Help Now Offered for Those Who Live or Work in Butte, Napa, and Sonoma Counties
SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) today announced that individuals and families impacted by wildfires in three additional counties may be eligible to receive Disaster CalFresh food benefits as part of continuing disaster recovery efforts.
A family of four with a monthly income up to $2,893 may be eligible to receive up to $646 in food benefits through this program, which is now available to those who lived or worked in Napa and Sonoma counties between August 14-September 12, 2020, and Butte County between September 7-October 6, 2020.
On October 6, 2020, CDSS announced that Disaster CalFresh is available for wildfire victims who lived or worked in Lake, Monterey, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Solano, and Yolo counties.
Those who already receive regular CalFresh food benefits will not be eligible for Disaster CalFresh.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic emergency, the Disaster CalFresh program will be operated, for the first time, primarily by phone.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Individuals and families who lived or worked in Napa or Sonoma counties between August 14-September 12, 2020, and Butte County between September 7-October 6, 2020, may be eligible for Disaster CalFresh food benefits if the household experienced at least one of the following as a direct result of the wildfires:
- At least one person in the household was not getting regular CalFresh food benefits
- Money was spent because of the wildfires or related power outage
- Money was lost from work because of the wildfires; or
- Money was spent because of damage to a home or business.
HOW TO APPLY
Households in Napa, Sonoma, and Butte counties may pre-register for Disaster CalFresh between October 21-27, 2020, by calling or texting (916) 602-3313. Households that pre-register will be called by their local county social services office to complete the application and interview process between October 28-November 5, 2020. Households that pre-register will provide their contact information, basic household information, and may upload required documents in advance to help counties process applications quickly. Pre-registration is optional.
Households that choose not to pre-register may still apply between October 28- November 5, 2020, by calling their local county social services office, submitting a paper application, or submitting an online application. In most cases, Disaster CalFresh food benefits will be available within three days of the date of qualifying interview. Additional information is available at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/disastercalfresh1.
Online applications will be accepted from October 28-November 5, 2020, at https://www.mybenefitscalwin.org/ for Sonoma County and at www.c4yourself.com for Butte and Napa counties.
Clients may reach their local county social services office by calling (877) 847-3663 (FOOD) for more information. Disaster CalFresh food benefits will be provided via an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which is like a debit card that can be used to purchase food items at grocery stores and other authorized retailers. If applicants are approved, their county will tell them when and where to pick up their EBT card.
On October 9, 2020, the United States Department of Agriculture approved California’s request for Disaster CalFresh food benefits to enhance recovery efforts in Napa, Sonoma, and Butte counties. The program is known nationally as the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or D-SNAP.
QUESTIONS?
Call your local county social services office:
- Napa: (707) 253-4511 or (800) 464-4214
- Sonoma: (877) 699-6868
- Butte: (877) 410-8803
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