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Your county handles applications, interviews, and benefit decisions. Use this tool to find your local county office.

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  • The information on this page is current as of July 2, 2025.
  • The information on this page is current as of June 1, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

  • Get food now​

For immediate food assistance, find your local food bank. You can also call 2-1-1 for help finding local services like food, housing, childcare, healthcare, and cash assistance.

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Apply for CalFresh

What’s BenefitsCal?

BenefitsCal is the State of California’s official online benefits application. You can use it to apply for food benefits (CalFresh), cash aid (CalWORKs), and health coverage (Medi-Cal).

Your county worker will figure out if you qualify based on:

  • Income 

How much money your household makes from jobs or other sources (like Social Security, unemployment, SSI/SSDI).  To learn more about the income limits, read the Propel Guide to EBT in California.

  • Expenses 

What you spend on rent, utilities, child support, etc.

  • Household size 

Who you live with and make or buy food with.

Because eligibility is complex, we recommend you contact your county worker if you have questions. To apply online visit BenefitsCal.

Your county has 30 days to approve or deny your case. You might qualify for faster, expedited service (emergency benefits) if you have a very low income and little or no money saved. If you haven’t heard from your county after two weeks, or need to contact your county office, you can find their phone number here.

After you submit your CalFresh application, your county will review it and follow up if they need more information. Here is what usually happens:

  • Confirmation

Your county receives your application.

  • Timeline

Most applications are processed within 30 days. If you have very little income or cash on hand, you may qualify for Expedited Service (emergency benefits), which gets you benefits within 3 days.

  • Interview

Households must complete an eligibility interview. A county worker will call you, but you can also request an in-person interview. During the interview, a county worker will review your application and ask about your household, income, and expenses.

  • Verification

Your county worker may ask for “proof”, like your ID, income, or housing and utility costs. You can upload documents online to your BenefitsCal account, mail them, or drop them off at your county office.

  • Decision

You will get a Notice of Action by mail. If you have a BenefitsCal account, you may also get it in your BenefitsCal message center. It will tell you if you were approved and how much you will get.

  • Approval and EBT card

If approved, you will receive an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card to access your funds. Your PIN will be mailed separately. You can also request to pick up your EBT card in person at the county office.

No, but it is highly recommended.

You can apply for CalFresh without an account, but creating an account can make it easier to:

  • Save your application progress
  • Upload documents
  • Check your application status
  • Receive digital notices
  • Report changes
  • Renew your benefits later

 

If you don’t create an account, your county can still contact you by phone or mail if they need more information.

If you do not want to submit documents online, you can also submit them by mail or fax, or drop them off at your local county office. You can find your county’s address and other contact info here: [insert link to county contact page]

The documents you need to submit depend on your situation. When you apply on benefitscal.com, you will be given a list of recommended documents to submit. These documents are usually required to get CalFresh:

  • A copy of your ID
  • Proof of any income
  • Proof of immigration status (for non-citizens)
  • Proof of student status (for college students). For example, a class schedule, enrollment letter, or financial aid award letter
 

These documents are optional, but can increase your benefit amount:

  • Proof of housing expenses
  • Proof of child support that you pay
  • Proof of child/dependent care that you pay for
  • If you are 60+ or disabled, proof of medical expenses.
 

If you can’t get proof, the CalFresh office will generally accept a written statement explaining your situation – make sure it is signed and dated.

When completing your application through benefitscal.com, the application will ask:

“Are you a person with a disability and need help to apply?” and, “Are you a person who is deaf or hard of hearing?”

You can indicate “yes” to let the county know that you need additional accommodations.

If you need language help or disability accommodations, the county must provide them. If you need assistance with submitting your application, you can reach out to your county directly for additional support.

It’s okay. Your county case worker may try to call you again in the next couple of days. You can also call your county to reschedule your interview by leaving a voicemail.

Make sure you pick up all calls until you’re finished applying. Calls from the county may come from a blocked, unknown, or “Spam Likely” number.

Your CalFresh household is not just everyone you live with. It usually means the people you buy and prepare food with.

For example:

  • If you live with roommates and buy and cook your own food, you can usually apply on your own.
  • If you are under 22 and live with your parent(s), you must apply together, even if you are in college.
  • If you are 22 or older and live with your parent(s), you can usually apply on your own if you buy and cook your own food.
  • You must include your spouse if you live together, even if you buy and prepare food separately.
  • Children under 22 who live with a parent or legal guardian must usually be included in the same household.
 

