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I've been on CalFresh for about 6 months and can definitely confirm that food benefits are available right at midnight on your issuance day! I actually do this regularly because I work nights and it's the most convenient time for me to shop. The key thing to remember is that CalFresh (food) and cash benefits operate on completely different systems even though they're on the same card. The 6am restriction only applies to cash withdrawals, not food purchases. I usually shop at 24-hour stores like Walmart or Meijer and have never had issues. Just make sure the store you're going to actually processes EBT overnight - most major chains do, but some smaller places shut down their payment systems for maintenance. Pro tip: you can check your balance on the ebtEDGE app or by calling 1-877-328-9677 right before you leave to make sure everything loaded properly!
This is such great confirmation! I was really worried about looking foolish at the checkout if my card didn't work. It's reassuring to hear from someone who regularly does midnight shopping - that gives me a lot more confidence. I didn't realize that CalFresh and cash benefits were actually separate systems on the same card, so that explanation really helps me understand why the timing is different. I'm definitely going to check my balance using that number before I head out. Thanks for sharing your experience and the practical tips!
As someone who's been on CalFresh for about a year, I can definitely confirm that food benefits are available at midnight on your issuance day! I've done the midnight grocery run many times when I'm running low on food. The 6am restriction only applies to cash benefits - CalFresh food benefits work right at midnight. Just a couple of tips from my experience: I always check my balance first using the ebtEDGE app or by calling 1-877-328-9677 around 11:50pm to make sure everything loaded properly before heading out. Also, stick to major 24-hour chains like Walmart or Target since smaller stores sometimes have their payment systems offline overnight. Hope you can get some good groceries for you and your kids!
Thanks for sharing your experience! As someone completely new to CalFresh, I really appreciate hearing from people who've actually done this before. The tip about checking your balance around 11:50pm is really smart - I would have probably just shown up at midnight and hoped for the best! I'm definitely going to download that ebtEDGE app tonight and save the customer service number. It's such a relief to know that so many people have successfully done midnight shopping runs. Makes me feel way less anxious about my first attempt tomorrow night!
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Hey Ryan! Just moved to Fresno a few months ago and had to figure out the RMP system for my grandmother. One thing that's been super helpful is the Panda Express on Shaw near Fresno State - they consistently accept EBT for RMP and the staff is really well-trained on the process. Also discovered that some of the ethnic markets with hot food bars participate too, like the little Korean place in the Hmong Village on MLK. One tip that saved us a lot of frustration - I started calling restaurants during their slower hours (like 10 AM or 3 PM) to ask about RMP participation. The staff has more time to check their system and give accurate info rather than just saying "no" because they're busy. Also, the Salvation Army on Fulton has a social worker who keeps an updated list of participating restaurants specifically for seniors - might be worth giving them a call at (559) 233-6854. They've been more helpful than some of the official county resources! Hope your mom finds some good options from all these suggestions.
Thanks Sofia! The Panda Express near Fresno State is perfect - that's actually really close to where my mom used to live before she moved, so she'd be familiar with the area. I love the idea of checking out ethnic markets with hot food bars too, especially the Korean place in Hmong Village on MLK - my mom is always interested in trying different cuisines and that sounds like a great option for variety. Your tip about calling during slower hours is so smart - I can definitely see how staff would be more helpful when they're not rushing through a lunch crowd. And the Salvation Army connection is brilliant - having a social worker who specifically maintains a list for seniors sounds like exactly what we need. I'm definitely going to call them tomorrow at (559) 233-6854. This whole thread has been incredible - between all these suggestions, my mom is going to have such a great variety of options and feel so much more confident about getting hot meals on her own. Thanks for sharing what worked for your grandmother!
