What Can I Buy With My Calfresh Benefits
You can buy food as well as plants and seeds to grow food. You will not be charged sales tax on items you buy with CalFresh. You cannot buy pet food, vitamins, medicines, alcohol, tobacco, paper products, fast food or food that will be eaten in the store. If the county you live in participates in the Restaurant Meals Program and you are elderly , disabled and/or homeless, you can purchase food at approved participating restaurants. Contact your county representative for details.
San Jose Food Stamp Program
The California food stamp program, commonly referred to as SNAP, is more popularly known in the area as CalFresh. This program was created to ensure that low income families would be able to have access to affordable and healthy food. This allows for families that are struggling to make ends meet and working on a budget to have a chance to provide good health and nutrition to those within their households. The benefits of the program are transferred through an EBT card that can be used at various locations that accept SNAP. Although the program has only recently been renamed to CalFresh, it has been part of the SNAP plan since 1977. Individuals have the opportunity to apply in person at an agency or online. The applications for the program are also available in a variety of different languages.
The following information can be used to learn more about applying for SNAP in the San Jose, California area.
What Is The Calfresh Program
The CalFresh Program, formerly known as Food Stamps and federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program , can add to your food budget to put healthy and nutritious food on the table. The program issues monthly electronic benefits that can be used to buy most foods at many markets and food stores. The amount of the benefit is based on the size of your household, your income, and your housing expenses. CalFresh benefits come on a plastic card, called the Golden State Advantage Card, which you can use just like a bank card at most food stores.
Read Also: Apply For Food Stamps Long Island
Santa Clara County Social Services Agency
CalFresh, , is known federally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. This program provides food assistance to low income families. Individuals must apply for this program and provide all the required supporting documentation.
If approved, individuals will receive a monthly electronic benefit on an EBT Card, which is similar to a debit card, and can be used to purchase food items at authorized grocery stores and other retailers. The amount of benefit will depend on number or individuals living in household, monthly expenses, and other relevant factors.
CalFresh benefits cannot be used to purchase:
- Non-food items such as pet food soaps, paper products, household supplies, grooming items and cosmetics
- Alcoholic beverages or tobacco products
- Vitamins and medicines
- Any food that will be eaten in the store
- Any food marketed to be heated in the store
Additional Programs:
Documents Can Be Submitted:
- Mail – PO Box 11018, San Jose, CA 95103
- Drop Box at Office Locations:
Benefits Assistance Center 1867 Senter Road, San Jose CA 95112Continuing Benefit Services – 1870 & 1877 Senter Road, San Jose CA 95112CalWORKs Employment Services – 1879 Senter Road, San Jose CA 95112General Assistance Services 1919 Senter Road, San Jose, CA 95112North County Office 1330 W. Middlefield Road, Mountain View, CA 94043South County Office 379 Tomkins Court, Gilroy, CA 95020
Please include your name and case number on all submitted documents.
Recommended Reading: Apply For Food Stamps Richmond Va
Find Out If You’re Qualified Online
If you just want to ease into the idea of applying for CalFresh and see if you’d even qualify, you can do that without even talking to anyone.
Bauer says MyBenefitsCalWin.org is a good resource for people who want to get a feel of what they’d be getting into, if they apply.
You can even do your application online, either at MybenefitisCalWin.org or GetCalFresh.org.
If you prefer to have someone else on the other line, you can call your local county office to apply.
RELATED:
Santa Clara Co: Demand For Food Assistance Soars In Silicon Valley During Covid
San Jose Spotlight
James Foster lined up at the Di Lac Temple in San Jose, waiting for a hot meal, fresh groceries and face masks. Foster’s wife lost her job as a therapist during the pandemic and his relative who supported them financially recently died.
“We’re hurting … These folks provide a life-saving service, especially for someone my age,” said Foster, 76.
The Vietnam War veteran considers himself lucky because he has a pension to fall back on, pointing to others who may be less fortunate. With a mortgage to pay, however, making ends meet during the coronavirus outbreak continues to be a challenge.
