CalFresh and EBT News and Updates

Starting November 12, in addition to Amazon and Walmart, CalFresh benefits can now be used to purchase groceries online at Vons, Safeway & Albertsons!

Image of an elderly man making a sandwich in his kitchen.

Check out this flyer regarding using your EBT card for online purchases!

View this list of additional information about the participating retailers.

Important Information for New Applicants and Current CalFresh Customers!

As of October 28, 2020, Initial Certification and Recertification Interviews are not required if all of the following requirements are fulfilled:

If a complete application is received,
If your identity has already been verified in the department system, and
If all mandatory verification were provided during your application submission.

However, if the County determines that the information provided is questionable or requires additional clarification, an interview will be required.

Important Information for Existing CalFresh Customers:

Semi-Annual Reporting and recertifications requirements have resumed as of June 2020. You must submit your SAR 7 report or recertification application to continue your benefits.
If you have not received the CalFresh Emergency Allotments for your household for the months of August, September, or October, you will be receiving emergency benefits on November 15, 2020. November emergency allotment is expected to be issued on December 20th, 2020. You do not need to contact us or apply for these benefits.
If you are in need of food, please use the Food Bank Resource Guide to find out where you can get help with food. Hours of operation may have changed, so call ahead!
You may also call 211 or visit their food resource page for additional information.

Banner for Mas Fresco program that links to the Mas Fresco website

¡Más Fresco! is a partnership between the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Center for Community Health, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Northgate Gonzalez Market.

The program provides financial incentives to CalFresh recipients when they purchase fresh fruits and vegetables using their EBT card at participating Northgate Markets in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego Counties.

¡Más Fresco! is now available to CalFresh recipients via online enrollment. CalFresh recipients who enroll will earn $1 for every $1 of CalFresh benefits spent on qualifying fresh fruits or vegetables with a maximum financial incentive of $40 a month for 1 year.

The following LA County locations of Northgate Market are participating in this program:

10801 Prairie Avenue, Inglewood, CA 90303
944 E. Slauson Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90011

Northgate Gonzalez Market hopes to make this program available in all 41 of their locations across Southern California by the end of 2020.

Visit the ¡Más Fresco! for more information! You can also click the banner above to visit the website!

Pandemic EBT

The California Department of Social Services recently approved Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) Extension benefits for children who previously received
P-EBT benefits during the Summer 2020. Children will receive P-EBT Extension benefits for the months of August and September 2020 if they:

Previously received P-EBT benefits for the 2019-20 school year;
Are attending a California K-12 school for the 2020-21 school year; and
Are assumed to be attending school virtually or via a hybrid model of virtual and in-person instruction for the 2020-21 school year.

Under this "P-EBT Extension", each eligible child will receive a new
P-EBT card with P-EBT benefits for the months of August and September 2020. These new P-EBT cards will be mailed directly to families early November through the end of December. The new card will need to have the PIN set-up through the EBT Helpline. Eligible families do not need to apply to receive P-EBT Extension benefits.

If you have any questions regarding your Pandemic EBT benefits, please call (877) 328-9677.