What is CalFresh?

CalFresh is a program that helps individuals and families to buy nutritious groceries and support their well-being.

CalFresh is California’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Previously called Food Stamps, CalFresh is financial assistance that is received on a monthly basis to use to purchase grocery items. CalFresh benefits are provided monthly on an Electronic Benefits Transfer card, also known as an EBT card.

Apply For CalFresh Now

View Preescreening Information (PDF)

 

Getting Started

Learn more about CalFresh and the application process.

To be qualified as a student in the CalFresh program, you must:

  • Be between the ages of 18-49 years 
  • Are physically and mentally “fit” for employment.
  • Enrolled at least half-time (6 units or more).


CalFresh Student status also requires the student meet at least one of the following requirements:

  • Working and getting paid for at least 20 hours per week OR a total of 80 hours a month on average
  • Approved (or awarded or accepted) for federal or state work study, anticipates working, and have not refused a work assignment (can still be eligible even if a work-study job has not begun or is not currently available)
  • Students attending CSU, UC or private university receiving Cal Grant A OR B, and that have received a letter from the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) noting that they might be eligible for CalFresh benefits
  • Enrolled in Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) or in a Local Program that Increases Employ-ability (LPIE)
  • Exerting parental control over a dependent household member under the age of 6 OR between the age of 6 and 12 with no adequate childcare (as determined by the county on a case-by-case basis) OR are a single par-ent of a dependent household member under the age of 12
  • Participating in the CalFresh Employment and Training Program (CFET) or Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS), or be a recipient of CalWORKs or Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)
Other Things to Consider
  • International, DACA, and DREAM students will not be eligible, even with a work VISA/Social Security Number.
  • Out-of-state students can still be eligible for CalFresh Food if they are residing in California for the school year.

View information/download as a PDF

These are some general questions to consider before applying for CalFresh:

  • How many people do you purchase and prepare food with?

  • Based on your household size, are you under the gross monthly income limit? Please refer to the chart below.
Number of People In Household Gross Monthly Income Limit CalFresh Allotment Range

1

$2,510 

$23 - $292

2

$3,408

$23 - $536

3

$4,304 

$23 - $768

4

$5,200 

$23 - $975

5

$6,098

$23 - $1,158

Household = a person living alone or a group of people living together who purchase and prepare food together.  


BASIC ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 

  1. Who does applicant purchase and prepare food with? Use number of people in household to determine which row to use on the chart above.  
  2. Is household under the gross monthly income limit? If yes, go to next question. If no, household is likely not eligible for CalFresh benefits. 
  3. Does household include at least one US citizen, a person with a Green Card, or lawful permanent resident (LPR)? If yes, go to next question. If no, household is likely not eligible for CalFresh benefits.
  4. Does anyone in household receive the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)? If yes, household will not be eligible for CalFresh. 
  5. Is anyone in household provided less than half (10 or less) meals per week from another source (like a campus meal plan)? If yes, they may still likely be eligible for CalFresh benefits.
  6. Is anyone in household physically/mentally unable to work and/or is receiving disability benefits from any source? If yes, skip the next student question and then apply. If no, go to the next question.
  7. Is anyone in household a college student per CalFresh guidelines: enrolled at least half-time and between ages of 18-49? If yes, please see below for additional student eligibility information. 

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 
CalFresh Student status also requires the student meet at least one of the following requirements:

  • Working and getting paid for at least 20 hours per week OR a total of 80 hours a month on average
  • Approved (or awarded or accepted) for federal or state work study, anticipates working, and have not refused a work assignment (can still be eligible even if a work-study job has not begun or is not currently available)
  • Students attending CSU, UC or private university receiving Cal Grant A OR B, and that have received a letter from the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) noting that they might be eligible for CalFresh benefits
  • Enrolled in Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) or in a Local Program that Increases Employ-ability (LPIE)
  • Exerting parental control over a dependent household member under the age of 6 OR between the age of 6 and 12 with no adequate childcare (as determined by the county on a case-by-case basis) OR are a single par-ent of a dependent household member under the age of 12
  • Participating in the CalFresh Employment and Training Program (CFET) or Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS), or be a recipient of CalWORKs or Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)

Other Things to Consider
  • International, DACA, and DREAM students will not be eligible, even with a work VISA/Social Security Number.
  • Out-of-state students can still be eligible for CalFresh Food if they are residing in California for the school year.


View information/download as a PDF

You can apply through GetCalFresh.org in as little as 10 minutes.

Applications on the website are available in English, Spanish, and Chinese languages.

  1. Complete an application with verification documents.
  2. Complete a phone interview with a county eligibility worker within 1-2 weeks.
  3. If approved, you'll receive an EBT card with money for groceries on it in the mail within 30 days of applying.

You will need to provide the following documents to apply for 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 above documents are also required for anyone you live with that you purchase and prepare food with.

Additional documents may help your application be approved:

  • Proof of housing expenses.
  • Proof of child support paid.
  • Proof of child/dependent care paid.
  • If you are 60+ or disabled, proof of medical expenses.

If you have difficulties providing some proof, there may be other options that the eligibility worker may be able to provide.

Where Can I Buy With CalFresh?

 

Grocery Stores

CalFresh benefits can be used to purchase fresh food from grocery stores including fruits, vegetables, meats, and food items that have a nutritional label. At checkout, grocery stores can automatically detect what items can be purchase with CalFresh benefits using an EBT card.

CalFresh benefits can even be used for online grocery purchases at participating locations (excluding any delivery fees).

Farmer's Markets

CalFresh benefits can be used at participating farmer's markets, where they will match your usage up to $20 per visit. For example, if you use $20 of CalFresh benefits they will give you an additional $20 to use at that farmer's market on the same visit.

Visit the Market Match website for program details and a map of participating farmer's markets.

Los Angeles County has an additional ARP Market Match program that will match $5 to $40 of CalFresh or WIC benefits at participating locations for fresh fruits and vegetables. 

Frequently Asked Questions

If you live with your parents or guardians and are age 21 or younger, you are required to include your parents/guardians on the application.

If you are age 22 or above living with your parents or guardians and do not purchase and share food with them, you may be able to apply for CalFresh on your own.

If you live with roommates, you will need to include them on the application if you purchase and share food with any of them.

It depends.

If a household has at least one person, including children, who is eligible for CalFresh, then benefits may be approved.

If you are a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR; and also known as green card holders) you may be eligible for CalFresh. 

People who have Refugee status, a U-Visa, or a T-Visa may be eligible for CalFresh.

If you are an international student on an F-1 visa, unfortunately, you are not likely to be eligible for CalFresh, but there may be other food support available to you.

Students who are undocumented may not be eligible, but there are other food supports available to you. If you have at least one eligible person in your household, the household may be approved for CalFresh.

Many conditions and verifications cover a range of circumstances, but it is always okay to apply for benefits and let them work with you to cover all those situations.

If you are concerned that applying to CalFresh will be considered a "public charge" at a later time, there is guidance from the state and federal government to refer to.

There is a Restaurant Meals Program in CalFresh that allows people to use their CalFresh benefits at participating restaurants. Only people under certain circumstances are eligible.

Those conditions are at least one of the following:

  • an adult aged 60 or older.

  • a person with a disability.

  • the spouse of an individual that belongs to one of the above categories.

  • a person experiencing homelessness.

Contact your CalFresh eligibility worker to report those conditions.