This week, May’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are due to start going out in the U.S. state of California.

Kevin Wurm

SNAP benefits

CalFresh benefits are being paid on Friday, May 1: who gets a California SNAP payment?

William Allen

Journalist and translator, AS USA

British journalist and translator who joined Diario AS in 2013. Focuses on soccer – chiefly the Premier League, LaLiga, the Champions League, the Liga MX and MLS. On occasion, also covers American sports, general news and entertainment. Fascinated by the language of sport – particularly the under-appreciated art of translating cliché-speak.

Update: Apr 28th, 2026 08:11 EDT

At the end of this week, certain Californian beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - better known by its acronym SNAP - are due to get their monthly payment for May 2026.

A U.S.-wide food-stamps scheme that benefited around 5.5 million Californians per month in 2024/25, SNAP is a federal program - but the distribution of funds is managed at state level.

In the Golden State, SNAP is run by the California Department of Social Services, under the name CalFresh.

Who is receiving CalFresh benefits on Friday, May 1?

In California, SNAP beneficiaries are typically issued their monthly money between the 1st and 10th of the month, depending on their CalFresh case number.

On Friday, May 1, CalFresh benefits are to be sent out to recipients whose CalFresh case number ends in 1.

CalFresh - monthly payment schedule

Case no. ends in 1: paid on 1st of month
Case no. ends in 2: paid on 2nd of month
Case no. ends in 3: paid on 3rd of month
Case no. ends in 4: paid on 4th of month
Case no. ends in 5: paid on 5th of month
Case no. ends in 6: paid on 6th of month
Case no. ends in 7: paid on 7th of month
Case no. ends in 8: paid on 8th of month
Case no. ends in 9: paid on 9th of month
Case no. ends in 0: paid on 10th of month

How much are CalFresh payments?

Maximum monthly CalFresh amounts depend on how many people live in a claimant’s household.

1 member: $298
2 members: $546
3 members: $785
4 members: $994
5 members: $1,183
6 members: $1,421
7 members: $1,571
8 members: $1,789
Each additional member: +$218

How are CalFresh benefits paid?

Monthly payments are loaded onto the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, a debit card that can be used to purchase groceries at participating stores.

May benefits start on Friday: who gets paid?

SNAP

When are SNAP benefits paid out in the U.S. in May 2026? Find out the complete payment schedule

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