Schedule verified against the USDA state issuance rules for California. Reviewed October 2026.
California CalFresh deposit dates follow the simplest system of any large state: your benefits arrive during the first ten days of the month, on the day matching the last digit of your case number. No certification eras like Texas, no backwards digit reading like Florida. One digit, one date, every month. This page gives you the table, the one exception that trips people up, and what to check when a deposit is late.
The CalFresh Deposit Schedule
CalFresh benefits load onto your Golden State Advantage EBT card based on the last digit of your case number:
| Case number ends in | Benefits available on the |
|---|---|
| 1 | 1st of the month |
| 2 | 2nd of the month |
| 3 | 3rd of the month |
| 4 | 4th of the month |
| 5 | 5th of the month |
| 6 | 6th of the month |
| 7 | 7th of the month |
| 8 | 8th of the month |
| 9 | 9th of the month |
| 0 | 10th of the month |
The one detail people miss: a case number ending in 0 pays on the 10th, not the 1st. If your neighbor gets paid nine days before you every month, that is the entire explanation.
Your case number is on the paperwork your county mails you, and it is always visible in your account at BenefitsCal.com, the statewide portal that replaced the old county systems. Deposits load around midnight, and the date holds through weekends and holidays.
Getting CalWORKs Too? That Money Comes Earlier
Not sure if you qualify for food assistance? Check in under 2 minutes — it's free, private, and shows estimated amounts.
Households receiving CalWORKs cash aid alongside CalFresh see two deposits on the same EBT card on different days. The cash portion loads during the first three calendar days of the month, while the food portion follows the table above. A card showing money on the 2nd and again on the 7th is working exactly as designed.
How Much Arrives Each Month
The date is set by your case number, but the amount was reset on October 1, 2026, when the new federal year began. The maximums now run up to $1,023 for a household of four, with the full table for every household size in our October SNAP increase guide.
New applicants can walk through the process in how to apply for CalFresh in California, and if you are waiting on an approval, our guide to CalFresh processing times covers how long counties actually take and when to follow up. California households often qualify for more than food help, and our California assistance programs guide maps the rest.
If Your CalFresh Deposit Is Late
Our free checker shows every program you're eligible for with estimated monthly amounts. No signup needed.
See What I Qualify For →🔒 Free · Private · Takes 2 minutes- Recheck the table. The ends in 0 pays on the 10th rule accounts for a large share of “missing” deposit worries.
- Log in to BenefitsCal.com and check your case status. A deposit that never loads usually means a recertification or a SAR 7 report was missed, not a payment failure.
- Check your balance by phone at 877-847-3663, the EBT customer service line on the back of your card, available around the clock.
- For case questions, call your county office or the state CDSS line at 866-613-3777.
The SAR 7 semi annual report deserves its own warning. Counties suspend benefits when it is late, and the deposit simply does not load that month. If your date passed with nothing, check BenefitsCal for a pending SAR 7 before anything else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Free and trusted resources to help you take the next step.
Get immediate food assistance while your SNAP application is being processed. Feeding America connects you with local food pantries.
Find Food Near YouPregnant women and families with children under 5 can get free formula, milk, eggs, and produce through WIC.
Apply for WICSNAP recipients often qualify for Medicaid, LIHEAP, Lifeline phone, and other programs. Screen for everything at once.
Free Eligibility CheckThese are recommended resources based on the topic of this article. We only suggest free, official, or widely trusted services.
What time does CalFresh load in California?
Benefits load around midnight at the start of your scheduled day, so the money is normally spendable when stores open that morning. The timing is the same statewide regardless of county.
Do CalFresh deposits shift for weekends or holidays?
No. Your day is your day, every month of the year. That is different from Social Security and SSI, which move payments earlier around holidays, as covered in our SSI payment schedule guide.
My case number ends in 0. Why do I get paid last?
California maps the 0 digit to the 10th, the final day of the issuance window. It feels backwards, but it is by design and applies to every 0 case in the state.
Does every California county pay on the same schedule?
Yes. CalFresh issuance is a statewide system, so the table above applies whether your case is in Los Angeles, Fresno, or Del Norte. Counties differ in processing applications, not in deposit dates.
Why did I get two deposits on my EBT card this month?
You most likely receive CalWORKs cash aid as well as CalFresh. Cash loads in the first three days of the month and food on your case number day, appearing as two separate deposits on one card.
The Bottom Line
One digit decides everything in California: last number of your case, matching day of the month, with 0 meaning the 10th. When a deposit fails to appear, the cause is almost always paperwork, a SAR 7 or a recertification, and BenefitsCal.com will show it in under a minute. Keep the 877-847-3663 card line saved for balance checks, and this page bookmarked for the table.
