CalFresh, California’s nutrition assistance program, continues to provide funds to low-income individuals and families who want access to healthy foods.
With benefits of up to $1,756 per month for households of eight members, this program, which is part of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP benefits), only received the name “original” in California, because everything else works the same way across the country.
CalFresh is designed for individuals and families who meet specific eligibility requirements, primarily based on income and household size. Typical recipients include families with children, seniors, college students who meet specific requirements, homeless people, and adults with low incomes.
How CalFresh/SNAP benefits are distributed
Once approved for CalFresh, recipients are given an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which functions similarly to a debit card. This card can be used to buy eligible groceries at a wide range of locations, including grocery stores, farmers markets, and authorized online retailers such as Amazon, Costco, Trader Joe’s, and Walmart.
You can find out which stores are authorized by the US Department of Agriculture to sell fresh and non-perishable groceries using the money they deposit on your Golden State Advantage EBT card each month.
There are 5 rounds of CalFresh benefit payments left this month
Benefits are distributed in the first ten days of each month, with the exact deposit date determined by the last digit of the beneficiary’s case number. The deposit schedule is detailed below, based on the last digit of the case number under which the benefits to the recipient household were approved:
- Case number ending in 6: Benefits available on February 6.
- Case number ending in 7: Benefits available on February 7.
- Case number ending in 8: Benefits available on February 8.
- Case number ending in 9: Benefits available on February 9.
- Case number ending in 0: Benefits available on February 10.
Maximum CalFresh benefit amounts for 2025
CalFresh benefit amounts vary depending on household size and income. For tax year 2025, the maximum monthly payments are as follows:
- 1 person: $292
- 2 people: $536
- 3 people: $768
- 4 people: $975
- 5 people: $1,158
- 6 people: $1,390
- 7 people: $1,536
- 8 people: $1,756
- For households with more than eight members, an additional $220 is added for each extra person.
If you want to apply to receive CalFresh benefits, you can go directly to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) website where you can start the process at no cost. There you will be directed to one of two official websites: www.getcalfresh.org or BenefitsCal.com. Otherwise, you can call the official helpline 1-877-847-3663.
