The CalFresh benefit distribution schedule for September 2025 has been officially established. Funds will be transferred to beneficiary accounts throughout the first ten days of the month, following a predetermined sequence. This sequence depends solely on the last digit of each recipient’s case number.
Deposits are made to Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) accounts, and funds are released before midnight on the corresponding date.
What’s CalFresh and who can get the benefits?
CalFresh is California’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Its operational function is to provide food assistance to individuals and households with limited incomes, using the EBT card system.
Statistics for mid-2025 show that more than five million California residents are using this program. This figure makes it the largest nutrition assistance initiative in the United States. The annual federal funding allocated to the program exceeds twelve billion dollars, resources that are directly incorporated into the state’s economy.
Below is a list of the CalFresh payment dates for September 2025, based on the last digit of the case number:
- September 1, 2025: Case number ends in 1
- September 2, 2025: Case number ends in 2
- September 3, 2025: Case number ends in 3
- September 4, 2025: Case number ends in 4
- September 5, 2025: Case number ends in 5
- September 6, 2025: Case number ends in 6
- September 7, 2025: Case number ends in 7
- September 8, 2025: Case number ends in 8
- September 9, 2025: Case number ends in 9
- September 10, 2025: Case number ends in 0
CalFresh benefits maximums are equal to SNAP
The maximum CalFresh benefit amounts for 2025, which align with federal SNAP limits, are determined based on household size. These amounts are reviewed and updated annually, based on federally defined parameters.
For fiscal year 2025, the maximum monthly CalFresh allocations, categorized by household size, are as follows:
- For single-person households, $291
- For households of 3 people, $536
- For households of 3 people, $768
- For households of 4 people, $975
- For households of 5 people, $1,157
- For households of 6 people, $1,390
- For households of 7 people, $1,536
- For households of 8 people, $1,756
- For households with more than 8 members, an additional $220 is added for each additional person.
Demographic profile of CalFresh beneficiaries
The demographic makeup of the program’s recipients reflects the diversity of California’s population, although some specific groups are overrepresented. The Latino community represents approximately 60% of beneficiaries statewide. This percentage contrasts with its 39% representation in California’s general population.
Research focused on food insecurity indicates that Latino households face specific challenges. “Nearly 48% of these low-income households report difficulty obtaining sufficient food. This figure compares to a rate of 45% for all low-income adults.”
Currently, a package of reforms nearing implementation stems from federal legislation passed in 2025. This legislation, often referred to by sources as the Republican reconciliation bill, establishes the most significant cuts in the history of the SNAP program. The adjustments entail an approximate reduction of $186 billion in funding over the next decade, effective through 2034. The core modifications will begin their implementation phase in January 2027.
Changes in access requirements
A significant change involves reducing federal contributions to SNAP or CalFresh. This measure will require states to cover the resulting shortfall from their own budgets or, alternatively, pass the cuts directly on to beneficiaries.
Preliminary estimates suggest this could result in lower monthly benefits for millions of people. Nationally, the total cut is estimated at $300 billion. In isolation, the program in California could lose billions.
The new regulations also tighten eligibility criteria, particularly for adults without disabilities and those under 65 without young children. Beneficiaries must demonstrate an increase in hours spent working, volunteering, or training, with a minimum of 80 hours per month. Additional bureaucratic procedures are being implemented to verify compliance with these requirements.
