The amount of CalFresh you get depends on many things, including your household's size, income, and costs. The average CalFresh household gets over $300 each month.
For issues or complaints involving your case, or for other questions, please send an e-mail to Public Inquiry and Response piar@dss.ca.gov or contact them by phone at 1-800-952-5253.
In California, most households have a 12-month certification period. Some household with elderly or disabled members have a 24 month certification period. Households that only have elderly and/or disabled members and no earned income are certified for 36 months.
The easier and quickest way to apply for CalFresh is online at Your Benefits Now! Apply by Telephone! You can apply by phone. Call the Customer Service Center (CSC) (866) 613-3777 to have an application mailed to you.
Income Guidelines October 1, 2019 – September 30, 2020
| Household Size | Gross Monthly Income |
|---|
| 1 | $2,082 |
| 2 | $2,820 |
| 3 | $3,556 |
| 4 | $4,292 |
Here's a list of their restaurants that accept EBT in California:
- Burger King.
- Carl Jr.
- Earl of Sandwich.
- El Pollo Loco.
- Gaby's Taqueria.
- Straw Hat Pizza.
- Subway.
- Wingstop.
Before you shop, check your balance by looking at your last receipt, by calling Customer Service, toll-free at 1-877-328-9677 or at www.ebt.ca.gov. This balance will be the most you can spend with your card.
Your SNAP benefits do not expire at the end of each month. If your SNAP case is closed for some reason, you still have the right to use any remaining benefits in your EBT account before the case closed.
This includes
documents like your ID, paystubs, or rent receipts.
These documents are usually required to get CalFresh:
- A copy of your ID.
- Proof of any income.
- Proof of immigration status (for non-citizens).
- Proof of student status (for college students).
The CalFresh office can contact these types of individuals to confirm admissions by the household. For example, the CalFresh office might ask an employer to send a letter confirming wages. That said, when contacting references, case workers should avoid disclosing that a household has applied for CalFresh benefits.
During part of the interview, usually at the beginning, the interviewer will ask for proof of the personal details provided on your application. You will be asked to verify your legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, date of birth, citizenship status and address.
CalFresh cannot be used to buy:
- Alcohol, tobacco, cigarettes;
- Non-food items (pet food, toilet paper, diapers, soap, etc.);
- Vitamins and medicine;
- Foods that will be eaten in the store; and.
- Hot foods (unless your county participates in the Restaurant Meals Program).
You can report changes online by creating an account. Go to BenefitsCal.org to find the right site for your county. If you can't find your EBT card, call the California EBT hotline as soon as you can: 1-877-328-9677.
FACT: CalFresh is an entitlement program and is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). FACT: CalFresh is not welfare and it is not cash aid. It is funded by USDA.
CalFresh is not the same as CalWORKs or welfare. You will not have to pay any money back unless you are overpaid. You do not need to report CalFresh on your tax return. You can get CalFresh even if you get money from a job, disability, unemployment, Social Security, CalWORKs, General Assistance or retirement.
Do I have to use all my CalFresh benefits in month I get them, or do they carry over into the next month? Benefits left on your CalFresh card at the end of the month WILL be there for you the next month.
If the person is not currently receiving CalFresh benefits, the CalFresh office will ask them to make arrangements to pay back the overissuance voluntarily through installment payments, lump sum payments or unemployment benefit intercepts.
Will CalFresh affect my Financial Aid? No. You are not required to report your CalFresh Benefits on your FAFSA application.
While you're applying for CalWORKs, you can also apply for CalFresh (formerly Food Stamps) and Medi-Cal. If you are not eligible for CalWORKs you may apply for General Assistance/General Relief.
If you are considered a student, you can get CalFresh if you:
- Work at least 20 hours per week, on average, OR.
- Are approved for state or federal work-study money and anticipate working during the term, OR.
- Are a full-time student with a child under age 12, OR.
- A part-time student with a child under age 6, OR.
Who is eligible for CalFresh? You have a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $3,001 and share your household with one of the following: a person or persons age 60 and over or. a person with a disability (a child, your spouse, a parent, or yourself).
Getting CalFresh does not affect your ability to get citizenship. This is because the public charge test is not a part of the process of applying for citizenship. It also does not affect most people applying for a green card, except in very rare cases.