As the shutdown has left many residents in Santa Clara County and across the Bay Area jobless, people are struggling to feed their families. Religious organizations, nonprofit organizations, schools and government assistance programs have become their lifelines as scores of households seek food assistance for the first time.
“There’s a growing anxiety around food and nutrition,” Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese said. “You’re seeing more middle-income families, or families that were middle-income, in food lines … It’s heartbreaking. Just a few weeks ago, we had the most robust economy in the world. We had the highest workforce productivity of any metropolitan area in the world just two months ago.”
“Right now, food insecurity is the immediate impact for everyone – no matter which socioeconomic class they’re in,” Shing said.
Recommended Reading: I Lost My Food Stamp Card
Calfresh Employment & Training
The CalFresh Employment & Training program is a free and voluntary program for people on CalFresh Food benefits gain skills, tools, basic education, training and work experience. This program will help you gain marketable job skills to give you access to better jobs and higher wages. For more program information and locations visit: .
Calfresh Benefits Just Increased Significantly Heres How To Access Them
Recipients of the CalFresh food program will see a significant jump in payments starting Friday just as some of California’s major coronavirus-related benefit programs end.
- Jump to: How to apply for CalFresh benefits
CalFresh benefits will go up permanently by about 22% over pre-pandemic levels, the first major increase in nearly 50 years.
That amounts to roughly $155 more per month for a family of four with the maximum benefit or about $53 more than the benefits offered through temporary pandemic relief, according to a statement from Santa Clara County.
CalFresh is the state’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which provides food benefits also known as food stamps to lower-income families.
In July 2021, more than 2.4 million households, or 4.3 million people, used CalFresh, the largest food assistance program in the state.
In Santa Clara County alone, more than 62,000 households received CalFresh benefits in July, an increase of more than 20% over pre-pandemic levels, the county reported.
These are members of our community who, before the pandemic, already faced more obstacles than everyone else,” Angela Shing, director of employment and benefits services for the Santa Clara County Social Services Agency, said in a press release.
“The more resources we have to make life more equitable for all residents, the more resilient we are as a community, Shing said.
Read Also: Get A New Food Stamp Card
Calfresh Restaurant Meals Program
The CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program is an optional county program that allows CalFresh recipients who are 60 years of age or older, disabled, or homeless to use their CalFresh benefits to purchase prepared meals at approved participating restaurants in certain counties.
Please contact the county directly for more information on the RMP. Below is a list of participating counties as of 2016:
- Alameda
Learn More About Food Security
- Measures of Food Security on Kidsdata.org
- Kidsdata.org provides the following indicators related to food security:
- The number of perinatal women and children ages 0-5 redeeming Women, Infants, and Children food vouchers, by participant type these data come from the California Dept. of Public Health
- The number of individuals , and the number and percentage of households by race/ethnicity, participating in CalFresh, California’s implementation of the federal SNAP or Food Stamps Program these data are provided by the California Dept. of Social Services *
*According to CDSS, more than half of all CalFresh participants are children.
- Related Data
-
- Healthy Food Choices Provided at School
You May Like: What Are The Requirements To Get Food Stamps In Texas
Is There A Limit On The Number Of People I Can Apply For
No, there is no limit to the number of people you can apply for however, the people you can apply for must live in your home and buy and eat meals with you in the home. If you have children less than 22 years of age living with you in the home, you must apply for them and their family, if any, even if they buy and eat meals separately from your family.
There Shouldn’t Be Any Stigma Right Now
Even if food stamps carry a stigma, the coronavirus has largely changed the way people are living. Bauer says there is no shame getting help if you need it.
“There shouldn’t be any stigma right now,” Bauer said. “I think that anything that people need to help, can get to help them is just important to be able to access.”
FOR THE LATEST CORONAVIRUS NEWS,
Read Also: Mississippi Department Of Human Services Food Stamps
About The San Jose Assistance Application Center Food Stamp Office
The San Jose Assistance Application Center Food Stamp Office, located in San Jose, CA, administers the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for San Jose residents. Often called “food stamps,” SNAP benefits provide nutrition assistance for income-eligible households. The U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees the SNAP program, and SNAP Offices distribute benefits to San Jose residents. The program reduces food insecurity and poverty by providing supplemental nutrition assistance for low-income households.
