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).
Bakit mahalagang ikonekta ang mga tumatawag sa mga benepisyo ng CalFresh?
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.”
Ano ang CalFresh?
Ang CalFresh (dating kilala bilang mga food stamp) ay tumutulong sa mga taong may limitadong kita na magbayad para sa pagkain. Maaaring gamitin ang CalFresh sa karamihan ng mga grocery store, kapag nag-order ng mga grocery online sa mga piling retailer at sa mga farmers market na tumatanggap ng Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. Ang mga benepisyo ay ibinibigay sa isang EBT card na gumagana tulad ng isang debit card. Ang mga benepisyo ng CalFresh ay hindi isang pautang at hindi kailangang bayaran.
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 gamitin ang listahan ng grocery na ito at ang aming mga recipe to make eight nutritious and filling meals for under $24!
Paano ako makakapag-apply para sa CalFresh?
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 Mag-apply para sa pahina ng CalFresh 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?
Bisitahin ang aming pahina ng CalFresh 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
Ano ang ilang iba pang benepisyo sa pag-sign up para sa CalFresh?
Sa pamamagitan ng pag-enroll sa CalFresh, kwalipikado ka para sa iba pang libre o may diskwentong programa, kabilang ang:
- Mga diskwento sa mga utility tulad ng PG&E at telepono serbisyo
- May diskwentong transportasyon sa BART, SamTrans, CalTrain at Bikes for All
- Libre o may diskwentong pagpasok sa mga museo sa buong US, pati na rin sa California State Parks
- Market Match, na nagbibigay ng magkatugmang pondo upang ang mga customer ay makabili ng mas maraming prutas at gulay sa mga kalahok na merkado ng mga magsasaka. Matuto nang higit pa sa MarketMatch.com.
Ano ang mabibili ko gamit ang aking CalFresh EBT card?
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.
Magkano ang makukuha mo mula sa CalFresh?
California releases its maximum CalFresh Allotments every fiscal year. For the current cycle started October 1, 2025, the maximum monthly amounts are as follows:
| Mga Tao sa Sambahayan | Kita sa Buwanang Kita | Net Buwanang Kita | Maximum na CalFresh Allotment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Ang bawat karagdagang miyembro | $918 | $459 | $218 |
Kailangan ko bang ibalik ang CalFresh?
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.
Ang CalFresh ba ay binibilang bilang kita?
Hindi, ang mga paglalaan ng CalFresh na ginawa sa bawat sambahayan ay hindi binibilang bilang nabubuwisang kita.
Do I have to pay taxes on CalFresh?
No, you do not need to pay taxes on or report CalFresh on your tax return.
Kailangan ko bang magpakita ng patunay ng kita kapag nag-a-apply para sa 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
Maaapektuhan ba ng CalFresh ang aking katayuan sa imigrasyon?
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.
Maaari ba akong makakuha ng CalFresh kung wala akong mga anak?
Oo, ang mga taong walang anak ay maaaring makakuha ng CalFresh.
Maaari ba akong makakuha ng CalFresh bilang isang mag-aaral sa kolehiyo?
Oo, maraming estudyante sa kolehiyo ang makakakuha ng CalFresh kung natutugunan nila ang mga kinakailangan ng mag-aaral.
Maaari ba akong makakuha ng CalFresh kung hindi ako legal na residente o mamamayan?
Upang maging kuwalipikado, kahit isang miyembro ng sambahayan ay dapat na isang legal na residente o mamamayan, kahit na ang taong iyon ay isang bata. Maaaring maging karapat-dapat ang mga naka-sponsor na imigrante.
Maaari ba akong makakuha ng CalFresh kung pagmamay-ari ko ang aking bahay o kotse?
Oo, maaari mong pagmamay-ari ang iyong bahay o kotse at may ipon at maging karapat-dapat pa rin.
Maaari ba akong mag-aplay muli para sa CalFresh kung ako ay tinanggihan?
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.
Kinukuha ba ng CalFresh ang aking mga fingerprint?
Hindi, hindi na kailangan ang fingerprint para makakuha ng CalFresh.
“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
Mahal ang pamumuhay dito. Ang pagkuha ng malusog na pagkain ay hindi kailangan.
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.
Para sa karagdagang impormasyon sa CalFresh, tumawag sa hotline ng Second Harvest's Food Connection sa 1-800-984-3663.
Tawagan kami Lunes hanggang Biyernes, 8 am-5 pm PST. Masasagot namin ang iyong mga tanong at tulungan kang mag-apply.
