CalFresh

END OF PANDEMIC FOOD AID MEANS 7.7 MILLION FEWER MEALS PER MONTH IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY

El Cajon is second-hardest hit community, losing 752,000 meals, report by San Diego Hunger Coalition finds

East County News Service

March 7, 2023 (San Diego) -- CalFresh pandemic emergency allotments have ended, resulting in a significant hit on the grocery purchasing power of many San Diego households during a time of soaring grocery store prices.

But those affected may be able to increase their monthly benefits amount by updating monthly household expenses on record with County of San Diego—and the San Diego Hunger Coalition can help.


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ARE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR CALFRESH BENEFITS?

By Katie Cadiao, County of San Diego Communications Office

May 13, 2022 (San Diego) - The County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency and its partners are working together to get the word out about CalFresh benefits during the month of May, which is designated as CalFresh Awareness Month.


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STATE SUPERINTENDENT TONY THURMOND ANNOUNCES NEW STATEWIDE BENEFIT PROGRAM TO HELP FEED CHILDREN AMID CHILD CARE CLOSURES

One million young children in California may be eligible

Source: California Department of Education

June 5, 2021 (Sacramento) -- State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved California’s plan to launch a new food assistance program for young children up to age six whose access to healthy meals has been impacted due to the pandemic. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and the California Department of Education (CDE) will partner to issue Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) benefits to eligible young children.

“The pandemic has placed additional strain on many families that were already struggling to provide healthy meals for their kids,” said Thurmond. “This program provides critical assistance so that our low-income young children can get the nutritious foods at home they need to thrive.”


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PANDEMIC FOOD BENEFITS

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: cc via SA-Bing

May 10, 2020 (San Diego) – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) has provided the following information on new food benefits approved by Congress and the state of California to assist recipients of EBT, WIC and CalFresh programs during the pandemic. She also provides details on a new state program to enable restaurants to deliver meals to seniors, aid to food banks and more, with links to helpful resources.

Below is the information provided by her office:

As COVID-19 began to disrupt life in America, Congress moved swiftly and passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to help families impacted by the pandemic.


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COVID-19 EMERGENCY ALLOTMENTS FOR CALFRESH RECIPIENTS

East County News Service

April 21, 2020 (San Diego) - In April, CalFresh recipients will receive an Emergency Allotment (EA) on their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Card. This benefit was authorized by House Resolution 6201 – The Families First Act signed into law on March 18, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. 


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COUNTY PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS TO CONTINUE; RENEWALS, STATUS REPORTS DEFERRED

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office
 
Photo courtesy: County of San Diego
 
Medi-Cal, CalWORKs, CalFresh and General Relief benefit payments for current customers will continue uninterrupted through April, May and June and certain paperwork is deferred until further notice.
 
The County began sending texts and calls Wednesday to San Diegans who receive the benefits to let them know about the change and confirm that benefits will continue through June.

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CALFRESH ELIGIBILITY EXPANDS, INCLUDING COVERAGE FOR MANY SENIORS AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES STARTING IN JUNE

 

 

By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications Office

May 12, 2019 (San Diego) - Starting in June 2019, the CalFresh program will allow many seniors and people with disabilities receiving SSI/SSP to participate and have access to nutritious food.

CalFresh is designed to reduce food insecurity and increase food budgets, improving participants’ access to fresh and healthy food.


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FEBRUARY CALFRESH BENEFITS TO BE ISSUED EARLY

 

 

By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications Office

Image credit via Pixabay
 
January 15, 2019 (San Diego) - San Diego County residents who receive CalFresh food nutrition assistance will receive their February benefits early because of the ongoing partial federal government shutdown, San Diego County officials announced today.

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COUNTY HIGHLIGHTS ACCESS TO CALFRESH FOOD ASSISTANCE

 

Applying for CalFresh – California’s federal food assistance program – has never been easier. And San Diego County’s Health and Human Services Agency, community partners and food advocates are doing outreach at dozens of events during May’s CalFresh Awareness Month to spread the word.


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FREE TAX HELP, BENEFITS SCREENING AVAILABLE FOR EAST COUNTY RESIDENTS

 

February 13, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--Tax time is rarely a time that people look forward to. Even if you’re getting a refund, there’s still a bunch of paperwork, numbers and calculations to go through. But, what if you could get free help with your taxes? Better yet, what if at the same time, you could also find out what benefits you qualify for, like CalFresh or discounts on your SDG&E bill?


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CLAIM YOUR EITC DOLLARS: IT’S EASY AND FREE

$10 Million Returned to San Diegans in 2012

January 25, 2012 (San Diego)--County officials and community partners kick off the 2013 campaign to help low-income families and individuals boost their federal tax refunds by taking advantage of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and applying for CalFresh (food stamps). 

From Jan. 30 through April 15, hundreds of volunteers and college students will file income taxes for free at nearly 100 sites across the County. They will also screen families to determine if they qualify for CalFresh benefits. Residents can call 2-1-1 for more information. 


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