Lost food due to the Bain or Verona fires? CalFresh customers have until June 8 to request replacement benefits. Report the loss in person, by calling (877) 410-8827, or at BenefitsCal.com.
ATTENTION:
Starting June 1, 2026, some CalFresh recipients in California must meet work requirements in order to continue receiving benefits. Click here to learn more.
CalFresh Food Assistance
CalFresh puts food-buying power into the hands of working-class households. With CalFresh, you can buy healthy food to meet your household’s needs. Click on the links below to learn about eligibility, how you can apply, and about the Restaurant Meals Program.
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Ways to Apply
Four simple ways you can apply for CalFresh assistance:
1. Online
2. In Person
- Find your nearest DPSS office location
3. By Phone
- Call 1-877-410-8827
4. By Mail
- Call 1-877-410-8827 Monday – Friday between the hours of 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM and request an application be sent to you by mail. Applications can be mailed to your DPSS office location
- You may download an application from the California Department of Social Services website:
For a full regular application, download the CF 285 English or CF 285 Spanish
For elderly / disabled households, you may download the simplified application CF 485 English or CF 485 Spanish
4. By Fax
- Find fax numbers by clicking on your nearest DPSS office location
Minimum Requirements to file an application for CalFresh are:
- Your name
- Your address
- The signature of a responsible member of the household or authorized representative
If you would like help filling out your CalFresh application or to participate in an interview, you may appoint an Authorized Representative (AR). This individual would need:
- Access to your personal information
- Your permission to make decisions on your behalf
- To provide identification
You could receive your CalFresh benefits as quickly as three days if your household:
- Has a monthly gross income less than $150 and less than $100 in liquid resources
- Has a combined monthly gross income and liquid resources that are less than the household’s monthly rent/mortgage and utilities
- Is a migrant/seasonal farmworker with less than $100 in liquid resources
Note: Interpretation services are available in all languages. Reasonable accommodations are available.
Basic Eligibility
Generally, you may be eligible for CalFresh if you:
- Receive CalWORKs or General Assistance
- Have low or no income
- Are a United States (U.S.) citizen
- Are a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR)
- Are Compacts of Free Association (COFA) citizen
- Are a Cuban/Haitian Entrant (CHE)
- An Iraqi or Afghan with a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) admitted as an LPR
- Receive Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP)
The amount of CalFresh benefits issued depends on:
- Household size
- Total gross monthly income
- Housing, utilities, and other allowable income deductions
CalFresh Work Requirements
Effective June 1, 2026, work requirements will resume for many adults ages 18–64 who are classified as Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs). To continue receiving CalFresh benefits, individuals who are required to meet the work requirements must have a job, volunteer or be enrolled in school or a job training program. If you are working, you must work an average of 20 hours per week or 80 hours per month. If you are in school, you must have a total class time of 20 hours per week or be enrolled at least half-time. This change will not affect all CalFresh recipients. Customers who need additional information will find helpful resources below.
CalFresh Changes for Certain Non-Citizens
Starting April 1, 2026, certain non-citizens will no longer be able to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (known as CalFresh in California). This is due to a 2025 federal law change. Certain non-citizens, including asylees, refugees, parolees, individuals with deportation or removal withheld, conditional entrants, battered non-citizens, and victims of trafficking will no longer be eligible to receive CalFresh benefits. They may be eligible for CalFresh if their immigration status changes to Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) and all other eligibility requirements are met. Learn more:
Eligibility Changes
FAQs
Cambios de elegibilidad
Preguntas frecuentes
NOTE: If you are receiving CalFresh benefits, it will continue until your renewal if you meet all other eligibility criteria. Let your worker know at renewal if your immigration status has changed and provide verification.
USING YOUR EBT CARD/SCAM AWARENESS
What is an EBT CARD?
An EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) card is the benefit delivery system that allows CalFresh and cash assistance recipients to access their food and cash benefits, much like a debit card. Find out more about EBT.
The EBT Chip/Tap card, seen below, has upgraded security features to help reduce instances of fraud and stolen benefits. You'll find more information on the card's features below.
