I too love free food, and it’s available, RIGHT NOW from the state of California!🗣️🗣️🗣️
CalFresh:
also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), gives those who need it monthly benefits to allow them to buy food; AKA, free food for those in need (now who doesn’t LOVE that?).
Before I get into the specifics, I get it, asking for help can be embarrassing or seen as begging. However, this isn’t that, this is a reddit post in a place of no judgement. Do you or your family suffer from low-income in the ruthless unfair economy of California? Do you often find yourself struggling to afford 3 daily meals while balancing tuition fees and costs? Well, you don’t have to answer that question here but this post is for you.
How it works:
The way it works is you get an EBT card (Electronic Benefits Transfer)—yes you get a debit card for free isn’t that cool—that you can use to buy food from grocery stores and farmers’ markets that accept it. You can even use it for select online purchases for food from Amazon or Walmart or some other sellers that accept EBT. Although it doesn’t cover non-food items such as hygiene products nor does it cover foods bought from restaurants it is still very useful for getting those 3 necessary daily meals.
The amount of benefits you receive depends on factors like your income, household size, and any deductions (for rent, utilities, etc.). The California Department of Social Services has guidelines to calculate how much you can receive based on these factors.
You get your benefits every month in the form of money in your EBT card and you can use it to buy food only, in case that wasn’t obvious already.
PS. if you’re struggling on what to buy I highly recommend researching cheap healthy meals, more often than not they are delicious and EASY (now isn’t that fantastic, best of both worlds).
Do you qualify:
To qualify for CalFresh, you need to meet certain criteria. The main factors include:
• Income: Your household income must be at or below a certain threshold, it;s based on the number of people in your household.
• Citizenship/Immigration Status: You must be a U.S. citizen or a legal resident, though some non-citizens may qualify depending on their status.
• Residency: You must live in California to apply for CalFresh benefits in the state.
• Work/School Requirements: In general students must meet certain work or enrollment criteria to qualify, there are exceptions. If you’re able to work, you may need to show that you’re working or looking for work. Students may qualify if they meet certain criteria, like working a set number of hours or receiving specific benefits, even if not all the other requirements are met.
PLEASE consult the Basic Needs Hub for more assistance they will be HAPPY to help you with no judgement and they’ll help you apply too. They also help students find emergency food services if you are in need of that. Do NOT be afraid to reach out.
Even if you don’t think you qualify, it’s always a good idea to apply—many students and families are surprised to learn that they’re eligible!
Where to apply:
Applying is easy and can be done online through the CalFresh website: https://www.getcalfresh.org.
All you have to do is provide the information and submit your application, if you’re having any struggles don’t hesitate to make an appointment with the Basic Needs Hub and they will help you out with everything.
If you, your family, a friend, or anyone you know is struggling to afford food and could possibly be eligible for CalFresh please let them know of CalFresh and all the benefits it provides. Even if you don’t know anyone in need you can still upvote and share this post to spread awareness of CalFresh as many of UCSD students struggle with food insecurity and are unaware of all the benefits they are eligible for; you never truly know when you are helping someone.