Following the recent winter storms that brought heavy snowfall, flooding, and strong winds to California, residents of Riverside County who lost food purchased with their CalFresh benefits have an extended deadline to report their losses and request replacement benefits. The reporting period, typically 10 days, has been extended to March 4, 2024, to allow impacted households more time to assess their losses and recover.
CalFresh is California’s largest food assistance program -the local name for the SNAP benefits federal program-, providing monthly electronic benefits that can be used to purchase groceries at many stores, farmers markets, and even online through select retailers like Amazon, Ralph’s, and Walmart.
How to Get Your Lost CalFresh Money Replaced
State officials estimate that nearly 280,000 CalFresh households statewide were affected by the storms, potentially losing food purchased with their benefits. The harsh weather conditions included flash floods, heavy snowfall, and wind gusts exceeding 100 miles per hour, leading to evacuations, road closures, infrastructure damage, and damage to homes and vehicles.
In Riverside County alone, over 40,000 CalFresh households are believed to have been impacted, particularly in areas near Corona, Desert Hot Springs, Jurupa Valley, and Moreno Valley. “We understand the hardship these storms have caused for many residents,” said Allison Gonzalez, Assistant Director of the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) and head of the Self-Sufficiency Division.
“We are committed to assisting CalFresh recipients recover their lost food benefits as quickly as possible. We encourage those affected by the storms to reach out to us before March 4th to request replacement benefits,” she stated.
Residents of Riverside County can report their losses through three methods. First, by phone calling the CalFresh hotline at 1-877-410-8827. In-person assistance is also available by visiting nearest DPSS office, or go online at BenefitsCal.com. When reporting the loss, individuals will be required to provide their contact information, a brief description of how the food was lost, and the date and time of the loss.
What You Can Buy With CalFresh Money
CalFresh benefits empower you to purchase a wide variety of food for your household. This includes staples like fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, and grains. Additionally, you can use your benefits to buy non-perishables, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages. Seeds and plants intended for growing food at home are also eligible purchases. Remember, CalFresh cannot be used for hot meals intended for immediate consumption, alcoholic beverages, or non-food items like hygiene products, cleaning supplies, or pet food.