CalFresh: Food stamp payment dates in California in December 2023
Beneficiaries of CalFresh, the largest food program in California, will soon start receiving their benefits for December. Here are the exact payment dates.
Every month, the government of California sends CalFresh or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to certain families.
CalFresh provides benefits to low-income families to purchase certain foods. Financial aid is deposited onto an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which works like a debit card for purchases at authorized retailers. Here are the payment dates for the month of December
CalFresh payment dates in December
In California, CalFresh benefits or food stamps are deposited onto EBT cards during the first 10 days of each month. The exact mailing date is determined based on the last digit of the case number of each beneficiary.
This is the CalFresh benefit payment schedule for December 2023:
| Last digit of case number | Payment date |
| 1 | December 1 |
| 2 | December 2 |
| 3 | December 3 |
| 4 | December 4 |
| 5 | December 5 |
| 6 | December 6 |
| 7 | December 7 |
| 8 | December 8 |
| 9 | December 9 |
| 0 | December 10 |
Benefits are also sent on weekends and holidays. Additionally, any remaining balance on your EBT card from the previous month is added to the next month's balance.
READ ALSO: SNAP: Payment dates for December 2023
CalFresh: How much money is deposited each month?
The amounts sent depend on household size, as well as other income factors and other requirements. In California, the average payment for a member is $196 per month. On the other hand, these are the maximum amounts granted in the state:
- 1 household member: $291
- 2 members: $535
- 3 members: $766
- 4 members: $973
- 5 members: $1,155
- 6 members: $1,386
- 7 members: $1,532
- 8 members: $1.1751
- Additional member: +$219
READ ALSO: How to calculate the Social Security benefit reduction
What can and cannot be purchased with the EBT card?
The EBT card can be used only to purchase certain foods at any location that accepts coupons or CalFresh. These are the supermarkets that accept the purchase of items with the EBT card in California, according to Food and Nutrition Service.
- Albertsons
- ALDI
- Amazon
- Andronico's Community Markets
- Big Square
- Brothers Marketplace
- Cardenas Markets
- Co-opportunity Market
- ExtraMile by Jacksons
- Food 4 Less (Kroger)
- Food 4 Less (PAQ)
- FoodMaxx
- Foods Co
- Glen Ellen Village Market
- Gong’s IGA Market
- Island Pacific Market
- Jacksons Food Stores
- Jimbo's Naturally
- Lucky Supermarkets
- Mar Val Foods
- Northgate Markets
- Pavilions
- Raley’s
- Ralphs
- Rancho San Miguel Markets
- Safeway
- Sam's Club Scan and Go
- Save Mart Supermarkets
- Sprouts Farmers Market
- Stater Bros.
- Super King Market
- Superior Grocers
- Target
- The Market by Superior
- Victory Produces
- Vons
- Walmart
- Whole Foods
According to the Food and Nutrition Service website, you can buy any food for the home, such as the following items:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Meat, poultry and fish
- Dairy products
- Breads and cereals;
- Other foods such as snacks and non-alcoholic drinks
- Seeds and plants, which produce food for the home
On the other hand, beneficiaries cannot use the EBT card to purchase beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco, vitamins, medications and supplements, hot food or any non-food item, such as cleaning supplies and items for hygiene.