Second Harvest of Silicon Valley can help you find free groceries at nearby food distributions and pantries, and support you in applying for CalFresh — also known as SNAP or EBT (formerly called food stamps).
Warum ist es wichtig, Anrufer mit CalFresh-Vorteilen zu verbinden?
Director of Services Kelly Chew says it best: “CalFresh is a great solution because it gives you the most flexibility to buy your preferred foods. CalFresh can add to your food budget to put nutritious food on the table. You can use CalFresh at so many stores and even online. CalFresh is the best solution to addressing hunger in general. It is supplemental to our food. Given recent policy changes to CalFresh eligibility and work requirements, it can feel confusing to apply. Second Harvest is here to help you navigate through the whole process.”
Was ist CalFresh?
CalFresh (früher bekannt als Lebensmittelmarken) hilft Menschen mit begrenztem Einkommen, Lebensmittel zu bezahlen. CalFresh kann in den meisten Lebensmittelgeschäften verwendet werden, wenn Lebensmittel online bei ausgewählten Einzelhändlern und auf Bauernmärkten bestellt werden, die eine Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)-Karte akzeptieren. Die Vorteile werden auf einer EBT-Karte gewährt, die wie eine Debitkarte funktioniert. CalFresh-Vorteile sind kein Darlehen und müssen nicht zurückgezahlt werden.
CalFresh is a federally funded nutrition program, known nationally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) outside of California. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which also funds free lunches at schools and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). CalFresh is not the same as CalWORKs or welfare.
How can I use CalFresh benefits?
The amount of money you get from CalFresh changes depending on your gross income, net income and household size. Second Harvest can help you understand what you are eligible for and how to get the most out of your benefits.
For the current cycle started October 1, 2025, the CalFresh minimum monthly benefit is $24 and the maximum benefit can be as high as $994 for a family of four. With any CalFresh benefit amount, you can buy fresh, healthy food at most stores and farmers markets. You can Verwenden Sie diese Einkaufsliste und unsere Rezepte to make eight nutritious and filling meals for under $24!
Wie kann ich CalFresh beantragen?
Our Food Connection team can help answer your questions directly and help you apply. We can also help you estimate the monthly benefits you may receive to help you decide if you’d like to go through the application process. Visit our Bewerben Sie sich für die CalFresh-Seite to learn more, make an application appointment, or apply on your own.
Second Harvest helps you submit your application to the county you live in. Your county, not Second Harvest, is responsible for reviewing applications and administering benefits.
Why apply with Second Harvest instead of on my own?
Second Harvest makes the process easier for you and supports you every step of the way. We can upload and submit documents on your behalf and our team can follow up throughout the entire application process so nothing falls through the cracks.
We’re experts. Our staff work on CalFresh applications every day and we can answer any questions you have, clarify confusing requirements, and make sure your application is as strong as possible.
We are your advocates. If any issues arise, we’ll work directly with the county on your behalf to resolve and follow up as needed.
We can connect you to even more free food resources beyond CalFresh. CalFresh is meant to complement our free food distributions. You can use both programs as needed.
What should I expect after I apply?
Besuchen Sie unser CalFresh-Seite to understand what to expect in the application process. Expect a phone call or mail from the county office within 14 days of submitting your application.
Get your benefits
If you are approved for CalFresh, you will get an EBT card in the mail for groceries within 10 days of approval.
Buy groceries
You can start using your EBT card as soon as you receive it in the mail. EBT cards work in most food stores, online and at some farmers markets. Use it like any normal debit card.
“I really appreciate our job because we get to explain to clients why certain questions are asked on CalFresh applications. We can tell them their options. We empower them.” – Claribel, bilingual in Spanish and English
Welche weiteren Vorteile bietet die Anmeldung bei CalFresh?
Durch die Anmeldung bei CalFresh qualifizieren Sie sich für andere kostenlose oder ermäßigte Programme, darunter:
- Rabatte auf Nebenkosten wie PG&E und Telefon Service
- Ermäßigter Transport auf BART, SamTrans, CalTrain und Bikes for All
- Kostenloser oder ermäßigter Eintritt Museen überall in den USA sowie in den California State Parks
- Market Match stellt passende Mittel bereit, damit Kunden auf teilnehmenden Bauernmärkten noch mehr Obst und Gemüse kaufen können. Mehr dazu unter MarketMatch.com.
Was kann ich mit meiner CalFresh EBT-Karte kaufen?
CalFresh benefits can be used to purchase any food with the exception of pre-made heated foods. CalFresh cannot be used to buy non-food items such as diapers, beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco.
Wie viel können Sie von CalFresh bekommen?