If you are not sure who to include, don’t worry. You can list everyone you live with on your application. During your interview, your county worker will help see who counts as part of your CalFresh household.

Yes. Some college students can get CalFresh.

You must meet the regular eligibility criteria (like income and citizenship). You must also meet at least one of the student eligibility rules below:

  • Be enrolled at least half-time at a public college in California
  • Attend a business, technical, trade, or vocational school
  • Be enrolled less than half-time (students enrolled less than half-time usually do not have to meet student eligibility rules)
  • Taking only non-credit courses
  • Be age 17 or younger or age 50 or older
  • Work an average of 20 hours a week or 80 hours a month
  • Receive disability-based income
  • Be physically or mentally unfit to work 20 hours per week
  • Be approved for work-study
  • Get a Cal Grant A or B
  • Care for a child (certain age limits apply)
  • Attend college full-time and be a single parent of a child under the age of 12
  • Be in certain job training programs
  • Get CalWORKs
 

If you’re not sure, you should still apply.

The documents required for your CalFresh case depend on your situation. Some documents that are usually required from students include:

  • Proof of identification (like a driver’s license, passport, consular ID, or birth certificate)
  • Proof of income from the past 30 days (such as paystubs)
  • Proof of enrollment, such as a class schedule
  • Your financial aid award letter
  • Proof of expenses (such as a rent receipt)
 

If your worker needs any additional documents, they will let you know either during your interview or by mail.

Usually, no. Grants, scholarships, and student loans used for school costs (like tuition or books) usually do not count as income for CalFresh.

If you’re not sure, you can still apply or chat with us for help.

In California, people who get SSI may also be eligible for CalFresh.

No.

Getting CalFresh will not change or lower your SSI payment.

Still have questions? Start a chat

Understand BenefitsCal

How do I check my case status?

You can view your case status on BenefitsCal.com.

  • First log in or create an account.
  • Select “Link a case” and follow the instructions on the screen. Wait about 3 hours or until the next business day.
  • When your case is linked, select “View Case Details” to see your case status.

Log in to your BenefitsCal account (https://benefitscal.com/). From the dashboard, follow these steps:

  1. Click on appointments.
  2. Click the REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT button.
  3. Select the Case Number from the drop list.
  4. Select the appointment type from the drop list.
  5. Click the checkbox next to the preferred day(s)of the week.
  6. Click the checkbox next to the preferred time of day.
  7. Click the SUBMIT REQUEST button.
  8. A request receipt will be generated.

Need help with BenefitsCal? Find FAQs, tutorials, and other helpful information here: https://benefitscal.com/Help/help-center/HCHCH?lang=en

Still have questions? Start a chat

Keep your Benefits Active

Do I need to submit renewal reports such as the SAR 7?

Yes, Semi-Annual Reports (SAR 7s) for CalFresh are usually due six months after your application. For example: Your SAR 7 would be due in June if you applied for CalFresh in January (unless everyone in your household is 60+ or disabled). If you have questions about when your SAR 7 is due, call your county office.

If you are trying to access the SAR 7 PDF on your phone, try accessing it using a different device, such as a laptop, if possible.

Another option would be to login to your Benefitscal.com account to complete the SAR 7 process through your “Things to Do” section.

If you don’t submit your SAR 7 by the deadline (usually the 5th of your submit month), your CalFresh benefits may be stopped or delayed. The SAR 7 is required halfway through the period when you receive benefits to confirm your information even if you have no changes to report.

Grace period

If you miss the deadline, you usually have until the end of the following month to submit your SAR 7 and any required documents to restore your benefits. If you submit it during this time, your benefits may still be restored, but you may get a smaller amount for that month because the report was late.

Below is an example of a SAR 7 timeline:

  • Let’s say your SAR 7 is due in October
    • This is known as your submit month (the month when your SAR 7 is due)
    • Your SAR 7 uses information from your reporting month. In this example, the reporting month is September.
  • This means your SAR 7 is due by October 5th (and is considered late if not submitted by October 11th)
  • If not submitted, the county sends a notice saying your benefits will stop on October 31st
  • You have until November 30th to complete your SAR 7 and restore benefits
  • If you wait until December 1st, your case may close, and you will need to reapply again
 

Pro tip: To avoid delays, you can complete and sign your SAR 7 online through your BenefitsCal account.

