What day do CalFresh benefits load onto EBT cards each month?
Hi everyone! I just got approved for CalFresh benefits and received my EBT card in the mail yesterday. Super happy about it but I'm a bit confused about when the money actually becomes available on the card each month? The worker told me something about it during my interview but I was so nervous I completely forgot what she said. Is it the same day for everyone or does it depend on something? Also, if I don't use all the benefits in one month, do they roll over? Sorry for the basic questions but this is all new to me!
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Chris Elmeda
CalFresh benefits are loaded onto your EBT card on a specific day each month based on the last digit of your case number. Benefits are available at midnight on your assigned day. Here's the schedule: - Case numbers ending in 1: 1st of the month - Case numbers ending in 2: 2nd of the month - Case numbers ending in 3: 3rd of the month - Numbers ending in 4: 4th - 5: 5th - 6: 6th - 7: 7th - 8: 8th - 9: 9th - 0: 10th Check your approval letter or the back of your EBT card for your case number. And yes, unused benefits do roll over and stay on your card for 9 months before they expire.
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Annabel Kimball
•THANK YOU!!! This is super helpful. I just checked my approval letter and my case number ends in 7, so I guess I'll get benefits on the 7th of each month. That makes sense now!
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Jean Claude
my benifits always come on the 6th of each month its NEVER been late atleast in the 2 years ive had it... tho one time the system was down and i couldnt use my card for like 4 hours even tho the money was on it. so frustrating!!! but ya its based on ur case # like the other person said
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Annabel Kimball
•Thanks for sharing your experience! Good to know I can count on them being consistent with the deposit date. I've heard horror stories about benefits systems being unreliable, so that's reassuring.
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Charity Cohan
Just to add a bit more info - when you first get approved, your initial benefits might come at a different time than your regular monthly schedule. So don't panic if you don't see anything on the 7th right away. If your application was approved mid-month, you might get prorated benefits for that partial month plus the next month's benefits together. Also, it's smart to check your balance before shopping by calling the number on the back of your EBT card or using the BenefitsCal app/website. The customer service folks can also tell you your deposit date if you forget.
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Annabel Kimball
•Oh that's really good to know! I was approved on the 25th of last month, so I guess they might do something different for the first payment. I'll download that BenefitsCal app right now - didn't even know that existed!
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Josef Tearle
This system is so annoying! Why can't they just release all benefits on the 1st like normal bills are due? I've been on calfresh for 3 years and sometimes have to juggle my budget because my rent is due on the 1st but my benefits don't hit until the 9th. Just another way they make things complicated for no reason!
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Chris Elmeda
•They stagger the dates to prevent system overload. Imagine if ALL CalFresh recipients in California tried to shop on the 1st of the month - stores would be overwhelmed, systems might crash, and food shortages could happen in certain areas. It's actually a practical solution, even if it creates some budgeting challenges.
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Shelby Bauman
Congrats on getting approved! One thing I learned the hard way: some stores only accept EBT for certain items. Like you can't buy hot prepared foods or household supplies. I got so embarrassed my first time when half my cart got rejected and had to put stuff back while people waited behind me 😳
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Annabel Kimball
•Oh no, that sounds mortifying! Thanks for the heads-up! Is there a way to know which items are covered before getting to checkout? I definitely want to avoid that situation!
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Chris Elmeda
•Most grocery stores now mark eligible items with "EBT" on their price tags or shelf labels. As a general rule, CalFresh covers food items meant to be prepared at home. It doesn't cover hot prepared foods, alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, medicines, household supplies, pet food, or personal care items. Some stores like Walmart have systems that automatically separate eligible items when you check out.
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Quinn Herbert
Has anyone else had issues with the phone system when trying to check your balance? Every time I call the number on the back of my EBT card, I get stuck in this endless loop of automated messages. I've been trying to find out why my benefits were less this month, but I can never reach an actual person! So frustrating!
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Salim Nasir
•I had the exact same problem! I was trying to reach someone for weeks about a verification issue. I finally found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person at the CalFresh office in under 5 minutes. They basically call and wait on hold for you, then connect you when a real person answers. Check out their demo video here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 or their website claimyr.com - it saved me hours of frustration! Way better than trying to get through yourself or dealing with those automated systems.
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Josef Tearle
•SAME HERE!! The phone system is total garbage. I once stayed on hold for TWO HOURS only to get disconnected right when someone picked up. I ended up having to go to the office in person and wait another 3 hours. The whole system is designed to make us give up, I swear!
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Annabel Kimball
Update: I just checked my EBT card balance through the app everyone recommended, and there's actually already money on there! I guess they loaded the prorated amount for my first month. I'm so excited to go grocery shopping tomorrow! Thanks again for all the helpful info everyone!
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Chris Elmeda
•That's great! Just a friendly reminder - make sure you complete your SAR7 form when they send it to you (around month 5 of your certification period). It's a simple form to report any household changes, but if you miss submitting it, your benefits can be discontinued. Many new recipients miss this step and then have to reapply all over again.
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Shelby Bauman
Btw i used to think calfresh and caLworks were the same thing lol. Took me forever to figure out one is cash aid and one is food benefits! 🤦♀️
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Annabel Kimball
•Wait, they're different programs? I thought CalFresh was just the new name for food stamps and CalWorks was something else entirely. Is it possible to be on both programs at the same time?
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Charity Cohan
•Yes, they're completely separate programs! CalFresh is specifically for food assistance (formerly called Food Stamps) while CalWORKs provides cash aid to families with children. Many families qualify for both, so if you have children and low income, you should definitely check if you qualify for CalWORKs too. The application process is similar, and you can apply for both through the same BenefitsCal portal.
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Noah Irving
Welcome to the community and congrats on getting approved! Just wanted to add a few tips from someone who's been using CalFresh for about a year now: 1. Download multiple apps to check your balance - I use both the ConnectEBT app and the BenefitsCal app as backups in case one is down 2. Keep your receipt from your last purchase - it shows your remaining balance at the bottom 3. If you shop at farmers markets, many accept EBT and some even match your spending dollar-for-dollar through programs like Market Match 4. Consider meal planning around your benefit deposit date - I find it helps me budget better throughout the month The learning curve can feel overwhelming at first, but you'll get the hang of it quickly. This community is super helpful if you have questions later on!
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Noland Curtis
•This is such great advice, thank you @Noah Irving! I had no idea about the farmers market programs - that sounds amazing. I'm definitely going to look into Market Match in my area. The meal planning tip makes a lot of sense too, especially since I know my benefits will come on the 7th each month now. I'm still figuring out how to budget properly but having a set schedule should help. Really appreciate you taking the time to share these practical tips!
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McKenzie Shade
Welcome to the CalFresh family! This thread has so much great information already. I just wanted to add one more tip that really helped me when I first started - if you're ever unsure about whether something is EBT eligible while shopping, most cashiers are super understanding and will let you split your transaction. You can pay for the EBT-eligible items first with your card, then pay for any non-eligible items separately with cash or another card. It takes away the stress of guessing and avoids any embarrassing moments at checkout. Also, don't feel bad about asking store employees - they deal with EBT transactions all day and are usually happy to help clarify what's covered!
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