FOOD BENEFITS AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE IMPACTED BY RECENT STORMS

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) today announced that individuals and families affected by the recent severe winter storms in nine 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 Calaveras, Merced, Monterey, Sacramento, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz counties between December 27, 2022 – January 25, 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 offices for in-person hours or in-person assistance.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Any individuals and families who lived or worked in Calaveras, Merced, Monterey, Sacramento, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz counties between December 27, 2022 – January 25, 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, or

• Money was spent because of damage to a home or business.

HOW TO APPLY

Households may apply between February 6-10, 2023, and February 14-15, 2023, by calling their local county social services office, submitting a paper application, or submitting a pre-registration online application. In most cases, Disaster CalFresh food benefits will be available within three days of the date of a qualifying interview.

Pre-registration online applications will be available beginning February 4, 2023, and will be accepted in Calaveras, Merced, Monterey, and San Joaquin counties at BenefitsCal and in Sacramento, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz counties at MyBenefits CalWIN. Applications received February 11-13, 2023, will be considered as received on Tuesday, February 14, 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 January 31, 2023, the United States Department of Agriculture approved California’s request for Disaster CalFresh food benefits to enhance recovery efforts in Calaveras, Merced, Monterey, Sacramento, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz counties. The program is known nationally as the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or D-SNAP.

Additional information is available at: CalFresh Disaster Response 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:

• Calaveras: 209-754-6448

• Merced: 855-421-6770

• Monterey: 877-410-8823

• Sacramento: 916-876-4357

• San Joaquin: 209-468-1000

• San Luis Obispo: 805-781-1600

• San Mateo: 800-223-8383

• Santa Barbara: 866-404-4007

• Santa Cruz: 888-421-8080