Hey Ryan! Just joined this community and saw your post about RMP options in Fresno. I'm actually going through the same process with my disabled uncle who just moved to the area. One thing I discovered that hasn't been mentioned yet is that the Arby's on Cedar & Herndon accepts EBT for RMP participants - they started about 2 months ago but don't advertise it. The roast beef sandwiches are a nice change from typical fast food options. Also wanted to share that I found the Fresno County Library downtown has printed RMP restaurant guides available at the front desk that are updated monthly - way more current than the online resources. The librarians there have been super helpful walking seniors through how to verify which locations are still participating. One practical tip that's worked for my uncle - I programmed the EBT customer service number into his phone as "EBT Help" so if there are any issues at checkout, he can easily find it without digging through his wallet for the card. Makes him feel more confident going to new places on his own. This thread has been so helpful - definitely trying some of these suggestions with my uncle! Hope your mom finds some great options from all the advice everyone's shared.
Welcome to the community Isabella! Thanks for sharing the Arby's tip - that's awesome that they participate in RMP now since roast beef sandwiches would definitely be a nice change from the usual fast food options. I had no idea the downtown library has printed monthly guides - that sounds so much more reliable than trying to piece together current info from various websites. Programming the EBT customer service number into her phone as "EBT Help" is such a simple but brilliant idea too. My mom isn't super tech-savvy but she can definitely handle finding a contact in her phone, and that would give her so much more confidence to try places independently. I'm going to set that up for her tomorrow along with making the laminated card others suggested. It's been incredible how this community has come together with so many practical, real-world tips from people who've actually navigated this system. Between all these suggestions, my mom is going to have such great options and feel so much more empowered to get hot meals on her own!
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This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm actually in training to become a community navigator to help people with benefits applications and this conversation is exactly the kind of real-world knowledge they don't teach in the training materials. The distinction between EBT customer service for card issues vs county office for case updates is so important but not always clear to people. I'm definitely going to reference this thread when helping clients in the future. Also really appreciate Teresa sharing the insider perspective - it's so helpful to know about emergency food assistance options that workers can provide while people wait for replacement cards. This is community support at its best!
That's awesome that you're training to be a community navigator! We definitely need more people like you helping folks navigate these systems. You're so right that the training materials often miss the practical, real-world details that actually matter when people are dealing with these situations. This thread really shows how valuable it is to have both lived experience from community members and professional insights from workers like Teresa. Good luck with your training - sounds like you're going to be a great resource for people who need help with benefits!
Wow, this thread is absolutely incredible! I've been dealing with CalFresh for about 6 months now and I've never seen such detailed, practical advice all in one place. The step-by-step breakdown from everyone's real experiences is so much more helpful than the generic information you usually find online. I especially appreciate learning about the distinction between EBT customer service and county office systems - I had no idea they didn't sync automatically! And knowing about the expedited shipping option could be a real lifesaver in emergency situations. Plus having Teresa confirm everything from the county worker perspective just makes all the advice that much more trustworthy. I'm definitely bookmarking this thread and will probably end up sharing it with other people I know who are navigating the system. This is exactly what community support should look like - people taking time to share detailed, accurate information to help each other out. Thank you everyone for creating such an amazing resource!
This really is an amazing thread! I'm pretty new to this community and to navigating CalFresh in general, and I'm honestly blown away by how helpful and detailed everyone has been. It's so reassuring to see people taking the time to share their real experiences - like the whole thing about EBT customer service vs county office being separate systems that don't sync. I would have had no idea about that distinction and probably would have made the same mistake others mentioned about thinking one call would handle everything. The fact that we have both community members sharing what actually worked for them AND Teresa giving us the official county worker perspective makes this feel like the most reliable information I've found anywhere. I'm definitely saving this thread for future reference too - it's like having a comprehensive guide written by people who actually understand what it's like to deal with these systems firsthand. Thank you everyone for being so generous with sharing your knowledge and experiences!
