Unexpected CalFresh deposit today instead of the 3rd - anyone else get early benefits?
I just checked my EBT card balance this morning and was surprised to see my CalFresh benefits were already deposited! I'm scheduled for the 3rd every month, and it's only the 28th. Has anyone else received their benefits early? I'm wondering if there's a holiday issue or system change I didn't hear about. I'm not complaining about getting money early, but last time something like this happened, they skipped the next month entirely because they claimed I'd already been paid. Just worried this might mess up my regular schedule.
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Omar Zaki
This happens sometimes around holidays or at the end/beginning of fiscal periods. Since Monday is a holiday (Memorial Day), they sometimes load benefits early to ensure everyone has access before the long weekend. Your next deposit should still come as scheduled for July - they only load one month at a time. You can check your EBT account online or call the number on your card to see the transaction description which might explain why it came early.
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Freya Thomsen
•Thanks! I didn't even realize Monday was a holiday. That makes sense. I'll keep an eye on it though to make sure nothing weird happens with my July benefits.
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AstroAce
mine came early 2!!! i was freaking out cuz i thought maybe they were cutting me off next month and giving me 1 last payment or something lol. im also normally a 3rd day person
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Chloe Martin
•Same! Got mine this morning and was confused. Called my sister and she got hers too. We're both on the same schedule usually.
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Freya Thomsen
•Glad it's not just me! I was definitely worried they were going to say this was actually June's payment coming early or something.
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Diego Rojas
The county does this sometimes without any warning and it's SO FRUSTRATING!!! Not because getting $ early is bad but because they NEVER COMMUNICATE ANYTHING to us. I've been on CalFresh for 3 years and they randomly change deposit dates, change verification requirements, send confusing notices... and we're just supposed to figure it all out ourselves! Would it kill them to send a text message saying "FYI deposits coming early due to holiday"???
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Anastasia Sokolov
•seriously tho... i got a random overpayment notice last month and couldn't get anyone on the phone for 2 weeks. when i finally talked to someone they said it was a system error and i could ignore it. cool thanks for the panic attacks
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Freya Thomsen
•The communication is definitely terrible. I remember when I first applied, I submitted all my verification docs and heard NOTHING for weeks. I was calling every day and kept getting the automated system.
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Sean O'Donnell
If you're still worried, have you tried calling your county worker to confirm? I know it can take forever to get through on those lines. I started using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that holds your place in line and calls you back when a real person is available. Saved me hours of hold time last month when I had an issue with my recertification. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8
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Freya Thomsen
•Thanks for the tip! I'll check that out. Actually might be useful for my recertification next month too - last time it took me 5 calls to finally get through to someone.
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Chloe Martin
•does that actually work? i've wasted whole days on hold before
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Sean O'Donnell
•@profile7 It worked for me! I was skeptical too but my worker confirmed the system shows I'd been trying to call for days. The callback feature saved me from having to stay on hold for who knows how long.
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Zara Ahmed
This is standard practice for CalFresh issuance when benefits would normally fall on or near a holiday. Because May 27th is Memorial Day and many county offices will be closed, CDSS authorizes early issuance to ensure recipients have access to their benefits before the holiday weekend. This information is actually posted on the Benefits.Cal website under announcements, though they don't send individual notifications. For reference, here's the normal CalFresh issuance schedule based on the last digit of your case number: 1 = 1st of month 2 = 2nd of month 3 = 3rd of month 4 = 4th of month 5 = 5th of month 6 = 6th of month 7 = 7th of month 8 = 8th of month 9 = 9th of month 0 = 10th of month Holiday adjustments typically move benefits earlier, never later.
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Freya Thomsen
•Thank you for this detailed explanation! I didn't even think to check the Benefits.Cal website. Would've saved me some worry this morning! Good to know this is normal procedure.
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AstroAce
•wait is that how they decide the days?? i never knew that! my case number ends in 3 and i get it on the 3rd so that makes sense!!!
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Chloe Martin
anyone know if they're doing that EBT summer food benefit thing for kids again this year? since school's almost out for summer? my kids got extra food money last year but i haven't heard anything for 2025
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Zara Ahmed
•The Summer EBT program for 2025 was approved, but it's now administered separately from regular CalFresh. You need to check with your children's school district or visit summerebt.dss.ca.gov to see if you're automatically enrolled or need to apply separately. The benefit amount is around $165 per eligible child for the summer period.
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Chloe Martin
•thank you!! will check that website
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Anastasia Sokolov
my friend said they do this early deposit thing all the time but i've been on calfresh for 5 months and this is the first time it happened to me lol. as long as we GET the money i don't care when it comes tbh
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Freya Thomsen
•True that! I was just worried because last year there was a mix-up with my account where they thought they'd paid me twice, but it was actually a system error. Took 3 weeks to sort out.
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Omar Zaki
Quick update for everyone: I just checked the BenefitsCal portal and there's actually a notice posted about the early issuance. It states: "Due to the Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 27, 2025, CalFresh benefits normally issued from the 1st-3rd will be available beginning May 28th. Regular issuance schedule will resume in June." So this confirms what others have said - it's a planned early release due to the holiday.
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Freya Thomsen
•Thanks for checking! That's a relief. I should probably check the portal more often for these kinds of announcements.
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Diego Rojas
•They seriously couldn't text or email this info? Not everyone logs into BenefitsCal regularly, especially if you're not due for SAR7 or recertification. So frustrating.
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Liam Cortez
Same thing happened to me! I'm usually a 3rd of the month person and was so confused when I saw the deposit this morning. I immediately thought something was wrong with my case or they were going to deduct it from next month. Thanks everyone for explaining about the holiday - I had no idea Memorial Day could affect the deposit schedule. This is actually really helpful info to know for future holidays. Does anyone know if they do this for other holidays too like Labor Day or New Year's?
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AstroAdventurer
•Yes, they typically do this for most federal holidays when banks or government offices are closed! I've noticed it happens for Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's. Usually if your deposit date falls on or right after a holiday, they'll move it up a few days. It's actually pretty consistent once you know to expect it, but like everyone else said, I wish they'd just send us a heads up so we don't panic thinking something went wrong with our case!
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