What day do CalFresh benefits load on EBT cards each month in 2025?

Hi there! Congrats on getting approved for CalFresh. Just to clarify, there's no such thing as "Covid food stamps" anymore - those were emergency allotments that ended back in early 2023. What you have now is just regular CalFresh benefits. As for when benefits are loaded, CalFresh uses a staggered schedule based on the last digit of your case number. Benefits are available between the 1st and 10th of each month. If your case number ends in 1, you get it on the 1st. If it ends in 2, you get it on the 2nd, and so on. If your case number ends in 0, you get it on the 10th. Check your approval letter - it should have your case number and should state what day your benefits will be available each month. Hope this helps!

Its always based on last number in ur case #. Covid benefits ended YEARS ago dont know why worker would mention that?? Maybe u misheard. My benefits come on the 4th every month cuz my # ends in 4. Check ur approval letter it says it there

The system is SO confusing when you first get started! I remember being totally lost my first month too. Those pandemic emergency allotments were great while they lasted (we got maximum benefits regardless of income), but they've been gone for years now. One thing to remember - if you're checking your balance by phone, sometimes it doesn't update right away on your actual benefit day. I've had times where my benefits were supposed to be there on the 6th, but didn't show until late evening or even early the next morning. Don't panic if that happens! Also, make sure to complete your SAR7 form every 6 months when they send it to you, or your benefits will stop. I learned that the hard way!

Just to add some accurate information here: If you just got approved recently, your first month's benefits might be prorated depending on when you applied and were approved. So don't be surprised if your first deposit is less than what you expected. Also, CalFresh benefits are always available by 12:01am on your issuance day (based on that last digit of your case number), but many people find it helpful to actually check the day before after 11pm, as they sometimes appear early. Lastly, you can always check your balance and transaction history online through the BenefitsCal portal or by calling the number on the back of your EBT card. If you have a smartphone, I recommend downloading the ConnectEBT app - it makes checking your balance super easy.

when i first got calfresh my worker explained EVERYTHING wrong!!! i kept waiting for the wrong day and almost had no food. turns out my benefits came on the 9th not the 1st like she told me. def check your case # like others said.

If you need to reach your county worker to get more specific information about your benefits, I'd recommend using Claimyr. It saved me HOURS of waiting on hold when I needed to ask questions about my CalFresh benefits. You just go to claimyr.com, enter the county office number, and they call you back when a real person is on the line. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 I used it when I couldn't figure out why my benefit amount changed. Way better than sitting on hold all day or getting disconnected repeatedly.

The CalFresh worker probably mentioned the COVID emergency allotments because sometimes workers are still referencing outdated information! It happens more than you'd think. I had a worker last month who was still using 2023 income limits when reviewing my case! Some counties are TERRIBLE about updating their training materials and scripts. The pandemic benefits were significant too - some families got hundreds more per month during that time, so a lot of people still remember and ask about them even though they're long gone. If you ever have questions about your specific case, calling the county office is technically the "right" answer, but as others have mentioned, that can be a nightmare with the hold times.

One more important thing: if your income or household situation changes (someone moves in/out, you get a new job, etc.), you need to report it to your county office. If your income goes up by more than the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT, which should be listed on your approval notice), you must report it within 10 days. If you don't report changes and end up getting benefits you weren't eligible for, they can make you pay them back, which is a huge hassle. Just trying to help you avoid problems down the road!

my benefits used to come on the 8th but now they come on the 10th and nobody can explain why??? anyone else have their day change for no reason??

Welcome to CalFresh! The confusion is totally understandable - there's a lot of information to process when you first get approved. Just to echo what others have said, your benefits will be loaded on the 7th of each month since your case number ends in 7. One thing I wish someone had told me when I started: benefits usually post overnight, so if you check your balance late on the 6th (like after 10 PM), they might already be there. Also, grocery stores sometimes have delays processing EBT transactions early in the morning on benefit days, so if your card gets declined around midnight-2 AM, try again a bit later. The approval paperwork can be overwhelming, but definitely keep it all in a safe place - you'll need to reference it for things like your reporting requirements and recertification dates. Good luck with your grocery shopping!