When do CalFresh benefits get loaded on my EBT card each month?

the deposit day depends on the last digit of ur case number. they load calfresh benefits over the first 10 days of each month. like if ur case # ends in 5, u get benefits on the 5th. if it ends in 0, u get it on the 10th. check ur calfresh approval letter or ur ebb card papers

To add a bit more detail to the previous response: CalFresh benefits in California are always deposited between the 1st and 10th of each month, based on the last digit of your case number. You can also check your current balance and transaction history by calling the number on the back of your EBT card (1-877-328-9677) or by creating an account on the Connect EBT mobile app or website. That way you can always know exactly when your benefits were loaded and how much you have left for the month.

I was ALWAYS confused about this when I first got on CalFresh! One thing to know is that the deposit time doesn't change - whatever day you get it the first time is your permanent day. That really helped me with budgeting once I figured it out. If you ever lose your EBT card, the replacement comes pretty quick (about 5 days for me) and your benefits schedule stays the same. Hope that helps!

Tbh they should make this clearer when they approve you!!! I had the same exact problem and had to call like 5 times before I could get someone to explain it to me. The system is sooo confusing. Mine hits on the 4th but sometimes it seems like it's not until really late at night, like after 9pm even.

If you're still having trouble finding your case number to figure out your deposit day, I'd recommend using Claimyr to get through to a real person at the CalFresh office. I was stuck in the same situation - couldn't get past the automated system and needed to speak with someone. Used claimyr.com and they got me through to a live person in about 10 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 that shows how it works. The worker I spoke with was able to look up my case number and tell me exactly when my benefits would reload each month.

One thing no one's mentioned yet - if you receive both CalFresh and CalWORKs benefits on the same EBT card, they might be loaded on different days. My CalFresh comes on the 8th because my case number ends in 8, but my CalWORKs comes on the 1st. Confused me for months when I first started receiving benefits in 2024! Also, just FYI - benefits are supposed to roll over month to month now, but they do expire after 274 days (about 9 months).

hey did anyone else have their benefit amount increase this month? mine went up $42 and i didn't report any changes or anything... not complaining just confused lol

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! I was able to find my case number by logging into my BenefitsCal account (completely forgot I had created one when I applied) and confirmed my benefits day is the 7th of each month. I've downloaded the EBT Connect app too which is really helpful for tracking my balance. This group is awesome!

So glad you got it figured out! The BenefitsCal portal is definitely underused - I forgot about mine too until I needed to update my info last year. Just a heads up that if you ever move again, make sure to report your address change within 10 days or it can affect your benefits. I learned that the hard way when I relocated last spring. The EBT Connect app is a lifesaver for budgeting - I check it before every grocery trip now!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been on CalFresh for about 6 months now - the learning curve is definitely real! One thing that helped me was setting a phone reminder for my deposit day (mine's the 3rd) so I know exactly when to expect my benefits. Also, if you're shopping at stores like Walmart or Target, their apps will show your EBT balance at checkout which is super convenient. The whole system gets much easier once you get into the rhythm of it. Welcome to the program and don't hesitate to ask questions - this community is really supportive!

One more helpful tip for budgeting - I've found it really useful to keep a small notebook or use my phone notes to track what I spend each trip to the grocery store. Since benefits load on a specific day each month, I divide my total benefit amount by 4 to figure out roughly how much I can spend per week. It's helped me avoid that panic of running low on benefits toward the end of the month! Also, many food banks and pantries don't require you to choose between using their services and CalFresh - you can use both if you need extra help stretching your food budget.

Just wanted to add that if you're ever traveling or temporarily staying somewhere else, your benefits will still load on your regular day regardless of where you are! I was worried about this when I had to stay with family in another county for a few weeks, but everything worked normally. Also, pro tip - if you're ever unsure about whether a store accepts EBT, most grocery store websites have a "payment methods" section that lists if they accept SNAP/EBT. This saved me from some embarrassing situations when I was new to the program. The first few months are definitely the hardest while you're learning everything, but it gets so much easier!

This thread has been so incredibly helpful! As someone who just got approved for CalFresh last week, I was completely lost about when benefits would load. The last digit system makes perfect sense now - my case number ends in 2, so I'll be getting benefits on the 2nd of each month. I've already downloaded the EBT Connect app and set up my BenefitsCal account. It's amazing how much clearer everything becomes when you have people explaining the real-world aspects that aren't covered in the official paperwork. Thank you all for being so welcoming and sharing your experiences - it makes navigating this whole system feel much less overwhelming!