If you or your household depend on food stamps to bring food to your table, don’t worry, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP benefits, known in California as the CalFresh program, is here to give you a helping hand when you need it most.
The operation of CalFresh is relatively simple. Beneficiaries receive a debit card called Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT), which is recharged monthly with funds for the purchase of food. These funds can be used to purchase a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products and more, in thousands of authorized stores.
Two More SNAP/CalFresh Payments to Be Delivered This Week
In the state of California, each county distributes SNAP benefits to those who qualify. Moreover, SNAP or CalFresh benefits are not issued on a single date. Instead, across all counties, benefits are disbursed during the first 10 days of each month, depending on the last digit of your case number. Below is the CalFresh payment schedule for California in October 2023 (according to the last digit of your case number and payment date):
- Ending in 1: Sunday, October 1
- Ending in 2: Monday, October 2
- Ending in 3: Tuesday, October 3
- Ending in 4: Wednesday, October 4
- Ending in 5: Thursday, October 5
- Ending in 6: Friday, October 6
- Ending in 7: Saturday, October 7
- Ending in 8: Sunday, October 8
- Ending in 9: Monday, October 9
- Ending in 0: Tuesday, October 10
The California EBT Cash Benefit program – CalWORKs Cash Aid
The California EBT Cash Benefit program, also known as CalWORKs Cash Aid, provides financial help through the same EBT cards used for food stamps, which recipients can use for various essentials like rent, utilities, and daily expenses. It is not the same as CalFresh, and that’s why it has a different payment schedule, which runs as follows (according to the last digit of your case number and payment date):
- Ending in 1, 2, 3: Sunday, October 1
- Ending in 4, 5, 6, 7: Monday, October 2
- Ending in 8, 9, 0: Tuesday, October 3
Qualifying for CalFresh: How Easy Is It?
If you’re looking forward to qualifying for CalFresh benefits in California, individuals and families must meet certain eligibility prerequisites. Eligibility is primarily based on factors such as household size, income, and expenses.
Household income is a significant factor in determining eligibility. In general, households must have a gross monthly income that falls within a specified income limit based on the number of people living in the household. Additionally, net income, which takes into account certain allowable deductions, is also considered.
First, applicants are obligated to supply evidence of their identity as a means of substantiating their claimed identity. All individuals seeking CalFresh assistance, including children, must supply a valid Social Security number or provide proof of application. CalFresh eligibility extends to U.S. citizens and a substantial number of non-citizens.
A special, additional prerequisite apply to the Able Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD). Individuals between the ages of 18 and 50, falling into this category, must either register for employment or maintain gainful employment for a minimum of 20 hours per week or an average of 80 hours per month to be eligible for CalFresh benefits.