CalFresh

COVID-19   

(English Calfresh Benefits)

If you are a student who is eligible for state OR federal work study OR have an Expected Family Contribution of $0, you may be eligible for CalFresh food benefits. View for more information in English Spanish

CalFresh Don’t Wait to File an Application

CalFresh No Espere a Presentar una Solicitud

 Pandemic EBT benefits have been extended 

Se han extendido los benificios P-EBT

The CalFresh program, formerly known as Food Stamps and federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), can add to your food budget to put healthy and nutritious food on the table. The program issues monthly electronic benefits (similar to a bank debit card) that can be used to buy most foods at many markets and grocery 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.

At the Federal level, the program is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service. In California, the CalFresh Program is supervised at the state level by the California Department of Social Services and is administered at the local level by each County Welfare Department.

WHO MAY BE ELIGIBLE

All US citizens 
Most immigrants - Legal Permanent Residents

There are new CalFresh income guidelines for October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023. Every year the USDA adjusts the income guidelines based on the cost of living. Applicants previously denied benefits because they were over income should consider reapplying if their income falls within the new limits. 

California implements Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility, called Modified Categorical Eligibility (MCE) in California, which means that most households can have gross monthly incomes up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). These households must still meet the net monthly income standards in order to qualify for benefits. Some households are excluded from MCE and must pass the 130% gross income test

Household Size           Gross Income

         1                              $2,510
         2                             $3,408
         3                             $4,304
         4                             $5,200
         5                             $6,098
         6                             $6,994
         7                             $7,890
         8                             $8,788

    Each Additional Member + $898

HOW TO APPLY

There are several options available. You can request an application be mailed to you, pick one up at any of our county offices, print from the link below or simply apply online.  Applications may be dropped off at any of our drop boxes located at each of the Department of Social Services offices, faxed to 760-924-5431 or mailed to us at PO Box 2969, Mammoth Lakes, CA  93546.

Online Application: BenefitsCal.com - a new, simple way to apply for, view, and review benefits.

CalFresh Application English (Click Here)     CalFresh Application Spanish (Click Here) 

Eat Fresh

Disaster CalFresh

Disaster CalFresh (D-CalFresh), federally known as the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP), is a way to meet the temporary nutritional needs of disaster victims within a 30-day period, following a natural disaster such as a flood, fire, earthquake or any other natural disaster. D-CalFresh provides a month's worth of benefits on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card which can be used to purchase food at authorized retail stores.  D-CalFresh is only available when all of the following elements occur: ​

A Presidential Declaration for Individual Assistance has been declared in the affected area;

Commercial channels of food distribution have been disrupted and those commercial channels have been restored; and

The State of California has been approved to operate a D-CalFresh program.  The 58 County Welfare Departments (CWDs) administer CalFresh and in the event of a disaster administers D-CalFresh.  The affected county is responsible for submitting an application request to implement a D-CalFresh or program waivers, whichever is the most appropriate response, to CDSS for review.  CDSS will forward the application request to the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) for final approval. 

If you are a current CalFresh recipient affected by a disaster and you meet the household eligibility requirements listed below, please contact us for additional information on how to request supplemental disaster benefits. 

If you are a new applicant affected by a disaster, meet the household eligibility requirements listed below, and you would like to apply for D-CalFresh, you can apply in person with Mono County Dept. of Social Services or other designated D-CalFresh application site. 

In order to qualify for a temporary disaster benefit all disaster victims must meet the household eligibility requirements listed below.

Household Eligibility Requirements under D-CalFresh

Residency
The household must have lived in the disaster area at the time of the disaster.
In some cases, D-CalFresh approvals may include eligibility for people who worked in the disaster area.

Purchase of Food
To be eligible, households must plan on purchasing food during the disaster benefit period.

Adverse Effect
The household must have experienced one of the following adverse actions:
Damage to home or self-employment property
Disaster-related expenses
A disruption in income
Inaccessible liquid resources
In some cases, D-CalFresh approvals may include eligibility for households that lost food, but had no other disaster-related expenses. 

Income and Resources 
Modified Categorical Eligibility (MCE), in the regular CalFresh program, wherein the CalFresh households resources are excluded when determining CalFresh eligibility does not apply in the D-CalFresh program. Income and resources must be counted in order to determine eligibility in the D-CalFresh program for households who have suffered a disaster loss.

Note: The total net (take-home) income received during the benefit period plus accessible liquid resources, minus eligible disaster-related expenses, shall not exceed the disaster gross income limit. Click to view disaster gross income limits for the period of 10/01/22 - 09/30/23.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

SNAP and FDPIR State or local agencies, and their subrecipients, must post the following Nondiscrimination Statement:

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race,

color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. 

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits.  Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.  Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Complaint, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992.  Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1)        mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

 Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2)        fax: (202) 690-7442; or

(3)        email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.