How soon you can get your SNAP benefits

In the state of California, low-income and low-income families receive food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Previously, the program was known as “Food Stamps” and now food stamp benefits are known as CalFresh in this state. This ensures that the purchasing power of food purchases increases and meets the nutritional needs of the low income earners.

The amount of this assistance depends on each institution. In some states they are higher due to inflation, but in all cases it depends on the number of family members.

Every month, Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) is deposited to the beneficiary through the card.

This money can be used to buy staple foods, seeds, non-alcoholic beverages in stores, online and authorized agricultural markets.

Who qualifies for CalFresh benefits?

To enter the program, applicant families must have an income below the federal poverty level; It varies from state to state.

It can take up to a month for your CalFresh benefit application to be approved. However, the state food program in California offers expedited service to receive benefits within three days.

This service is limited to families in emergency situations, but they must meet certain requirements.

One of them is that the beneficiary must earn less than $150.00 USD per month. Seasonal or migrant farm workers with a budget of less than $100.00 USD are also eligible.

In addition, the combined monthly income of the applicant family should be less than the expenditure on utilities, rent, healthcare etc.

Currently, more than 390,000 California families, many of them undocumented immigrants, receive CalFresh benefits to buy food.

With the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) 2024, an individual receives $291.00 USD and a family of 4 receives $973.00 USD. For large families with 8 members, they get $1,751 USD and 9 to $1,970 USD.