Disaster CalFresh Offered in Kern, Mariposa, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Tulare, and Tuolumne Counties
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) today announced that individuals and families affected by the recent severe winter storms in Kern, Mariposa, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Tulare, and Tuolumne 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 $3,130 per month may be eligible to receive up to $939 in food benefits through this program, which is available to those who lived or worked in Kern, Mariposa, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Tulare, and Tuolumne counties between February 21, 2023 – March 22, 2023. Those who already receive regular CalFresh food benefits will not be eligible for Disaster CalFresh. The Disaster CalFresh program will be operated by phone, online, and in person. Please call your local county social services office for in-person hours or in-person
assistance.
WHO CAN APPLY?
To be eligible for Disaster CalFresh benefits, a household must have lived or worked in a disaster-impacted county on the date that the disaster began. Any individuals and families who lived or worked in Kern, Mariposa, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Tulare, and Tuolumne counties between February 21, 2023 – March 22, 2023, may be eligible for Disaster CalFresh food benefits if the household experienced at least one of
the following as a direct result of the severe winter storms:
• At least one person in the household was not getting regular CalFresh food benefits,
• Money was spent because of the storms or related power outage,
• Money was lost from work because of the severe winter storms,
• Money was spent because of damage to a home or business, or
• Food loss alone.
HOW TO APPLY
Households may apply between April 17, 2023 – April 25, 2023, by calling their local county social services office, submitting a paper application, or submitting a preregistration application online. In most cases, Disaster CalFresh food benefits will be available within three days of the date of a qualifying interview.
Online pre-registrations will be available beginning April 17, 2023, and will be accepted in Kern, Mariposa, Monterey, San Benito, Tulare, and Tuolumne counties at BenefitsCal
and in Santa Cruz County at MyBenefitsCalWIN. Pre-registrations received April 22 – 23, 2023, will be considered as received on Monday, April 24, 2023.
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 April 12, 2023, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved California’s request for Disaster CalFresh food benefits to enhance recovery efforts in Kern, Mariposa, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Tulare, and Tuolumne counties. The program is known nationally as the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or D-SNAP. Additional information is available at: CalFresh Disaster Response. Read the related USDA news release.
QUESTIONS?
Clients may reach their local county social services office by calling 877-847-3663 (FOOD) for more information. For more information about Disaster CalFresh for impacted counties, call your local county social services office:
• Kern: 661-631-6000
• Mariposa: 209-966-2000
• Monterey: 877-410-8823
• San Benito: 831-636-4180
• Santa Cruz: 888-421-8080
• Tulare: 800-540-6880
• Tuolumne: 209-533-5711
OTHER COUNTIES
The CDSS previously announced the availability of Disaster CalFresh food benefits in several other counties. However, the application windows for those counties have closed.