What is CalFresh?

CalFresh, known federally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps), provides monthly food benefits to individuals and families with low-income and provides economic benefits to communities. CalFresh is the largest food program in California and provides an essential hunger safety net. CalFresh is federally mandated and, in California, is state-supervised and county-operated.

CalFresh benefits can help buy nutritious foods for a better diet. CalFresh benefits stretch food budgets, allowing individuals and families to afford nutritious food, including more fruit, vegetables and other healthy foods. The amount of benefits a household receives is dependent on household size, countable income, and monthly expenses, such as housing and utilities. The program issues monthly benefits on an Electronic Benefits Transfer or “EBT” card. Food may be purchased at any grocery store or farmers market that accepts EBT cards.


Who is it for?

CalFresh is for people with low-income who meet federal income eligibility limits and want to add to their budget to put healthy and nutritious food on the table.

Starting April 1, 2026, certain groups of lawfully present noncitizens will no longer be eligible for CalFresh. See eligibility guidelines here.


How does CalFresh work?

Benefits are added to an account that is accessible in a similar manner to a bank account that is accessible via the Electronic Benefits Transfer or “EBT” card and unique pin at countless locations across the state. To find a retailer near you, search here.

For online access to EBT card balance information, CalFresh clients can visit the California Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Client Website. Click credit card and then log-in. CalFresh clients can also access real-time account information, card locking, out-of-state transaction blocking, and suspicious transaction monitoring through the ​Propel app.


H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act ) & CalFresh

The passage of House Resolution 1 (H.R. 1) included the expansion of the 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, which includes the restrictions of “Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents” (ABAWD) ages 18 – 49 to CalFresh food assistance for 3 months in a 3-year period.

H.R. 1 raised the upper age limit to 64 and modified the criteria for parents with children 14 and over in the CalFresh Household. Parents who do not have children under 14 in their CalFresh household and do not meet an exemption must meet work or community engagement requirements to keep benefits beyond 3 months.

Effective June 1, 2026, to maintain eligibility beyond the 3-month limit in a 3-year period, participants who are not exempt must complete an average of 80 hours per month (about 20 hours a week) in qualified activities or earn $217.50 per week before taxes.

Find out if you may be required to meet the CalFresh work and community engagement requirements to keep your CalFresh benefits, or whether you may be excused from these new requirements by using the CalFresh Work and Community Engagement Requirements: Pre-Screening Tool.

CalFresh Work and Community Engagement Requirements Fact Sheet (English) (Spanish)

CalFresh Work and Community Engagement Requirements FAQs (English) (Spanish)

CalFresh Work and Community Engagement Requirements Checklist (English) (Spanish)

For more information on frequently asked questions, click here.

Where can I apply?

Sacramento County Residents can receive over-the-phone CalFresh application assistance from 2-1-1 Sacramento Call Specialists by dialing 2-1-1 and scheduling an appointment.

Residents can also contact Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (SFBFS), whose CalFresh team can help qualified individuals apply to the CalFresh program over the phone or through text. 

To view in-person application assistance offered by various partners across Sacramento County, see the map below. Other application assistance can be found by contacting the County of Sacramento Department of Human Assistance. In addition, applicants are welcome to apply online at BenefitsCal.com.


Help Promote CalFresh!