CalFresh
CalFresh, also known as SNAP/EBT, is a long-term food assistance program for people with low-income who meet federal income eligibility rules and want to add to their budget to put healthy and nutritious food on the table.
CalFresh funds are loaded onto an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card each month and can be used to purchase groceries at most grocery stores, convenience stores, farmers' markets, Amazon.com, Walmart, and Instacart.
The Snap Retail Locator can be used to identify the retail stores in your area that accept EBT.
The best way to know if you are eligible for CalFresh is to apply! The CalFresh outreach team's pre-screen formcan help assess your eligibility and connect you to a team member for support.
The application collects information about your current situation including household size, income, eligibiltiy to work/hours, school enrollment status, and residency status:
Household Information
Your household size is defined as the people you normally purchase and prepare food with.
2024-2025 CalFresh Income Criteria
LPIEs (Local Programs that Increase Employability)
If you are enrolled in an LPIE program, you can qualify for an exemption to the work requirement. This list shows all eligible LPIE majors and certificates at NVC.
Residency Status
Your household must include at least one US citizen or a Permanent Resident Noncitizens (Legal Permanent Residents [LPR’s]) to meet this criteria.
apply with the help of our CalFresh Outreach team
Use our CalFresh pre-screen form to get started.
You may be asked to provide these documents
You are not required to upload documents when you submit your application but you may be asked for verification documents later. A county worker will notify you know which documentation is required to verify your eligibility. It may be helpful to prepare requested documents, including:
-
- Proof of identity (Driver’s License, State ID card, Student ID)
- Proof of income (like recent pay stubs, or unemployment benefits)
- Proof of expenses (like medical costs, or child care)
30-day application period
The 30-day application period begins once the County receives your application. Look out for a phone call or mail from the county office with the date and time of your interview. Let the NVC CalFresh Outreach Team know if you have not heard from the county within the first 7 days.
Within the 30-day application period the county may request that you submit any missing verification documents. You can upload documnets through your BenefitsCal portal. Examples of verification documentation include: Copy of ID, Proof of address, Utility Bill, Pay stubs, Financial aid award letter and schedule.
Sar-7 report
6 months after the county approves your application, you will need to verify your eligibility by completing the SAR-7 Eligibility Report.
The County will contact you by phone or email letting you know when your SAR-7 is due and the time/date of your interview.
SUN Bucks
SUN Bucks are summer groceries for kids. SUN Bucks provides $120 in grocery benefits per eligible school-age child when school is out for summer. Children can receive SUN Bucks on top of other benefits like SNAP and WIC.