CalFresh

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CalFresh is the California implementation of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp program, which provides financial assistance for purchasing food to low-income California residents.

Beneficiaries, who meet federal income eligibility rules, receive an electronic benefit that can be used to purchase foods at many markets and stores. The program is advertised to "help improve the health and well-being of qualified households and individuals by providing them a means to meet their nutritional needs."

CalFresh is currently funded by a private/public partnership.[1] Contractors, alongside community based subcontractors contribute non-federal funds (State Share). The CDSS holds onto a portion of the reimbursements in order to fund a statewide hotline, develop materials, conduct trainings, and enhance outreach programs.[2]

History[]

Originally the Food Stamp Program was established by Henry Wallace, Secretary of Agriculture, in 1939 under the Roosevelt administration.[3] Food stamps were first introduced in Rochester, New York.[4] This program was then later readdressed by the introduction of the food stamp pilot programs in 1961, under the Kennedy administration. [5] Later on January 31, 1964, President Johnson proposed to Congress to pass legislation that would make the food stamp programs permanent.[6] In April 1965, the program participation reached half a million, eventually reaching 15 million in October, 1974.[7] Beginning in 1990, electronic benefit transfer cards replaced paper food stamps, prompting a change in name of the program to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.[8]

CalFresh was formally established in the Food Stamp Reform Act of 1977. CalFresh was originally designed to act as a "safety net" against hunger for low income Americans in the state of California. Around the 1980's the original program was greatly expanded due to widespread and severe domestic hunger.[9] Later in 2003, the CDSS and CDPH cooperated with the California Association of Food Banks to develop the first California Food Stamp Access Improvement Plan. As of January 1, 2013, this plan has been overseen by the CDSS and updated annually.

Eligibility[]

In order to be eligible for the CalFresh program, you must be a resident of California and meet one of the following requirements:

  • A current bank balance under $2,001
  • A current bank balance under $3,001 and sharing the household with a person over the age of 60 or a person with a disability

In order to be eligible for the CalFresh program as an immigrant, you must meet one of the following requirements:

  • Have lived in the country (in a qualified status) for 5 years[10]
  • Currently receiving disability related assistance[11]
  • Are a child, under 18 years of age, and has been lawfully admitted to the place of legal residence[12]

Recipients over the age of 60 are eligible to use their CalFresh benefits to purchase low-cost meals in certain restaurants using a California EBT card.[13]

In order to be eligible for the Restaurant Meals Program, you must:

  • Be currently enrolled and receiving CalFresh benefits
  • Have an active California EBT Card
  • Be homeless, elderly (age 60 or older), or disabled

In order to be eligible for CalFresh as a student, you must:

  • Be aged between 18 - 49 years old[14]
  • Enrolled in "higher education"[15]
  • Enrolled in at least "half time" of credits (determined by school)[16]

Non-citizens such as tourists and undocumented individuals are not eligible for CalFresh.

CalFresh households are subject to gross and net income determination tests. The maximum gross net income allowed by the program is 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. Households are subject to reporting changes: Semi-Annual Reporting and Change Reporting.[17] Most households need to report the following three changes no more than 10 days after they happen.[18]

Federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients in states that provide state supplements to SSI are ineligible for SNAP/CalFresh pursuant to 7 U.S.C. § 2015(g). The State Supplementation Program (SSP or SSI/SSP), also known as the SNAP cash-out program, is the state supplement to the SSI program and provides state funded supplemental food benefits to SSI recipients in lieu of SNAP benefits.

Administration[]

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a federal aid program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), while CalFresh is administered jointly by the USDA, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), and the welfare departments of the 58 counties of California:

County Department/Agency
Alameda Social Services Agency
Fresno Department of Social Services
Humboldt Department of Health & Human Services
Los Angeles Department of Public Social Services
Sacramento Department of Human Assistance
San Diego Health and Human Services Agency
San Francisco Human Services Agency
San Joaquin Human Services Agency
Solano Department of Health and Social Services
Stanislaus Community Services Agency

Federal law mostly consists of the Food Stamp Act (7 U.S.C. § 2011 et seq.), and state law mostly consists of California Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) Division 9, Part 6, Chapter 10 (WIC § 18900 et seq.). Federal regulations are codified in Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 7 (7 CFR 271 et seq.) and state regulations are not part of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) but are separately published as the CDSS Manual of Policies and Procedures (MPP) and are "available for public use in the office of the welfare department of each county".[19] The MPP includes the Eligibility and Assistance Standards Manual (MPP divisions 40-50, 81-82, 89-91), the Food Stamp Manual (MPP division 63), and the Electronic Benefit Transfer System Manual (MPP division 16). In addition to this manual, the CDSS often communicates policy direction to counties through periodic All County Letters (ACLs), All County Information Notices (ACINs), and business letters.[20]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "About Us". www.cdss.ca.gov. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  2. ^ "About Us". www.cdss.ca.gov. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  3. ^ "The History of SNAP | Snap To Health". www.snaptohealth.org. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  4. ^ Klein, Christopher. "How Did Food Stamps Begin?". HISTORY. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  5. ^ "The History of SNAP | Snap To Health". www.snaptohealth.org. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  6. ^ "A Short History of SNAP | Food and Nutrition Service". www.fns.usda.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  7. ^ "A Short History of SNAP | Food and Nutrition Service". www.fns.usda.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  8. ^ Klein, Christopher. "How Did Food Stamps Begin?". HISTORY. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  9. ^ "About Us". www.cdss.ca.gov. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  10. ^ "Eligibility and Issuance Requirements". www.cdss.ca.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  11. ^ "Eligibility and Issuance Requirements". www.cdss.ca.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  12. ^ "Eligibility and Issuance Requirements". www.cdss.ca.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  13. ^ "280+ Restaurants that Take EBT in California (2021)". California Food Stamps Help. 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  14. ^ "Special rules for students". LSNC Guide to CalFresh Benefits. 2015-07-30. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  15. ^ "Special rules for students". LSNC Guide to CalFresh Benefits. 2015-07-30. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  16. ^ "Special rules for students". LSNC Guide to CalFresh Benefits. 2015-07-30. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  17. ^ "Eligibility and Issuance Requirements". www.cdss.ca.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-02.
  18. ^ "The Providers guide to EBT in California". Providers. Retrieved 2021-11-22.
  19. ^ Part 1, Division 2, Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations
  20. ^ "How the Food Stamp (CalFresh) Program is structured". foodstampguide.org. Legal Services of Northern California. Retrieved 18 January 2013.

External links[]

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