When do CalFresh benefits load onto EBT card each month?
Really confused about my CalFresh benefit deposit schedule. I thought benefits were supposed to load on the 10th of every month but my neighbor said she gets hers on a different day. Does anyone know the actual schedule when future benefits get deposited on the EBT card? My case number ends in 7 if that matters. Been waiting for days and my kids are getting hungry. Usually the money is there by now but nothing this month.
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Sean Kelly
CalFresh benefits in California are staggered throughout the month based on the last digit of your case number. Since yours ends in 7, your benefits should be available on the 7th of each month. The schedule runs from the 1st to the 10th of the month, matching the last digit of your case number. So if your case number ends in 0, you get benefits on the 10th. This system helps distribute the load on retail stores throughout the month instead of everyone shopping on the same day.
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StellarSurfer
•Wait, really?? I've had CalFresh for 2 years and never knew this! I always thought it was the same day for everyone. That explains why my benefits never came on the 10th. I'm gonna check my EBT account right now to see if they came on the 7th and I just didn't notice. Thank you!!!
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Zara Malik
my case # ends with 4 and i ALWAYS get mine on the 4th. check ur EBT on the 7th every month. they never tell u this when u sign up smh
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StellarSurfer
•Just checked and you're right, the benefits were added on the 7th! I feel so stupid now. I've been waiting and panicking for nothing 😣
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Luca Greco
I had the same confusion when I first got CalFresh. It's definitely based on the last digit of your case number. But be aware that if the deposit day falls on a weekend or holiday, you might see slight variations. Also, if you're doing a recertification or submitted your SAR7 late, that could delay your benefits too. If you ever have trouble accessing your account, the EBT customer service line is actually pretty responsive compared to the county offices.
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Nia Thompson
•Yep i always get mine on the 3rd BUT one time when I did my recertification late it took an extra week to show up and I freaked out calling everyone. now i put like 10 reminders in my phone for when paperwork is due lol
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Mateo Rodriguez
NOBODY EVER EXLAINS THIS!!! I spent THREE HOURS on hold with my county office last year trying to figure this out. Why don't they just tell people this when they approve you?? I was literally on hold every month wondering where my benefits were until a grocery store cashier told me about the schedule!!
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Aisha Hussain
•You could try Claimyr next time you need to speak with a CalFresh worker. It saved me hours of waiting on hold. They call the county office for you and call you back when they have a worker on the line. I used it when my address change didn't process correctly and my benefits were at risk. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 or check out claimyr.com. Definitely worth it when you need to talk to someone urgently about your case.
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Zara Malik
btw if u wanna check ur balance without calling that annoying hotline u can use the BenefitsCal app or website. way easier than the phone system
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StellarSurfer
•Just downloaded the app! So much better than calling that number. Thanks for the tip!
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GalacticGladiator
Actually I think it depends on your county too. My cousin is in Alameda County and gets his on a completely different schedule than me in LA County even though our case numbers end with the same digit. The counties have different processing systems. Have you called your county office to confirm? Better to get the official answer than rely on what others say online.
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Sean Kelly
•This is incorrect. The CalFresh issuance schedule is standardized across all 58 counties in California. Benefits are issued from the 1st through the 10th of each month based on the last digit of your case number, regardless of which county you're in. If there are differences in when benefits become available, it's likely due to other factors like recertification timing, SAR7 submission dates, or when the initial application was approved - not county-specific schedules.
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StellarSurfer
Thanks everyone for the help! Mystery solved - turns out my benefits DO come on the 7th of each month since my case number ends in 7. I checked my EBT account and the money was already there, I just didn't notice. Feeling silly but relieved. Will mark the 7th on my calendar from now on!
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Luca Greco
•Don't feel silly! The system isn't very intuitive and they don't explain it well when you sign up. Just make sure you also mark your SAR7 and recertification deadlines on your calendar too - those are even more important to track!
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Zoe Stavros
Glad you got it figured out! This is such a common confusion and honestly the state should do a better job explaining this upfront. Pro tip: if you ever need to budget around your CalFresh benefits, knowing that the 7th is your day makes meal planning so much easier. You can also set up text alerts through the EBT app to get notified when your benefits are loaded each month. That way you don't have to remember to check manually!
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