CalFresh

What is CalFresh?

CalFresh (formerly known as Food Stamps), is known federally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). CalFresh provides monthly assistance for low or no income individuals and families to purchase nutritious food. The CalFresh program issues monthly benefits on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, similar to an ATM card, to purchase food at grocery stores and farmers markets that accept EBT cards. It enables you to buy more food, improve health and nutrition, and stretch your grocery budget.

How to Apply for CalFresh

Online: BenefitsCal.com 
By phone: 1-800-560-0976 ​
By Fax: (916) 876-8454 or e-fax (916) 854-9225
By Mail: P.O. Box 487 Sacramento, CA 95812​
In Person: See locations

Minimum Requirements

​Sacramento County encourages applicants to complete as much of the application as possible to minimize delays; however, the minimum requirements to file an application are:

  • ​​​​Applicant’s name and
  • Household’s address (unless homeless), and 
  • ​Signature of head of household, any adult household member, or an authorized representative, or a responsible minor

 

Expedited Services (ES)

​ES is available to certain applicants. If you are eligible for ES, your application must be processed within three (3) days of your CalFresh application date.

You may be eligible for ES if we can verify your identity and you meet one (1) of the following requirements:

  • Your household's monthly gross income (before taxes) is less than $150.00, and your liquid resources are $100.00 or less.
  • Your household's combined monthly gross income and liquid resources are less than the combined monthly rent/mortgage and utility expenses
  • You are a migrant or seasonal worker with $100.00 or less in liquid resources

​

Restaurant Meals Program

The Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) allows households who may not be able to prepare meals or who do not have a place to store and cook meals to buy food at participating restaurants with their CalFresh benefits. 

To be eligible to RMP, all members of the CalFresh household must be:

  • Aged 60 or older; or
  • Disabled; or
  • The spouse of an individual who belongs to one of the above categories; or
  • Experiencing homelessness

Search for a participating restaurant here: RMP | CalFresh

 

News and Updates 

SAR 7 Information

Many households must complete a SAR 7 six (6) months after applying for RCA. The SAR 7 is due by the 5th of the month.

Complete your SAR 7 online at www.BenefitsCal.com or find the form here SAR 7 and submit by mail or in person.

Need help completing the SAR7:

Reasonable Accommodations

Do you have any physical, mental, developmental, or emotional conditions that make it hard for you to apply for benefits or meet program requirements? We can give you extra help. We call this type of help a reasonable accommodation.

To request a reasonable accommodation, you may:

  • Verbally by calling the Service Center at  1-800-560-0976 or while speaking to a worker about your case
  • Submit a written request online, by mail, by fax, or in person

The law protects people with physical, mental, emotional, and developmental disabilities as well as others with serious health problems (42 U.S.C. § 12132). For more information, please review the PUB 13 and USDA Nondiscrimination Statement.