Millions of Californians rely on CalFresh food benefits to support their families, and staying informed about critical deadlines is essential to ensure uninterrupted assistance. As the recertification window for May 2025 closes, thousands of recipients may face benefit suspension if they missed key deadlines. Here’s everything you need to know about the recertification process, food stamp deposit dates, and benefit amounts in California this May.
What Is CalFresh Recertification?
CalFresh, California’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), requires recipients to complete recertification periodically to maintain eligibility. This process ensures that recipients still meet income, household size, and residency requirements.
For those whose certification period ended in May 2025, the recertification deadline was set for April 10, 2025. Households that did not submit their recertification forms and complete an interview by this date are at risk of benefits being suspended or terminated beginning May 10, 2025.
Failure to recertify on time means the household must reapply entirely, which could cause delays in receiving benefits. According to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), timely recertification is the only way to avoid disruption in your benefits. You can find more information about the process at the official BenefitsCal portal.
What to Do If You Missed the Deadline?
If you missed your recertification deadline, immediate action is necessary. The first step is to contact your local county CalFresh office. Staff can guide you on the next steps, which typically include filing a new application. You may visit your nearest county office or apply directly through the BenefitsCal portal.
After applying, recipients must complete an eligibility interview, which can be done either over the phone or in person. This interview is a standard part of the process where you will provide updated details regarding income, household size, and expenses.
Delays in application or interview completion will directly impact when benefits can resume, potentially causing hardship for affected families.
CalFresh Deposit Schedule for May 2025
Even for those who successfully recertified or applied for benefits recently, knowing the deposit dates is crucial for household budgeting. CalFresh benefits are issued monthly and follow a staggered schedule based on the last digit of the recipient’s case number.
Here is the official deposit schedule for May 2025, as reported by Propel App:
- Case number ending in 1: May 1
- Case number ending in 2: May 2
- Case number ending in 3: May 3
- Case number ending in 4: May 4
- Case number ending in 5: May 5
- Case number ending in 6: May 6
- Case number ending in 7: May 7
- Case number ending in 8: May 8
- Case number ending in 9: May 9
- Case number ending in 0: May 10
Benefits are typically deposited to recipients’ EBT cards by midnight on the assigned date. It’s important to plan purchases accordingly, especially since delays in recertification could result in missed deposits for the month.
Maximum CalFresh Benefit Amounts for May 2025
The benefit amount for each household depends on factors like household size, income, and allowable expenses. According to the latest update from Futbolete, the maximum monthly CalFresh benefit amounts for May 2025 are:
- 1 person: $292
- 2 people: $536
- 3 people: $768
- 4 people: $975
- 5 people: $1,158
- 6 people: $1,390
- 7 people: $1,536
- 8 people: $1,756
For households larger than eight, an additional $219 is provided per additional member.
It’s important to remember that these are maximum amounts, and actual benefits may vary based on household income and deductions.
No Emergency Allotments Anymore
It is worth noting that the COVID-19 emergency allotments, which temporarily boosted CalFresh benefits, ended in March 2023. Since then, recipients have only received their regular SNAP-calculated amounts based on household size and income eligibility.
This means that any increase or reduction in your benefit amount after May 2023 is likely due to changes in your household circumstances, not extra pandemic-related suppor.
How to Avoid Suspension in the Future?
To avoid a gap in benefits during the next recertification cycle:
- Keep your contact details updated with your county office.
- Monitor mail and online notices closely for recertification alerts.
- Start the recertification process as soon as you receive the notice.
- Complete the interview promptly to finalize your eligibility.
Many counties also offer email and text notifications to remind recipients of upcoming deadlines. Staying proactive can prevent the stress of sudden benefit suspensions.
Conclusion
The May 2025 CalFresh recertification window has closed, and those who missed the deadline must act quickly to restore their benefits. Recipients should also keep a close watch on their EBT deposits from May 1 to May 10, based on their case number. Knowing the exact deposit schedule and benefit amounts can help families plan their monthly grocery budgets more effectively.
For the most updated information, households are encouraged to visit the BenefitsCal website or contact their county’s CalFresh office.