The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as CalFresh in California, is one of the most effective ways to combat childhood hunger in America. The CalFresh program supplements a family’s food budget in order to ensure they are getting adequate nutrition.
CalFresh is proud to play a critical role in reducing hunger and poverty and improving health by providing nutrition assistance to millions of low-income households through an array of vital services. CalFresh has the power to reduce hunger, support health, expand opportunity, and even respond to disasters. CalFresh provides monthly grocery benefits to help households purchase the food they need if eligible.
Available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese.
Call the CalFresh Benefits Helpline at
1-877-847-3663 (FOOD)
Available in English, Spanish, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Russian.
For speech and/or hearing assistance call 711 Relay.
Find your county office contact.
Interpretation services available in all languages.
Reasonable accommodations available.
CalFresh (SNAP) is for people with low-income who meet federal income eligibility rules and want to add to their budget to put healthy and nutritious food on the table.
A CalFresh Household may be a family, an individual, or any combination that purchases food and prepares meals together. A child living with parents cannot be a separate household until age 22.
Citizens of the United States or non-citizens who are legally residing in the U.S. are eligible to apply for CalFresh. Non-citizen parents may be able to receive benefits for their children who are citizens. Some income and property limits are reviewed to see if the CalFresh household is eligible. Property used as a home is exempt from property limits.
Public charge rules do not apply to programs like CalFresh, Summer EBT, WIC, and school meal programs. Getting CalFresh will not affect your immigration status, or your chances of getting legal permanent residency in the future. For more information about immigration and public benefits, visit KeepYourBenefits.org.
**CalFresh food benefits will NOT risk your Immigration Status**
If you have questions or problems with your CalFresh benefits, contact your county social services agency.
The CalFresh Program, federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), issues monthly electronic benefits that can be used to buy most foods at many markets and food stores. The CalFresh Program helps to improve the health and well-being of qualified households and individuals by providing them a means to meet their nutritional needs.
If you lost food due to an emergency like fires, natural disasters and/or power outages, you may be eligible for Replacement CalFresh.
If you are eligible for CalFresh, you may be eligible for:
For immediate food assistance, find your local food bank. You can also call 2-1-1, a resource helpline for referrals for childcare, affordable housing or shelter, cash assistance, healthcare and more.
Talk to a local expert on public benefits and immigration. Immigrants who can get CalFresh benefits still need to meet the regular CalFresh income guidelines.
As trusted messengers, schools are important places to connect children and families at your school with CalFresh benefits. Visit our CalFresh in Schools page for resources and toolkits.
Last Reviewed: May 17, 2024