CalFresh

Overview

CalFresh

The CalFresh program provides monthly benefits to assist low-income households with purchasing food and is one of the most critical poverty-fighting programs in communities. Known federally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, it is open to eligible legal noncitizens between the ages of 18 and 65. In California, nearly 2.5 million households receive CalFresh assistance to supplement their budgets.

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BUDGET FACT SHEET: First Responders to Poverty First Responders PREVENT HUNGER & to Poverty PROTECT CALFRESH FROM H.R. 1 CUTS
Investing in County Eligibility Workers Will Keep Californians Connected to Food Benefits

Beginning June 1, 2026, at least 1 in 5 CalFresh recipients are at risk of losing life-saving food assistance due to onerous new work requirements imposed by H.R. 1, which requires proof of 20 hours per week of work, job training, education, or community service. Work requirements are proven as a failed strategy to improve employment, while denying eligible people from accessing assistance, increasing costs to taxpayers, and pushing vulnerable populations deeper into poverty.

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PREVENT HUNGER & PROTECT CALFRESH FROM H.R. 1 CUTS & RISKS

The County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA) respectfully submits this memorandum to highlight three significant programmatic changes and emerging risks affecting CalFresh administration that will require targeted relief and strategic investments to ensure Californians can continue to access critical food assistance without disruption. 

Press release Carlos Marquez III

CWDA Applauds Lawsuit Demanding the Federal Government Tap Emergency Reserves to Keep Americans from Going Hungry
California has joined more than two dozen states in suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture over its refusal to use emergency reserves to fund the nation’s food stamp program

Sacramento, CA – The County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) of California issued the following statement from Executive Director Carlos Marquez III today on more than two dozen states, including California, filing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration for its refusal to use emergency reserves to fund the SNAP program, known in California as CalFresh, beginning November 1: 

Budget Priority

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Cash-Out Reversal Budget Memo

The County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA) strongly supports the reversal of the SSI Cash-out that was enacted as part of the 2018-19 budget to provide CalFresh benefits to individuals who were previously ineligible for the program due to receipt of SSI benefits. This momentous change will increase the food and economic security of an estimated 370,000 Californians.

Budget Priority

Disaster CalFresh Automation Budget Memo

The County Welfare Directors Association of California (CWDA) requests consideration and support for funding to automate Disaster CalFresh eligibility determinations and add related forms and notices and required state reports in the CalACES systems, which will ultimately become the CalSAWS system that will be used by all counties, as part of the 2019-20 budget.

Announcement

EBT System Will Be Down June 23 and June 24. Please Plan Ahead!

Please be aware that you WILL NOT be able to use your EBT card from 11:00 p.m. Saturday, June 23, 2018, until 11:00 p.m. Sunday, June 24, 2018. During this period, you will not be able to use any EBT benefits (food or cash).  Plan ahead for your shopping needs and for getting cash. Unfortunately, the EBT Customer Services telephone number won’t be available from 11:00 p.m. Saturday June 23, 2018 until 11:00 p.m.

Featured Content

USDA Proposes Policies to Improve Healthy Food Options for Low-income Families, Taking Comments

Lack of access to healthy food options is a reality that many families in low-income neighborhoods face. The 2014 Farm bill required the USDA to develop rules that would require retailers accepting SNAP benefits to provide a greater offering of “staple food groups,” including fruit and  vegetables, dairy, grains, and meat, poultry and fish.

Announcement

California Selected for National SNAP to Skills Project

California has been selected as one of 10 states to participate in the new “SNAP to Skills” project, designed to improve and expand local employment and training programs. 

Announcement

California Receives Federal Bonus for CalFresh Program Access Improvements

The California Department of Social Services and CWDA announced today (October 13) that California has been awarded a bonus of $6.4 million from the federal government for improving access to the CalFresh Program for low income individuals and families. 

Publication

California Continues to Improve SNAP Participation Rates

In February, the USDA-FNS released its annual estimate of SNAP Participation in its report, “Reaching Those in Need: Estimates of State Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation Rates in 2013.”  In California, estimates continue to increase every year; for FY 2013, the estimated rate is 66 percent. This percentage reflects yet another year of growth in our state’s participation rate, which has increased by fifteen percentage points since fiscal year 2010.

Training

CalFresh Data Dashboard Webinar

This webinar, held December 1, 2015, discussed changes being made to the CalFresh Data Dashboard, including the newly developed Program Reach Index, PRI, a measure of participation that attempts to account for undocumented immigrants and those on SSI. 

Training

CalFresh Payment Accuracy Rate Best Practices Webinar

The CalFresh error rate is an important performance measurement in the quality control process for the program. Three counties shared best practices for lowering error rates in this webinar from July 2015.