CalFresh
Purpose
Formerly called food stamps, CalFresh provides eligible households with an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card that works just like a debit card and can be used at most grocery stores and farmers markets to ensure access to healthy foods. CalFresh is a nutrition supplement and is not intended to meet a family’s entire food need.
New Features
Formerly called food stamps, CalFresh provides eligible households with an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card that works just like a debit card and can be used at most grocery stores and farmers markets to ensure access to healthy foods. CalFresh is a nutrition supplement and is not intended to meet a family’s entire food need.
New Features
- EBT cards make benefits easier than ever to access.
- Fingerprints are no longer required to receive CalFresh.
- Property ownership no longer affects your ability to receive CalFresh.
What You Can Buy
- Beans
- Bread
- Cereal
- Dairy products
- Fish
- Frozen food
- Fruit
- Grains
- Juice
- Meat
- Poultry
- Seeds and plants to produce food
- Vegetables
What You Can't Buy
- Beer
- Cigarettes
- Food that will be eaten in the store
- Hot food
- Household supplies
- Liquor
- Medicine
- Paper products
- Pet food
- Soap
- Tobacco
- Vitamins
- Wine
Eligibility
Individual adults and families may qualify for nutrition assistance based on a number of factors including income and family size.
What to Bring
Certain documents are needed to determine your eligibility for CalFresh benefits. Bringing these items with you when you apply may speed the application process.
| To verify your: | Please bring this information: |
|---|---|
| Citizenship | Identification (birth certificate, driver’s license, school or work ID, or California ID card) |
| Residency status | Resident Alien Card |
| Social Security numbers | Social Security numbers for each household member or proof that you have applied for cards |
| Household income | Paycheck stubs. Check stubs and claim letters from Social Security, disability, worker’s compensation and unemployment benefits. Verification of any other income. |
| Housing | Proof of rent or mortgage payments, utility bills. |