California releases its maximum CalFresh Allotments every fiscal year. For the current cycle started October 1, 2025, the maximum monthly amounts are as follows:
| Menschen im Haushalt | Monatliches Bruttoeinkommen | Netto Monatseinkommen | Maximale CalFresh-Zuteilung |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,610 | $1,305 | $298 |
| 2 | $3,526 | $1,763 | $546 |
| 3 | $4,442 | $2,221 | $785 |
| 4 | $5,360 | $2,680 | $994 |
| 5 | $6,276 | $3,138 | $1,183 |
| 6 | $7,192 | $3,596 | $1,421 |
| 7 | $8,110 | $4,055 | $1,571 |
| 8 | $9,026 | $4,513 | $1,789 |
| Jedes weitere Mitglied | $918 | $459 | $218 |
Muss ich CalFresh zurückzahlen?
No, you will not have to pay any money back unless you are accidentally overpaid.
Will I lose my benefits if I don’t use the full amount each month?
You will not lose your benefits. Any balance remaining on your Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card will stay on your card until you spend it. Your benefits won’t be adjusted or reduced because you aren’t using the full amount every month.
Zählt CalFresh als Einkommen?
Nein, CalFresh-Zuteilungen an jeden Haushalt werden nicht als steuerpflichtiges Einkommen gezählt.
Do I have to pay taxes on CalFresh?
No, you do not need to pay taxes on or report CalFresh on your tax return.
Muss ich bei der Bewerbung für CalFresh einen Einkommensnachweis vorlegen?
Earned and unearned income must be reported. Second Harvest Food Connection team can help you figure out what verification documents you need and can submit them on your behalf with your application.
Does my income or other benefits impact my ability to get CalFresh?
You can get CalFresh even if you get money from a job, disability, unemployment, Social Security, CalWORKs, General Assistance, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or retirement. Your eligibility and benefit amount is determined based on your income and expenses for your household size.
“Clients will say to me, ‘I’ve been working here my whole life, and I never knew about CalFresh.’ They never knew there was this benefit. One client was already 67 when they learned about CalFresh. They lost their job at 60 and said they had no income at all. Those calls are very emotional.” – Anita Li, fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, Taishanese
Kann CalFresh meinen Einwanderungsstatus beeinflussen?
If you are concerned that applying for CalFresh will affect your immigration status, please schedule an appointment to talk to a Second Harvest staff member. We can discuss all available food assistance options with you.
Kann ich CalFresh bekommen, wenn ich keine Kinder habe?
Ja, Personen ohne Kinder können CalFresh erhalten.
Kann ich CalFresh als Student erhalten?
Ja, viele College-Studenten können CalFresh erhalten, wenn sie die Anforderungen der Studenten erfüllen.
Kann ich CalFresh erhalten, wenn ich kein rechtmäßiger Einwohner oder Staatsbürger bin?
Um sich zu qualifizieren, muss mindestens ein Haushaltsmitglied ein rechtmäßiger Einwohner oder Staatsbürger sein, auch wenn es sich bei dieser Person um ein Kind handelt. Gesponserte Einwanderer können berechtigt sein.
Kann ich CalFresh bekommen, wenn ich ein Haus oder ein Auto besitze?
Ja, Sie können Ihr Haus oder ein Auto besitzen und Ersparnisse haben und trotzdem anspruchsberechtigt sein.
Kann ich mich erneut für CalFresh bewerben, wenn ich abgelehnt wurde?
Yes, even if you have applied for CalFresh before and were denied, we encourage you to try again. Income requirements are adjusted every year, and your personal household situation may have changed since you last applied.
Nimmt CalFresh meine Fingerabdrücke?
Nein, Fingerabdrücke sind nicht mehr erforderlich, um CalFresh zu erhalten.
“I like when people tell me about the meals they made for their family after receiving CalFresh. It makes me feel good to know that we played a small part in bringing nourishment and comfort to their table during a difficult time.”
— Patrick, bilingual in Tagalog and English
Das Leben hier ist teuer. Sich gesund ernähren muss nicht sein.
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley’s Food Connection hotline has been a lifeline for people seeking nutritious food since 1988. Hotline staff connect callers to sources of free food near where they live and work and can help callers apply for CalFresh benefits. Hotline staff speak English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Cantonese, Mandarin and Tagalog. Three-way interpretation is available for other languages so we can serve anyone who needs help. Last year we received an average of 188 calls per day.
Rufen Sie für weitere Informationen über CalFresh die Food Connection-Hotline von Second Harvest unter an 1-800-984-3663.
Rufen Sie uns von Montag bis Freitag von 8:00 bis 17:00 Uhr PST an. Wir beantworten Ihre Fragen und helfen Ihnen bei der Bewerbung.