Still have questions? Start a chat

Manage your benefits

You can definitely apply for CalFresh if you just lost your job.If your income recently stopped, your county will use any final payments you got in the last 30 days to figure out your first month of CalFresh benefits. If you still have any income, your ongoing benefits will be based only on that income, not income that has stopped. You should provide proof of any money you got in the last 30 days if you can.

It isn’t required, but it can be helpful to provide any proof you have that your income has stopped. This could be a letter or a screenshot of an email or text from your employer explaining that you are no longer working. If you can’t get proof, write a letter that explains that you aren’t working. Make sure to include the last date you worked and sign and date it.

If your income has decreased or stopped, you can upload proof of income for the last 30 days through BenefitsCal here. 

If your income went up and you aren’t sure if you need to report changes, you can call your county to get more information. You can find their contact information here.

You can get both CalFresh and unemployment benefits if your income is within the CalFresh income limits. Getting CalFresh won’t affect how much money you get from unemployment.

You do not need to report unemployment benefits before you receive payments. Tell your county when you start getting unemployment benefits. Also report changes to the amount you get. Your county CalFresh office will give you next steps based on your situation.

If your income has decreased or stopped, you can upload proof of income for the last 30 days through BenefitsCal here. Your county will give you more information about when you have to report income increases. If your income went up and you aren’t sure if you need to report changes, you can call your county to get more information.

Some changes can wait until you report them on your SAR 7 or recertification. Other changes may need to be reported within 10 days, depending on the situation.

To avoid delays or problems with your benefits, we generally recommend reporting changes as soon as they happen. This helps keep your case accurate and makes sure you are getting the right amount of benefits.

Some common changes include:

  • Changes to your income, including: 
    • starting or stopping a job
    • changes in pay, unemployment benefit changes, or income over your Income Reporting Threshold (IRT)
  • Changes in household size
  • Changes in address
    Changes in housing, rent, or utility costs
 

If you are not sure whether a change needs to be reported, it is okay to report it anyway or contact your county for help.

Pro tip: The fastest way to report a change is through BenefitsCal.com. Once you log in, look for “I want to report a change.”

To report a change, complete the following steps:

  1. Log in to your BenefitsCal account at https://benefitscal.com/.
  2. Click “I want to report a change” under the What else would you like to do? Section.
  3. Follow the prompts to enter your information and upload your documents.
  4. You will see a confirmation receipt when finished and can save a copy of it via text, email or pdf download.

If you know you will not return to your old address, you should call your county to let them know you have moved. You can find their contact information here.

Expenses are costs you pay regularly. The county looks at these costs on your application to see if you can get more money for food.

Some common allowable expenses include:

  • Housing costs, like rent, mortgage, property taxes, HOA fees, and home insurance
  • Utilities, such as electricity, gas, water, or trash
  • Childcare or dependent care costs
  • Medical expenses for adults age 60+ or people with disabilities. You can include out-of-pocket medical costs over $35 per month.
  • Child support you pay to someone outside your household

Reporting expenses can help the county decide how much CalFresh you can get. If you are unsure whether something counts, it is okay to report it or ask your county.

Not yet. In California, a pregnancy does not change household size for CalFresh until the baby is born. Once the baby is born, you should report the change so the county can update your household and benefits.

Pro tip: You can apply for CalFresh while on maternity leave. If your income changes during pregnancy or maternity leave, tell your county so they can update your benefits.

Great news! You can use your EBT card to purchase groceries online at Amazon, Instacart, and Walmart. Visit Amazon, Instacart, or Walmart to learn more about how it works.

Unfortunately, you can’t use CalFresh to pay for delivery.

California is working to expand access to more grocery stores ⁠— check back for updates.

If you lost your EBT card, there are two ways to get it replaced.

  • Online: 
    1. Log in to your BenefitsCal account (https://benefitscal.com/) and follow the steps below.
    2. From the dashboard, scroll down to the Your Application and Cases section and click “View Case Details.”
    3. Click “Replace EBT card” and verify your current address.
    4. Click “REQUEST CARD” to finish.
    5. You will see a confirmation receipt and can save a copy of it via text, email, or pdf download.
  • By phone:
    1. Call 877-328-9677.
    2. Select your preferred language (1 for English).
    3. Press 2 to report a missing, stolen, lost, or damaged EBT card.
    4. Enter your EBT card number, then press #. If you do not have your EBT card number, press 1, then follow the prompts to enter your personal identifiable information.

