This week brings excellent news for California residents, as a new payment from the CalFresh program will be distributed soon.
CalFresh is California’s food stamp program, which operates similarly to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in other states, with the same purpose of assisting low-income families in purchasing nutritious household food.
The concept aims to improve access to nutritious meals and reduce food insecurity by giving a monthly direct deposit via an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card that may be used at participating grocery retailers, subject to normal limits.
The EBT card cannot be used to purchase hot prepared foods, vitamins, alcoholic beverages, non-food items such as pet food and household supplies, nicotine, supplements, other non-food commodities.
When will eligible recipients receive their CalFresh benefits in January 2025?
CalFresh payments are issued in the first 10 days of each month, and the majority of the paperwork you get from your county should include your case number.
You can also access your BenefitsCal account online. CalFresh benefit distribution dates in California are distributed consecutively during the first 10 days of each month, and are defined by the recipient’s case number’s final digit.
- January 1st: the last digit of the case number ends in 1
- January 2nd: the last digit of the case number ends in 2
- January 3rd: the last digit of the case number ends in 3
- January 4th: the last digit of the case number ends in 4
- January 5th: the last digit of the case number ends in 5
- January 6th: the last digit of the case number ends in 6
- January 7th: the last digit of the case number ends in 7
- January 8th: the last digit of the case number ends in 8
- January 9th: the last digit of the case number ends in 9
- January 10th: the last digit of the case number ends in 0
To guarantee correct benefit application and avoid penalties or disruptions, CalFresh recipients should prepare ahead of time, select recognized vendors, and avoid unapproved purchases.
How can you become eligible for the CalFresh program?
- Get General Relief or CalWORKS.
- Make little or no money
- possess a small amount of property
- Get your State Supplementary Payment or Supplemental Security Income (SSI/SSP).
- are citizens or lawful residents of the United States
- An immigrant who fulfills the following requirements:
- Under the Trafficking and Crime Victim Assistance Program (TCVAP), eligible non-citizen victims of human trafficking who have applied for or plan to apply for a T-Visa, as well as victims of domestic abuse and other serious crimes who have applied for a U-Visa, can receive financial aid, food assistance, employment services, and health care assistance.
Remember that T-Visa, U-Visa non-citizens, and Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA) self-petitioners do not need to provide a Social Security number while applying for CalFresh.
They must, however, meet additional CalFresh eligibility requirements, such as having a specific income.
Which methods are available to apply for CalFresh benefits?
Additionally, you can use the following techniques to apply for CalFresh benefits:
- You can do so in person with any CalFresh Outreach partners,
- via a drop box at any DPSS District Office,
- by mail to any nearby DPSS District Office,
- or by fax at (310) 215-8220.
Finally, keep in mind that the program’s customer service operation is only open from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. To apply for CalFresh online without internet access, follow this link to find the nearest internet hotspot!