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I'm also new to CalFresh and had this exact same worry! What really helped me was understanding that the program is intentionally designed to give families dignity and choice in their food purchases. I was initially hesitant about buying anything that seemed "unnecessary," but then I realized that occasional treats are part of normal family life and childhood experiences. My kids were so excited when I was finally able to get them some cookies and juice boxes like their classmates have - it's those little things that help them feel included and normal during what's already a stressful time for our family. The EBT system really does make it straightforward - everything that's eligible will go through automatically, and if something isn't covered, it just gets separated out without any fuss. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty about using your benefits to feed your family the way you see fit. Summer treats for your kids sound perfectly reasonable and they deserve those little joys just like any other children!
Welcome to CalFresh! Your message really resonates with me as someone who just started using benefits recently too. I love how you talked about the dignity and choice aspect - that's such an important way to think about it. You're absolutely right that treats are just part of normal family life, and it sounds like getting those cookies and juice boxes for your kids was such a meaningful moment. It's amazing how something as simple as snacks can help children feel included and normal during difficult times. I've been learning the same thing about the EBT system being so straightforward - all my worrying was really unnecessary! Thank you for sharing your perspective about not letting anyone make us feel guilty. Reading everyone's supportive responses here has really helped me shift from anxiety to gratitude for this program that's helping so many families. Your kids are lucky to have a parent who thinks so thoughtfully about their wellbeing and happiness!
I'm also brand new to CalFresh and this whole thread has been such a lifesaver! I was honestly terrified to even go grocery shopping because I kept hearing conflicting information from everyone. My aunt told me you couldn't buy anything "fun" with food stamps, but then my coworker said she buys soda all the time with her EBT card. It's been so confusing! Reading everyone's experiences here has really opened my eyes - I had no idea there was so much misinformation floating around about what CalFresh covers. I love that so many people shared their personal stories about getting over that initial anxiety. I think what really hits home for me is everyone talking about how kids deserve to feel normal and have treats sometimes. That's exactly what I want for my daughter - I don't want her to feel like we're different from other families just because we're going through a tough time right now. Thank you all for being so welcoming and informative. This community feels like such a safe space to ask questions without judgment, which is exactly what I needed as someone navigating this system for the first time!
Avery Davis
This thread is such a perfect example of why this community is so valuable! @Jordan Walker, I'm really glad you got everything sorted out through your BenefitsCal account. As someone who went through CalFresh application about a year ago, I had almost the exact same experience - the excitement of getting the card followed by the panic of seeing $0! What really helped me was learning that you can actually call the EBT customer service line and ask them to confirm your issuance date over the phone if you can't find your paperwork. They're usually much easier to reach than the county offices. Also, I wish someone had told me earlier that you can set up balance alerts through the ebtEDGE app - it sends you a notification as soon as your benefits load each month, which takes all the guesswork out of it. Those three questions from @Dyllan Nantx about issuance date, benefit amount, and expedited services are absolutely golden - I'm definitely sharing those with my sister who's applying next month. It's frustrating that such crucial information gets missed during approval calls, but at least we have this amazing community to fill in those gaps. Welcome to CalFresh, and I hope your first shopping trip goes smoothly!
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Javier Gomez
This whole thread has been so educational and reassuring! As someone who just submitted my CalFresh application last week, I'm taking notes on everything shared here. @Jordan Walker, I can only imagine how stressful that must have been - waiting months for approval only to think something went wrong with your card! It's such a relief that you found your approval letter in BenefitsCal and got it all figured out. Those three questions from @Dyllan Nantx are going to be game-changers for my approval call - I'm writing them down right now! It's honestly shocking how such important details like issuance dates get missed during those conversations, but this community is amazing for filling in all those gaps. I had no idea about the BenefitsCal portal having approval letters before they arrive by mail, or about the ebtEDGE app notifications. Even things like timing grocery shopping around store sales cycles - this thread is like a complete guide to navigating CalFresh successfully! Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and practical tips. It's incredible how one person's confusion turned into such a valuable resource for all of us new to the system.
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