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).
为什么将呼叫者与 CalFresh 福利联系起来很重要？
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.”
什么是 CalFresh？
CalFresh（以前称为食品券）帮助收入有限的人支付食品费用。 CalFresh 可以在大多数杂货店使用，在特定零售商和接受电子福利转移 (EBT) 卡的农贸市场在线订购杂货时。像借记卡一样工作的 EBT 卡提供福利。 CalFresh 福利不是贷款，不需要偿还。
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 使用此购物清单和我们的食谱 to make eight nutritious and filling meals for under $24!
我如何申请 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 申请 CalFresh 页面 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?
访问我们的 CalFresh 页面 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
注册 CalFresh 还有哪些其他好处？
通过注册 CalFresh，您有资格参加其他免费或折扣计划，包括：
- 公用事业折扣，例如 太平洋石油公司 和 电话 服务
- 交通折扣 BART、SamTrans、CalTrain 和 Bike for All
- 免费或打折入场 博物馆 美国各地以及加州州立公园
- 市场配套资金 (Market Match)，提供配套资金，帮助顾客在参与活动的农贸市场购买更多水果和蔬菜。了解更多信息，请访问 MarketMatch.com.
我可以使用 CalFresh EBT 卡购买什么？
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.
您可以从 CalFresh 获得多少？
California releases its maximum CalFresh Allotments every fiscal year. For the current cycle started October 1, 2025, the maximum monthly amounts are as follows:
| 家庭住户 | 每月毛收入 | 净月收入 | 最大CalFresh分配 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 每增加一个成员 | $918 | $459 | $218 |
我必须偿还 CalFresh 的费用吗？
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.
CalFresh 算不算收入？
不，CalFresh 分配给每个家庭的款项不计入应税收入。
Do I have to pay taxes on CalFresh?
No, you do not need to pay taxes on or report CalFresh on your tax return.
申请 CalFresh 时需要出示收入证明吗？
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
CalFresh 会影响我的移民身份吗？
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.
如果我没有孩子，我可以得到 CalFresh 吗？
是的，没有孩子的人可以获得 CalFresh。
我可以作为大学生获得 CalFresh 吗？
是的，如果符合学生要求，许多大学生可以获得 CalFresh。
如果我不是合法居民或公民，我可以获得 CalFresh 吗？
要符合资格，至少一名家庭成员必须是合法居民或公民，即使该人是儿童。担保移民可能有资格。
如果我拥有自己的房子或汽车，我可以获得 CalFresh 吗？
是的，您可以拥有自己的房屋或汽车，并且有积蓄并且仍然符合资格。
如果我被拒绝，我可以重新申请 CalFresh 吗？
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.
CalFresh 会采集我的指纹吗？
不，获取 CalFresh 不再需要指纹识别。
“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
住在这里很贵。获得健康的食物不一定是。
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.
有关 CalFresh 的更多信息，请致电 Second Harvest 的 Food Connection 热线： 1-800-984-3663.
周一至周五上午 8 点至下午 5 点（太平洋标准时间）致电我们。我们可以回答您的问题并帮助您申请。
