Where can I use CalFresh EBT? Just got approved and confused about accepted stores

Congratulations on getting approved!! Almost all grocery stores accept EBT for CalFresh - Walmart, Target, Safeway, Albertsons, Foods Co, FoodMaxx, Save Mart, Grocery Outlet, Trader Joe's, even Whole Foods (tho be careful there lol, $$ adds up fast). Dollar stores like Dollar General and Family Dollar take it too! Corner stores and some gas station mini marts also accept it but prices tend to be higher there.

To add to what was already mentioned, yes, you absolutely can use your EBT card at Costco! And regarding farmers markets - many do accept EBT and some even have special programs like Market Match where they'll match up to $10 of your CalFresh benefits (meaning you spend $10 EBT and get $20 worth of fresh produce). Check the website called "California Market Match" to find participating farmers markets near you. Also important to know: You CANNOT use CalFresh benefits for: - Alcohol or tobacco - Pet food - Vitamins/medicines - Hot prepared foods (like the hot deli section) - Household items (paper towels, soap, etc.) You'll want to separate your grocery purchases at checkout - eligible food items on EBT, non-eligible items paid separately.

i use mine at food maxx its cheapest around here. just swip like debit card & enter ur pin. also amazon fresh takes ebt now 2 if u dont wanna go out.

Don't forget to download the "Fresh EBT" app!! It lets you check your balance without calling that annoying hotline, plus shows you which stores in your area accept EBT. It even has some coupon offers sometimes. I use it all the time!!

Something I didn't see mentioned yet - if you shop online, both Amazon and Walmart take EBT for delivery groceries. This was HUGELY helpful when I broke my leg last year and couldn't drive to the store. Just make sure you select "EBT eligible items" filters when shopping online. And one more thing - if you have any issues with your EBT card not working at a store that should accept it, or if you think your benefit amount is wrong, try calling your county CalFresh office. It can be frustrating to get through - I was on hold for over an hour last month trying to report an address change. I recently found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that will actually wait on hold with the county office for you and call you back when a real person answers. Saved me tons of time. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

Everyone keeps saying where u CAN use it but nobody mentions where u SHOULD use it to get most bang for buck!!! Grocery Outlet has been my lifesaver!! Their prices are like 40% less than regular stores. I feed my family of 4 on $600/month CalFresh this way. Also look for sales at FoodMaxx and Foods Co. DON'T waste ur EBT at Safeway or Whole Foods unless it's their sale items!!! The regular prices will eat thru ur benefits so fast!!!

BTW if u have kids and get CalFresh, make sure u ask about the FREE school meals program too! My kids automatically qualified once we got CalFresh. U don't even need to fill out extra forms anymore.

i just use mine at winco and walmart cuz there cheapest by me. but one weird thing is some restaurants can take ebt if ur homeless or elderly or disabled. its called the restaurant meals program. my uncle uses his at subway sometimes.

One more tip I haven't seen mentioned - if you're near any ethnic grocery stores (like 99 Ranch Market, Northgate Market, or Indian/Middle Eastern stores), they usually accept EBT too and often have WAY better prices on produce, rice, beans, and spices than regular supermarkets. I get huge bags of rice and lentils for like half the price of Safeway. Also, many Vietnamese and Mexican markets have amazing deals on fresh vegetables. Just make sure to bring cash for any non-EBT items since some smaller stores are cash-only for those purchases.

Another thing to keep in mind - if you're shopping at stores like Target or Walmart that sell both groceries AND non-grocery items, make sure you're in the grocery section! I made the mistake my first week of trying to buy shampoo and toilet paper with my EBT card at Target and felt so embarrassed when it got declined. The cashier was super nice about it though and explained that only the food items would go through. Also, some stores have self-checkout restrictions for EBT - you might need to go to a regular cashier instead. Don't be shy about asking store employees if you're not sure about something, they deal with EBT all the time and are usually really helpful!

Just wanted to add something I learned the hard way - if you're shopping at stores with a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens, they DO accept EBT but ONLY for the actual food items they sell (like snacks, drinks, bread, etc). I tried to buy some vitamins thinking they were food-related and got confused when it didn't work. Also, if anyone is wondering about 7-Eleven or other convenience stores, most of them do take EBT but like others mentioned, the prices are usually way higher than grocery stores. Only use them if you're really in a pinch! One last thing - some stores will let you get cashback with your EBT card but others won't, so don't count on it. Better to just plan your cash needs separately.

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that some farmers markets also do "EBT matching" programs where they'll double your money up to a certain amount! Like if you spend $20 in EBT benefits, they'll give you an additional $20 in tokens or vouchers to spend at the market. It's called different things in different places - Market Match, Fresh Fund, Double Up Food Bucks, etc. You should definitely look into whether any farmers markets near you have these programs because it's basically free money for fresh produce! Also, don't forget that you can use your EBT card to buy seeds and plants that produce food - so if you have any space for a little garden, you can actually use your benefits to grow your own vegetables which stretches your budget even further!

Welcome to the CalFresh family! 🎉 I remember how overwhelming it felt when I first got my card too. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you can actually use your EBT card at some military commissaries if you have access (like if you're a veteran or military family member). Also, if you're ever traveling within California, your EBT card works at ANY store that accepts it statewide - you're not limited to just your home county. Pro tip: Keep your EBT card separate from your other cards and treat it like cash - if you lose it, you'll have to wait for a replacement which can take up to 10 business days. Some counties can expedite it but not all. And definitely keep track of your spending because unlike credit cards, there's no "overdraft" - once your monthly benefits are gone, you have to wait until next month for more. One more thing - if you ever move, make sure to update your address with your county office RIGHT AWAY or your benefits could get suspended. Learned that one the hard way! 😅

Hey Isaiah! Congrats on getting approved! 🎉 I just wanted to add a few more tips that have helped me stretch my CalFresh benefits: 1. Check out your local food banks too - they often have free fresh produce and pantry items that can supplement your EBT purchases. You can usually use food banks even if you have CalFresh! 2. Look for store brands/generic items - they're usually 30-50% cheaper than name brands and the quality is often just as good. Places like Walmart's Great Value brand, Safeway's O Organics, etc. 3. If you have a car, it's worth driving a bit further to discount stores like ALDI (if you have one nearby), WinCo, or FoodMaxx rather than shopping at the closest but more expensive store. 4. Download store apps for places like Safeway, Vons, Albertsons - they often have digital coupons you can stack with sales, and some even give you personalized deals based on what you buy. 5. Stock up during good sales on non-perishables like rice, beans, pasta, canned goods, etc. Your EBT balance rolls over month to month so you don't have to spend it all right away! Welcome to the community - don't hesitate to ask more questions as they come up! 😊