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WHY YOU SHOULD USE THE ebtEDGE APP TO MANAGE YOUR BENEFITS
The ebtEDGE app is an official, state-supported free tool. The mobile app is endorsed by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to help you safely manage your CalFresh and CalWORKs benefits. You can do the following with it:
❗ Protect your benefits
❗ Keep your personal info secure
❗ Ensure help is available if issues occur
Keep your account secure and protect your benefits. Learn more about the ebtEDGE app and how to download it by clicking here. If you are a victim of an EBT scam call 1-877-328-9677. Avoid third-party EBT apps. Learn more below in our scam prevention section.
WHERE CAN I USE MY EBT CARD?
All cardholders may use their EBT card at participating retailers with a Point-of-Sale (POS) device and Automated Teller Machines (ATM) for cash withdrawals displaying the Quest® logo throughout California and across the country. Click here for a list of locations that accept EBT cards.
You can use your EBT card to buy food items at:
- grocery stores
- farmers markets (click on the following links for a list of Riverside Country farmers markets that accept CalFresh benefits: English| Spanish), and
- online at stores such as Safeway, Amazon and Walmart. For additional information regarding online purchasing, visit the EBT Online webpage.
HOW TO USE YOUR EBT CARD
For information on how and where to use your EBT card, click on the following links:
California Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Card Brochure, How to Use Your EBT Card to Make a Purchase, Enjoy Surcharge-Free ATMs Nationwide
BE AWARE OF SCAMS AND THIRD-PARTY APPLICATIONS
NEVER GIVE YOUR EBT CARD AND/OR PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (PIN) TO ANYONE.
The County and State will never text or call and ask for your EBT card and/or PIN. Your EBT card and/or PIN are never needed to determine eligibility for any service.
Examples of SCAMS to be aware of:
- Offer of a “free government cell phone” or “free gift cards” and you are asked for your personal information, card number and/or PIN.
- New benefit recipients are contacted by a “protection plan” company that says they are part of the state program. They ask for personal information from cardholders, getting enough to steal benefits from the cardholders’ accounts.
- People who say they are “concerned citizens” posting warnings about EBT card security. They give a telephone number that is close to a real customer service helpline telephone number (maybe one number is different). A cardholder calls the number, and then is asked for personal information, account number and a PIN.
- Text message or email asking for your personal EBT information.
Third-Party Applications are phone applications (apps) that allow the cardholder to obtain access to account information, such as the account balance and transaction history. Using these apps comes with the risk of allowing the app access to steal your CalFresh and/or cash assistance benefits.
NEW EBT CHIP/TAP CARDS
The new EBT cards offer enhanced security features to help reduce instances of fraud and stolen benefits. Added security features include:
- a small microchip embedded in the card. When inserted in the Point of Sale (POS) device at the grocery store, the chip generates a special code that can only be used for that transaction
- “Tap to Pay”, making payment transactions contactless
- a 3-digit card security code on the back of the card for added security during online transactions
- an expiration date
EBT CUSTOMER SERVICE
EBT customer service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Call the Customer Service Automated Response Unit (ARU) at (877) 328-9677 to:
- initiate a claim for stolen benefits
- report lost, stolen or damaged EBT cards
- report unauthorized use
- report an ATM mis-dispense
- verify the account balance, and/or
- change the PIN.
Visit http://www.ebt.ca.gov to:
- check account balances
- view account history
- check the status of a claim, and
- locate retailers and ATMs that accept the EBT card.
RESTAURANT MEALS PROGRAM
If you are unable to buy food to prepare at home, you may qualify for Riverside County’s Restaurant Meals Program. The program allows you to use your CalFresh benefits, or your EBT card, to buy meals from participating restaurants, locally and statewide!
You may qualify if you are:
- 60 years or older
- Disabled
- Homeless
Click on the links below to learn more:
California Food Assistance Program (CFAP)
What is CFAP?
The State of California provides state-funded food benefits through the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) for qualified non-citizens who do not qualify for regular, federally funded CalFresh benefits. CFAP benefits are issued to the same case as federal CalFresh benefits.
To be eligible to CFAP, non-citizens must currently be ineligible for federal CalFresh benefits solely due to their immigration status.