To replace benefits stolen from your EBT card (card skimming), please follow the steps below.

  1. Report your card lost or stolen. You can get more information on how to complete this under the “How can I replace a lost EBT card?” FAQ.
 

Fill out and submit an EBT 2259 form within 90 days of the theft to replace your benefits. https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/Additional-Resources/Forms-and-Brochures/2020/E-H/EBT2259.pdf?ver=2021-10-29-145026-263

There may be many reasons why your benefits have stopped loading onto your card. But, the most common reason that benefits are stopped is due to a missed semi-annual report (SAR 7) or annual renewal. If you are not sure what you still need to do, check your BenefitsCal account. Look in the “Things to Do” section for any pending tasks.

Or, you can contact your county directly for more information on how to reinstate your benefits.

Yes. You can request replacement benefits for food that:

  • You bought using CalFresh and
  • You lost or had damaged in an emergency (fire, natural disaster, power outages, etc.).
 

You have 10 days from the time of an emergency to report food loss unless the state of California grants an extension.

Not every household will get the maximum amount. This chart shows the highest amount you could receive based on household size:

[insert max benefit chart]

If you have at least one child in the home, CalWORKs can help your family get cash to pay for rent, housing, food, clothing, medical payments, and utilities.

CalFresh can help your family get access to purchase healthy food. You can use CalFresh benefits at most grocery stores and even farmers’ markets.

If you have at least one child in the home, CalWORKs can help your family get cash to pay for rent, housing, food, clothing, medical payments, and utilities.

CalFresh can help your family get access to purchase healthy food. You can use CalFresh benefits at most grocery stores and even farmers’ markets.

If you got more CalFresh benefits than you should have, the county will send you a notice. The notice will explain how much you owe and your options for paying it back.

You may repay by:

  • Paying the full amount in at once
  • Setting up an installment payment plan
  • Having a portion deducted from your ongoing monthly CalFresh benefits

 

You must sign a repayment agreement within 30 days of the notice to select how you want to pay it back.

If you do not respond or fail to make payments, the county may reduce your benefits or take other steps to collect the money owed.

Still have questions? Start a chat

Immigrants

Once you apply, your local CalFresh office will contact you to set up an interview. They may contact you by phone, mail, or email.

You must complete this interview to receive CalFresh benefits.

A county worker will review your application, ask questions if needed, and let you know if you need to bring, send, or upload documents.

Most interviews happen over the phone, but you can also ask for an in-person interview.

Tell your county worker if:

  • You need extra help completing your application
  • You need accommodations because of a disability, or
  • You need an interpreter

You usually need to provide these documents to get CalFresh:

  • Proof of identification (like a driver’s license, consular ID, passport from another country, or birth certificate)
  • Proof of any income from the last 30 days (like paystubs or a letter from Social Security or Unemployment)
  • If you are a college student: a copy of your financial aid award letter and class schedule
  • Disability benefits letters, child support or alimony payment records, self-employment, or tax document

Some immigrants may also be asked for immigration documents, such as:

  • Copy of your green card (both sides)
  • A copy of your most recent paperwork for a U-Visa or T-Visa
  • Paperwork showing you have been granted asylum
  • I-94, Arrival-Departure Record
  • I-766 Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
  • Immigration court documents
  • Department of Homeland Security documents
  • USCIS documents
  • Certification as a victim of severe human trafficking or crime victim
  • Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) petition
 

Naturalized U.S. citizens may also be asked to provide: 

  • A copy of their U.S. passport
  • Naturalization papers
  • Or other USCIS-issued documents.

The following documents may also be requested and can increase your benefit amount:

  • Proof of rent, mortgage, or utility costs
  • Proof of child support paid
  • Proof of costs for:
    • Childcare
    • Adult day care
    • Aides for people who need care so other people in the household can work
  • Proof of medical expenses (including cost of travel to medical care) for people who are 60+ and/or who have a disability

Tell your county worker during your CalFresh interview if you need help getting proof.

Your county may be able to help you get documents or accept a sworn statement if you cannot get the proof you need.

Still have questions? Start a chat

Need help before applying?

If you have questions about documents, the interview, or your specific situation, our CalFresh team can help.

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