeks and you haven't seen it, I'd call your county CalFresh office to make sure there isn't a system issue.

Thanks so much!! That makes sense why I qualified with my Target hours. My regular CalFresh benefits load on the 8th - should I expect the WINS on the same day? I'll give it until next month's deposit date before calling, I guess.

i got this too last year!! the extra $10 just shows up with ur regular calfresh deposit. sometimes it shows separately on the transaction history as

Oh that's super helpful! Maybe I've already been getting it and didn't notice since it's combined? I'll double check my deposit amount from last month and see if it matches what my approval letter said my regular CalFresh amount should be. Thank you!

WINS is a joke honestly. $10? That buys what, a gallon of milk and maybe some bananas in 2025? I qualified for it when I was working at Walmart and half the time it wouldn't even show up. County workers act like they're giving you the moon with these programs. SMH.

I understand the frustration, but the WINS program is actually intended as an additional incentive on top of regular CalFresh benefits, not as a standalone support. While $10 may seem small, it provides about $120 annually for working families. The program is designed to encourage employment while on benefits, which also helps people qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit. Still, I agree food costs have risen dramatically in 2025, making every dollar count.

Trying to reach the county to ask about missing WINS benefits is a pain. When I had this issue it took me DAYS to get through on the phone. I eventually used Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they have a service that waits on hold with the CalFresh office and calls you back when a worker picks up. Saved me hours of frustration and I got my WINS benefit issue solved in one call. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

That's really good to know! If I don't see the extra amount next month I'll definitely need to call. The county office here in Sacramento is impossible to reach - last time I tried I was on hold for over an hour before getting disconnected. I'll check out that service if I need to call, thanks!

Not to get too off-topic but does anyone know if WINS counts against your income for Section 8? I just got approved for WINS too but I'm worried since my housing calculation is super tight and I don't want to lose my apartment over $10...

No, WINS payments don't count as income for Section 8 or other housing programs. It's considered a CalFresh supplement and is excluded from income calculations for housing assistance. You're safe to receive it without impacting your Section 8 benefits.

wait does everyone who works get this WINS thing??? i work 30 hrs weekly at in-n-out but never got any letter??????

Not automatically. To receive WINS, you need to: 1) Be in a CalFresh household, 2) Have someone in the household working at least 20 hours per week, and 3) Have a dependent child in the home. If you meet all these criteria and aren't receiving it, you should contact your county office. Many people qualify but don't receive it due to system errors or missing information.

the WINS shows up different depending on ur county. i'm in LA county and it shows as a seperate deposit called \

Omg thank you!! I just checked my EBT transaction history again and there IS something called \

To clarify a few points about WINS that might be helpful:\n\n1. The Work Incentive Nutritional Supplement (WINS) is $10 per eligible working adult in CalFresh households with a child under 18\n2. You must work at least 20 hours per week or 80 hours per month to qualify\n3. The benefit is automatic once the county verifies your work hours\n4. It typically appears on the same day as your regular CalFresh benefits\n5. In most counties, WINS is coded as \

This is super helpful, thank you! One question though - do I need to report my work hours differently for WINS? I usually just submit my pay stubs with my SAR7 every 6 months. Is that enough?

Your regular SAR7 reporting should be sufficient for WINS qualification. When you submit pay stubs showing you work at least 20 hours weekly, the system should automatically flag you for WINS eligibility. However, if your hours vary significantly week to week, it's worth mentioning specifically on your SAR7 that you consistently work over 20 hours weekly. This helps ensure the eligibility worker correctly codes your case for WINS.

Perfect, thank you! My hours are pretty consistent so I should be good. I'll just keep submitting my pay stubs like normal. Really appreciate everyone's help in figuring this out!

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble seeing the WINS benefit on your EBT card, you can also check by calling the customer service number on the back of your card. When you check your balance, they'll break down all the different benefit types that have been deposited. This helped me figure out I was actually getting WINS all along - it just wasn't obvious in the mobile app! The phone system will say something like "CalFresh benefits: $185, Work Incentive Supplement: $10" so you can confirm it's there.