The CalFresh Program (formerly known as Food Stamps) improves people's nutrition in low-income households by increasing their food-buying power so that they can purchase sufficient food to meet their household's needs.
Please check here to find all the most up-to-date news and announcements regarding CalFresh benefits and the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program!
The Restaurant Meals Program allows homeless, disabled, and elderly (age 60 and over) receiving CalFresh benefits to use their Golden State Advantage (EBT) cards to purchase meals from participating restaurants.
If you are eligible for CalFresh assistance, you will receive an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) debit card. You can use your EBT card to purchase food items at participating grocery stores, order grocery online for pick up or delivery at participating grocery stores, and participating Farmers' Markets.
Here are additional resources for further interest in the CalFresh program. There is an Outreach Toolkit to assist agencies in conducting the most effective CalFresh outreach possible, a list of community partners to assist the public with applying for CalFresh benefits, and more.
In addition to the CalFresh Program, there are additional nutrition assistance resources to help put food on your table!
The state of California currently provides state-funded food benefits to qualified immigrants through the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP). These food benefits are available through the same Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card as CalFresh. Currently, CFAP is set to expand on October 1, 2025, making California the first state in the nation to provide food benefits to Californians who are 55 years or older, with any immigration status. With this change, all Californians aged 55 years or older, regardless of their immigration status, will be able to receive a monthly food benefit to help meet their basic needs.
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) developed a survey to understand how food insecurity affects participants and how the expansion of CFAP may affect their lives. Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) is requesting your participation for this survey, so that we can learn more about your food situations/insecurity and how the CFAP expansion may affect you. The best person to answer this survey is the primary adult who shops for food or helps prepare meals. This survey is optional. The survey does not ask for any information that links you to your answers. The purpose of this survey is to collect your stories and work with our community partners to better assist you.