Some examples of non-citizens potentially eligible to CFAP are:
- Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) living in the United States with LPR status for less than five (5) years
- Conditional entrants
- Survivors of trafficking or crime (T Visa/U Visa)
- Parolees who have lived in the United States with a parole status for less than five (5) years
- Battered non-citizens (also known as the Violence Against Women Act [VAWA]) as long as their status does not change to LPR, and have not lived in the United States with the LPR status for five (5) years or more
CFAP Expansion
Great News! CFAP is expanding soon to help even more people! With CFAP expansion, California immigrants age 55 years and older can get CFAP food benefits regardless of their immigration status, as long as they meet all other CalFresh eligibility criteria.
Important! This benefit is not available yet. The CFAP expansion will be implemented on October 1, 2027. Visit the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) CFAP webpage for more information.
CalFresh Quality Control
CalFresh Quality Control (QC) is a federally mandated process which measures how accurately the county determined your family’s CalFresh eligibility and benefit amount. This process helps improve CalFresh program accuracy, which ensures that families receive the CalFresh benefits that they are entitled to. QC reviews are completed by county workers assigned to the Department of Public Social Services CalFresh QC Unit and state workers from the California Department of Social Services.
QC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why was my case selected for a QC review?
Cases are randomly selected to determine if the county followed all state and federal rules when processing your benefits. Being selected does not mean you did anything wrong.
Am I required to participate?
Yes. Participating in the QC review is mandatory. Failure to do so will stop your CalFresh benefits, and they will not restart until you complete the QC review process.
What should I expect if my case is selected?
You will receive an Introduction letter informing you that your case has been selected and contact information for the QC reviewer assigned to your review.
You will need to complete an interview and provide information from when you first applied for CalFresh or were recertified. Interviews are conducted in person or by video call.
The QC reviewer may also ask for information separate from your original CalFresh application or recertification.
What type of information will I be asked to provide?
Some examples include:
Who is living in your home and who you buy and prepare meals with
The types of income you receive and how much
How much is paid for housing expenses such as your rent or mortgage and whether you pay for utilities
What resources and/or assets you have, such as bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and lottery or gambling winnings
What does CalFresh do with my information?
Your assigned reviewer will compare the information you provide during the QC review with the information in your case file to determine if the county made an error or processed your case correctly.
Where can I get more information if I am selected for a QC review?
For more information, contact your assigned QC reviewer listed on your Introduction letter. You may also call the QC Unit main line at 951-358-3800.
CalFresh Employment & Training Program
Our CalFresh Employment & Training Program (CFET) provides free services for personalized one-on-one career/employment counseling, assistance with resume writing, interview and job searching skills, supportive services and job leads, and job fair information.
Using Your CalFresh Benefits to Eat and Stay Healthy
Using CalFresh Benefits to Eat and Stay Healthy
Making healthy choices on a budget is easy with CalFresh Healthy Living. CalFresh Healthy Living offers resources and education programs to help Californians learn about good nutrition and to lead healthier lives through physical activity.
Maximize your nutrition dollar with Market Match. Market Match is California’s food incentive program that matches CalFresh benefits you spend at farmer’s markets. Market Match is a program of the Ecology Center and is funded in part through the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the USDA’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture. Find your local participating farmer’s market, use your CalFresh benefits, and receive credit toward the purchase of fruits and vegetables.
Schools are now a beacon for healthy beginnings. California’s new Universal Meals program offers free breakfast and lunch to all school children. The program is the first of its kind in the Country and ensures that your children are fed both physically and mentally.
Your CalFresh dollars can go a long way to help your family stay healthy. Learn about how to shop and budget your food purchases, ensure your food is safe, plan meals and cook healthy using your CalFresh benefits. Check out the SNAP-Ed Nutrition Education Materials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program
Are you pregnant, breastfeeding or a caretaker to an infant or child under age 5? The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program provides supplemental food, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age 5. If you are eligible, a WIC card provides you the opportunity to purchase food to meet the nutritional needs of you and your infant or child. The WIC program also provides tools and resources to keep your family healthy! Learn more about the WIC program in Riverside County: