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).
발신자를 CalFresh 혜택에 연결하는 것이 왜 중요한가요?
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.”
칼프레쉬(CalFresh)란 무엇입니까?
CalFresh(이전에는 푸드 스탬프로 알려짐)는 소득이 제한된 사람들의 식품 비용을 지불하는 데 도움이 됩니다. CalFresh는 대부분의 식료품점에서 전자 혜택 이체(EBT) 카드를 허용하는 일부 소매점 및 농산물 직판장에서 온라인으로 식료품을 주문할 때 사용할 수 있습니다. 혜택은 직불카드처럼 작동하는 EBT 카드로 제공됩니다. CalFresh 혜택은 대출이 아니므로 갚을 필요가 없습니다.
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 이 식료품 목록과 우리의 요리법을 사용하세요 to make eight nutritious and filling meals for under $24!
CalFresh를 어떻게 신청할 수 있나요?
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 CalFresh 페이지 신청 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?
우리를 방문하세요 CalFresh 페이지 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
CalFresh에 가입하면 어떤 다른 혜택이 있습니까?
CalFresh에 등록하시면 다음과 같은 기타 무료 또는 할인 프로그램을 이용하실 수 있습니다.
CalFresh EBT 카드로 무엇을 구입할 수 있나요?
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.
CalFresh에서 얼마를 받을 수 있나요?
California releases its maximum CalFresh Allotments every fiscal year. For the current cycle started October 1, 2025, the maximum monthly amounts are as follows:
| 가구 구성원 | 월 총소득 | 월 순소득 | CalFresh 최대 할당량 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 각 추가 멤버 | $918 | $459 | $218 |
CalFresh 비용을 다시 지불해야 합니까?
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.
CalFresh는 소득으로 간주되나요?
아니요, 각 가구에 지급된 CalFresh 할당금은 과세 소득으로 계산되지 않습니다.
Do I have to pay taxes on CalFresh?
No, you do not need to pay taxes on or report CalFresh on your tax return.
CalFresh를 신청할 때 소득 증명을 제시해야 합니까?
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
CalFresh가 내 이민 신분에 영향을 미칠 수 있나요?
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.
자녀가 없어도 CalFresh를 받을 수 있나요?
예, 자녀가 없는 사람도 CalFresh를 받을 수 있습니다.
대학생도 CalFresh를 받을 수 있나요?
예, 많은 대학생들이 학생 요건을 충족하면 CalFresh를 받을 수 있습니다.
합법적인 거주자나 시민이 아닌 경우에도 CalFresh를 받을 수 있나요?
자격을 갖추려면 가구 구성원 중 최소 한 명이 아동이라도 법적 거주자 또는 시민이어야 합니다. 후원 이민자가 자격이 될 수 있습니다.
집이나 자동차를 소유하고 있으면 CalFresh를 받을 수 있나요?
예, 귀하는 집이나 자동차를 소유하고 저축을 하여도 여전히 자격이 있습니다.
CalFresh가 거부된 경우 다시 신청할 수 있나요?
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.
CalFresh는 지문을 채취합니까?
아니요, CalFresh를 받기 위해 더 이상 지문 채취가 필요하지 않습니다.
“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
여기서 사는 것은 비싸다. 건강한 음식을 섭취하는 것이 꼭 그럴 필요는 없습니다.
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.
CalFresh에 대한 자세한 내용은 Second Harvest의 Food Connection 핫라인으로 전화하십시오. 1-800-984-3663.
월요일부터 금요일, 오전 8시부터 오후 5시(PST)까지 전화해 주세요. 귀하의 질문에 답변하고 신청을 도와드릴 수 있습니다.
