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).
Waarom is het belangrijk om bellers door te verbinden met CalFresh-voordelen?
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.”
Wat is CalFresh?
CalFresh (voorheen bekend als voedselbonnen) helpt mensen met een beperkt inkomen om voedsel te betalen. CalFresh kan worden gebruikt bij de meeste supermarkten, bij het online bestellen van boodschappen bij geselecteerde retailers en op boerenmarkten die een Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)-kaart accepteren. Voordelen worden verstrekt op een EBT-kaart die werkt als een debetkaart. CalFresh-uitkeringen zijn geen lening en hoeven niet te worden terugbetaald.
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 gebruik deze boodschappenlijst en onze recepten to make eight nutritious and filling meals for under $24!
Hoe kan ik CalFresh aanvragen?
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 Meld u aan voor de CalFresh-pagina 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?
Bezoek onze CalFresh-pagina 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
Wat zijn enkele andere voordelen als u zich aanmeldt voor CalFresh?
Door u in te schrijven voor CalFresh komt u in aanmerking voor andere gratis of scherp geprijsde programma's, waaronder:
- Kortingen op nutsvoorzieningen zoals PG&E en telefoon dienst
- Vervoer met korting op BART, SamTrans, CalTrain en Bikes for All
- Gratis of met korting toegang tot musea overal in de VS, evenals in de staatsparken van Californië
- Market Match, dat bijpassende fondsen biedt zodat klanten nog meer fruit en groenten kunnen kopen op deelnemende boerenmarkten. Lees meer op MarketMatch.com.
Wat kan ik kopen met mijn CalFresh EBT-kaart?
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.
Hoeveel kunt u van CalFresh krijgen?
California releases its maximum CalFresh Allotments every fiscal year. For the current cycle started October 1, 2025, the maximum monthly amounts are as follows:
| Mensen in het huishouden | Bruto maandinkomen | Netto maandelijks inkomen | Maximale CalFresh-toewijzing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Elk extra lid | $918 | $459 | $218 |
Moet ik CalFresh terugbetalen?
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.
Telt CalFresh als inkomen?
Nee, CalFresh-toewijzingen aan elk huishouden tellen niet mee als belastbaar inkomen.
Do I have to pay taxes on CalFresh?
No, you do not need to pay taxes on or report CalFresh on your tax return.
Moet ik een bewijs van inkomen tonen bij het aanvragen van CalFresh?
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
Kan CalFresh mijn immigratiestatus beïnvloeden?
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.
Kan ik CalFresh krijgen als ik geen kinderen heb?
Ja, mensen die geen kinderen hebben, kunnen CalFresh krijgen.
Kan ik CalFresh krijgen als student?
Ja, veel studenten kunnen CalFresh krijgen als ze aan de studentenvereisten voldoen.
Kan ik CalFresh krijgen als ik geen legaal ingezetene of staatsburger ben?
Om in aanmerking te komen, moet ten minste één lid van het huishouden legaal ingezetene of staatsburger zijn, zelfs als die persoon een kind is. Gesponsorde immigranten komen mogelijk in aanmerking.
Kan ik CalFresh krijgen als ik een huis of een auto heb?
Ja, u kunt uw huis of een auto bezitten en spaargeld hebben en toch in aanmerking komen.
Kan ik CalFresh opnieuw aanvragen als ik ben afgewezen?
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.
Neemt CalFresh mijn vingerafdrukken?
Nee, vingerafdrukken zijn niet langer nodig om CalFresh te krijgen.
“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
Hier wonen is duur. Gezond eten hoeft niet zo te zijn.
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.
Voor meer informatie over CalFresh, bel Second Harvest's Food Connection hotline op: 1-800-984-3663.
Bel ons van maandag tot en met vrijdag van 8 tot 17 uur PST. Wij kunnen uw vragen beantwoorden en u helpen bij het aanvragen.
