CalFresh

Available Services during Shelter-at-Home

  • Emergency Public Assistance Applications
    (phone interviews same day, except as noted above under general information)

    CalFresh Expedited
    CalWORKs Immediate Need and Temporary Homeless Assistance
    Medi-Cal emergencies
    Other cash programs such as General Assistance (GA) and Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI)

  • Public Assistance Applications (phone interviews)
    CalFresh
    CalWORKs
    Medi-Cal Intake
    County Medical Services Program (CMSP)

  • Benefit Card Issuance
    (emergencies – pick up by appointment)
    Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card issuance for CalWORKs and CalFresh recipients
    Benefits Identification Card (BIC) card issuance for Medi-Cal emergencies

  • General Information for the above programs
    • Add a person to an existing case (all programs)
    • Issuing supplements based on reported changes (CalWORKs and CalFresh)
    • Accepting phone calls, and responding to clients questions (any program)

Telephone Numbers for All Offices

  • Main: 707-253-4511 
  • Toll Free: 800-464-4214
  • TTY: 800-877-8339
  • CareerPoint: 707-253-4134

Information on impact to CalFresh & CalWORKs benefits due to COVID-19

In response to COVID-19, your CalWORKs and CalFresh Benefits will continue with no changes for March, April, May, and June 2020. This means that if your semiannual report form (SAR 7) or annual renewal that was due in March, April, or May 2020, will not have to be turned in or an interview completed. If you have turned in your March SAR 7 or renewal paperwork already, it will not be processed, and nothing will change. If your SAR 7 or renewal paperwork included information that would make your benefits go up, please call the county to report this information over the phone.

You must still report if your gross monthly income goes over your family’s Income Reporting Threshold (IRT). Also, if you report that your income has gone down, your benefit amount may go up. Call the county to find out what your IRT is, to report if your income goes down, or if you have any questions about your case.

Supplemental Emergency CalFresh Allotments for Current Customers

California was approved to provide emergency CalFresh allotments to existing households beginning in March-June 2020. The emergency allotments raise each household’s monthly CalFresh allotment to the maximum allowable benefits based on household size. Households already receiving the maximum allotment will not receive an emergency allotment. Emergency allotments for May will be issued on June 14, 2020 and June allotments will be issued to eligible CalFresh households on July 12, 2020.

Food Assistance: Apply Now!

CalFresh is California’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that provides assistance for households to purchase nutritious food. The program uses Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) to allow recipients to buy food (including seeds and seedlings to grow food) at retail stores and farmers markets using a plastic debit card. Visit the Official California CalFresh website.

As of April 28 CalFresh recipients can use EBT card online at Walmart.As of April 28, 2020 you can use your EBT card to make purchases online.
Individuals and families can purchase groceries online using their EBT card at Amazon and Walmart. If you receive CalWORKs, you may also be able to use your cash benefits to make purchases online at Walmart.

California expedited implementation of EBT online purchasing in response to COVID-19. Allowing for EBT online purchases will support vulnerable populations in meeting their nutrition needs, especially while a statewide stay at home order remains in place. California is actively working to expand the number of stores that accept EBT online in the future

CalFresh benefits cannot be used to pay delivery fees, but both Amazon and Walmart offer free delivery with grocery purchases of $35 or more.

For more information please see our Frequently Asked Questions 

Important Information

CalFresh Time Limits for Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs): Learn more about new work rules for some CalFresh applicants without dependents.

Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) Recipients are able to receive CalFresh benefits beginning in June 2019 if they meet all other eligibility criteria.

How Do I Apply for CalFresh?

Applying for CalFresh is easy! We can even accept an application with just your name, address, and phone number. You can apply online, in person, by mail or by fax.

  1. Submit an online application through C4Yourself.
  2. Pick up an application any weekday from 8 AM to 5 PM at our Self Sufficiency Services office, at:
    2751 Napa Valley Corporate Drive
    Building A
    Napa, CA 94558
  3. Call us at 707-253-4511 (toll-free at 800-464-4514) to ask us to mail an application to you. You can mail it or fax it back to us.
  4. Fax an application back to us at 707-253-6095.

Eligibility

Here are some of the things we look at when seeing if you may qualify for CalFresh:

  • Are you within program income limits? (See FAQs for income table)
  • Are you a U.S. citizen? or Are you a Legal Permanent Resident?
  • Who do you buy and cook your food with?

Proof

While an eligibility worker can tell you exactly what you will need, you may be asked to provide things like:

  • Identification (does not need to be a picture identification)
  • Social Security number
  • Proof of any income
  • Proof of expenses - rent, childcare, child support paid, medical expenses, etc.

Where Do I Turn in My Application?

  • Apply Online
  • Fax your application to 707-253-6095
  • Mail your application to one of our offices
  • Call us for help at 707-253-4511 (toll-free at 800-464-4514)