Help Us Fight Hunger in Los Angeles County!

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Help Us Fight Hunger in Los Angeles County!

• In this economic downturn, underutilization of
  the CalFresh Program means lost dollars and empty
  plates for local residents.

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What is CalFresh?(formerly known as Food Stamps)

• CalFresh Program is a Nutrition Assistance
• Program that helps low-income individuals and
• families buy the food they need for good health.
• The Program is the cornerstone of the Federal
• food assistance program and provides crucial
• support to needy households.

A person who is approved to receive CalFresh
benefits is issued an Electronic Benefit
Transfer (EBT ) card, just like an ATM card, to
purchase food at various supermarkets, grocery
stores and farmers markets.
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CalFresh promotes better Health through Nutrition

• Low-income Californians are at greater risk for
  obesity, type 2 diabetes and certain types of
  cancer.
• CalFresh can help ensure access to healthy foods.
  This lowers the risk for serious health problems.

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CalFresh increases the households food buying
power

• CalFresh improves the nutrition of people in
  low-income households.  It does that by
  increasing their food-buying power, so they are
  able to purchase the amount of food their
  household needs. 
• For example, some Farmers Markets offer matching
  funds for produce purchases, so 5 in CalFresh
  benefits might provide an extra 5 to spend on
  fruits and vegetables at the market.

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EBT Cards are accepted at some Farmers Markets
To find a Farmers Market in your area that
accepts CalFresh www.ecologycenter.org/ebt/market
list
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CALFRESH PROGRAM BRINGS FEDERAL DOLLARS TO THE
COMMUNITY

• The CalFresh Program generates economic activity
  by bringing federal dollars into communities in
  the form of benefits which are redeemed by
  CalFresh participants at local stores.
• According to the United States Department of
  Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services
  (USDA-FNS), it is estimated that every 5 in new
  CalFresh activity generates 9.20 in total
  community spending, or for every CalFresh dollar,
  an additional 84 cents is generated to the local
  economy.

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CalFresh Underutilization

• Increasing CalFresh participation among eligible
  households continues to be a priority for DPSS.
  The department has been aggressively partnering
  with public and private agencies, exploring and
  implementing various outreach strategies.
• One our biggest challenges is convincing those
  who desperately need assistance to apply because
  of their fear of being stigmatized.

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YOU CAN HELP!

• Make CalFresh information part of your work
• Promote CalFresh by educating clients, partners,
  collaboratives and stakeholders about CalFresh
• If you are an advocate and would like an outreach
  worker at your site, please contact Rosueta
  Rodriguez at
• [phone] and
• Help your family members, friends, neighbors and
  clients fill out an application online.
• (https//www.dpssbenefits.lacounty.gov/ybn/Index.h
  tml)

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OUTREACH ACTIVITIES

• DPSS Outreach Eligibility Workers visit and
  perform outreach at
• Community and Senior Services (CSS) Worksource
  Centers
• Hospitals
• Farmers Markets
• Health Clinics
• Schools
• Soup Kitchens
• Food Pantries
• Community Events
• Fairs
• Various non-traditional settings
• DPSS has existing collaborations with many other
  County Departments, including CSS/Department of
  Children and Family Services.
• We also participate in the monthly meetings
  facilitated by the Public Social Services
  Commission, in which representatives from the
  Department of Veterans Affairs Administration
  attend.

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Who can get CalFresh benefits?

• Generally, you may be eligible for CalFresh if
  you
• Have limited income or no income
• Have limited property
• Are a U.S. Citizen or legal permanent resident.
• Under a new CalFresh rule change, bank accounts
  and other resources are no longer counted in
  determining eligibility to the program.

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What information will be requested of an
individual and their family?

• You will be asked to provide the following
• Identification
• Social Security Number (SSN) and
• Proof of income.

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CalFresh Eligibility Criteria

• Eligibility is determined by the household
  composition
• The CalFresh Program has several eligibility
  criteria
• Categorical Eligibility If you receive CalWORKs
  benefits, you are automatically eligible to
  CalFresh

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CalFresh Income Limits

• Income Limits
• A two-step determination
• Gross Income Test
• Net Income Test Adjusted Net Income is all
  earned income minus allowable deductions

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Gross and Net Income Limits
Household Size Gross Limits Net Limits
1 1,180 908
2 1,594 1,226
3 2,008 1,545
4 2,422 1,863
5 2,836 2,181
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Citizenship or Eligible Non-Citizen Status

• United States Citizen
• Qualified Non-Citizens
• Legal Permanent Resident (LPR)
• Asylee
• Refugee
• Cuban or Haitian Entrant
• Sponsored Non-Citizens

CalFresh is for legal residents of California
that meet the eligibility requirements.
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Excluded CalFresh Household Members

• Certain persons cannot get CalFresh because they
  fail to meet one or more of the eligibility
  criteria, such as
• Ineligible non-citizens
• SSN Disqualified
• Social Supplemental Income/State Supplemental
  Payment Recipients
• Ineligible Students
• Convicted Drug Felons

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How To Apply

• Online at (https//www.dpssbenefits.lacounty.gov/
  ybn/Index.html)
• At the nearest DPSS district office to your home
• Non-Traditional Sites
• Outreach Partners locations
• OR
• You can apply today!
• The Health and Nutrition Mobile Unit onsite
  accepting CalFresh and Medi-Cal applications.

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