You may contact Food Stamp Offices for questions about:
- San Jose food stamp eligibility
- Applying for food stamps and SNAP food benefit
- Calculating SNAP benefits
How To Get The Calfresh Benefits Increase
If youre already a CalFresh recipient, you should already see an increase in your monthly benefits starting Oct. 1. If youre experiencing problems or have questions about your current CalFresh benefits, the state recommends that you contact your countys social services agency.
New CalFresh applicants can start their application online in English, Spanish or Chinese using the states official site, or by calling 847-3663. You can also apply in person at your countys designated CalFresh Office.
New CalFresh applicants must:
Remember, public charge rules do not apply to programs like CalFresh, WIC and free or reduced-cost lunch programs, and any immigration information will remain private. The California Department of Social Services ensures that applying for CalFresh will not affect your green card or application for U.S. citizenship.
All children born in the U.S. can get CalFresh benefits if they qualify. It does not matter where their parents were born. For details on eligibility requirements for people who immigrated to the U.S., see the states website for complete information.
CalFresh says it should take 10 minutes to apply online. New applicants should receive a call from a county representative for a short interview within a week.
As of Sept. 1, the CalFresh application site states that counties are receiving more applications than usual and application processing may be delayed.
Don’t Miss: Emergency Food Stamps And Cash Aid
How Do I Apply For Calfresh
You can apply for CalFresh by completing an online application. You can also apply by going to the local county office during business hours. Click the Contact link at the top of the page to find the office near you.
EatFresh.org is playful, engaging and easy to use. It includes:
- Recipes searchable by food type, so that you can find recipes using whatever ingredients you have.
- Recipes that can be cooked in crockpots and microwaves.
- Ask a Dietician: Type in your question and a dietician sends you the answer.
- Tips about nutrition and healthy lifestyles.
- Text, email, share and print recipes.
- Discussions online about nutrition or cooking.
- The locations of farmers’ markets that accept EBT, and food pantries in your county.
In California Santa Clara County Is Ranked 50th Of 58 Counties In Food Stamp Offices Per Capita And 13th Of 58 Counties In Food Stamp Offices Per Square Mile
Food stamp application santa clara county. If your States form is not on the web yet you may need to contact your local food stamp office to request one. CalFresh federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP is a federally mandated state-supervised and county-operated government entitlement program that provides monthly food benefits to assist low-income households in purchasing the food they need to maintain adequate nutritional levels. Apply Online You can apply online for Texas SNAP benefits.
CalFresh Food is Californias name for the federal food program called Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP that used to be known as Food Stamps. The County of Santa Claras goal is to increase the health and wellness of our residents. If you do not wish to submit your food stamps application online you need to file your request at an approved facility.
Send in docs Start your CalFresh application. A Step-by-Step Guide to the Medi-Cal Process. The Web Browser you are using is not supported by MyBenefits CalWIN.
GetCalFresh can help you apply for California Food Stamps also known as CalFresh SNAP Food Assistance or EBT in as little as ten minutes. Below is a list of supported browsers. The Great Plates Delivered GPD program partners with local restaurants to feed vulnerable populations and homebound adults 65 years and older in Santa Clara County.
Also Check: Sign Up For Kentucky Food Stamps
Where Can You Use Calfresh Benefits
If the store sells food, the odds are they’ll accept CalFresh benefits. Bauer says a majority of places take it.
“That’s anywhere from a corner store to Costco, even to the farmers markets,” said Bauer.
The store will most likely have a sign that shows they accept CalFresh. Benefits come in an Electronic Benefits Transfer card , and work like an ATM card.
RELATED: Here are the grocery stores helping seniors stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic
You can also use your CalFresh benefits to buy a restaurant meal in some counties. Only handful of counties and restaurants are in this program and there are eligibility requirements. In Sacramento County, for example, you have to be disabled, homeless, or over the age of 60.
