The CalFresh Program, formerly known as Food Stamps and federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), can add to your food budget to put healthy and nutritious food on the table. The program issues monthly electronic benefits that can be used to buy most foods at many markets and food stores.  CalFresh benefits come on a plastic card, called the Golden State Advantage Card, which you can use just like a bank card at most food stores. 

This is a federal funded program and only permanent residents or citizens can qualify for the program.  Parents with children who are citizens can apply on their child's behalf.

To be eligible to apply for Calfresh as a student:

The student must be between the ages of 18 and 49, enrolled in at least 6 units, have no meal plan (or have a meal plan that provides ten or less of your meals/week), and must also meet any ONE of the following:

• NEW! Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, student with Zero EFC are now eligible.
• Working and getting paid for an average of 20 hours per week OR a total of 80 hours a month
• Approved (awarded or accepted) for federal or state work study, anticipates working, and has not refused a work assignment (can still be eligible even if a work study job has not begun or is not currently available) 
• Students attending community college, receiving Cal Grant A and falling within the following qualifications: unmarried; AND 25 years of age or younger; AND household income less than $50,000
• Students attending CSU or UC, receiving Cal Grant A OR B, and falling within the following qualifications: unmarried; AND 25 years of age or younger; AND household income less than $50,000 
• Be enrolled in a state funded program that increases employability (EOP, EOPS, WIOA, DSPS, SAS, CARE, US McNair, Puente Project, or MESA) 
• Be enrolled in a program that increases employability for current and former foster youth (Guardian Scholars, FYSI, CAFYES, Chafee (ETC), or Extended Foster Care) 
• Be exerting parental control over a dependent household member under the age of 6 OR between the age of 6 and 12 with no adequate childcare (as determined by the county on a case‐by‐case basis)
• Be a single parent of a dependent household member under the age of 12 AND enrolled full‐time (6 units)

• Participating in the CalFresh Employment and Training Program (CFET) or be a recipient of CalWORKs or JOBS

Other things to consider: 

• Unpaid internships or volunteer work do not count towards the work requirement 
• Students who live with their parents must be 22 years of age or older to apply as an individual household
• International, DACA, and DREAM students may not be eligible, even with a work VISA/SSN
• Effective June 1, 2019 individuals receiving SSI/SSP are eligibility for CalFresh, provided all other eligibility criteria are met.
• Newly eligible CalFresh households (all household members are SSI/SSP recipients) are eligible as of the implementations date.
• For existing CalFresh households (contain an excluded SSI/SSP recipient), implementation will occur on a rolling basis at: Eligibility Status Report (SAR 7), At yearly recertification, or when voluntarily requested.

The amount of the benefit is based on the size of your household, your income, and your bills.

Household = a person living alone or a group of people living together (they do not have to be related) who buy food and make meals together.

*Minimum amount is $16/month

How do I apply?

Students can apply online by visiting the CalFresh website at https://www.getcalfresh.org/en.

What information do I need to apply?

Check out our CalFresh Applications Checklist to gather your documents before completing a CalFresh application.

Need assistance with your application?

If you need assistance completing your application, we offer both in-person and online help through our weekly zoom workshops.  

John Ruff, Basic Needs Specialist

Basic Needs Office, BCS Building

Email: john_ruff1@vcccd.edu

Phone: (805) 289-6583