CalFresh is California’s state version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides modest monthly assistance to Californians with low incomes to purchase food. Established in its modern form in 1977, CalFresh aims to fight hunger and keep Californians out of poverty, and it has expanded to provide food assistance to over 5 million people.
Who is eligible for CalFresh?
Eligible Californians must meet certain income and asset criteria to qualify for food assistance. CalFresh generally provides benefits to households with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level.
Benefits are disbursed monthly on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card that can be used at grocery stores or farmers’ markets that accept EBT cards. The benefits a household receives depend on household size, income, and monthly expenses, such as child care.
The California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) was established in 1997 to provide state-funded benefits to noncitizens who do not qualify for federally funded CalFresh benefits. CalFresh is available to certain groups of immigrants, but it is not currently available to undocumented immigrants.
What's New
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Fact Sheet
H.R. 1’s SNAP Rules Will Harm Californians Experiencing Homelessness
key takeaway For most Californians experiencing homelessness, CalFresh (SNAP) is among the few safety net programs that consistently provide basic access to food. Under the Republican megabill H.R. 1, arbitrary time limits and work requirements threaten food assistance for unhoused adults ages 18–64 without a disabling condition or dependents. Many Californians experiencing homelessness rely on …CalFreshFederal PolicyHousing & Homelessness -
Data Hit
USDA Refusal to Fund November CalFresh Benefits Threatens Food Security for 5.5 Million Californians
Over 5.5 million Californians depend on CalFresh — California’s name for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — to put food on the table every month. CalFresh provides modest monthly food assistance and, as one of the few means-tested programs that reaches almost all low-income people, is the state’s most important anti-hunger tool. In 2023, …CalFreshHealth & Safety Net -
Data Hit
Federal Funding Cuts to SNAP (CalFresh) Will Have Sweeping Impacts on Californians
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or CalFresh in California, helps fight hunger by providing modest food assistance to over 5 million Californians with low incomes. Research shows that SNAP assistance helps improve the health and well-being of participants while also powering local economies. However, the recently enacted harmful Republican megabill (H.R. 1) includes historic …CalFreshFederal PolicyHealth & Safety Net -
Report
How Federal and State Budget Cuts Threaten Latinx Californians
key takeaway Federal budget cuts to essential services threaten to worsen long-standing inequities for Latinx Californians and immigrants, underscoring the urgent need for state leaders to protect communities through stronger investments and fairer tax policies. Access to affordable health care, child care, housing, and food is necessary for all Californians to thrive. However, congressional members …CalFreshCalWORKsMedi-CalPoverty & Inequality -
Report
How Republican-Led Budget Cuts Could Impact Californians in Every Congressional District
Access to affordable health care, housing, and nutritious food is necessary for all Californians to thrive. But Republican federal budget proposals would pave the way for deep and harmful cuts that would take health coverage, nutrition assistance, and other essentials away from millions of Californians who are already struggling to make ends meet in the …CalFreshFederal Policy
