Emergency Food Stamps California: How To Get Benefits In Less Than 72 Hours
In this community resource guide, you will learn how to apply for emergency SNAP benefits in California.
If you are in need of immediate food assistance, you should know that California offers expedited processing for Calfresh benefits. This means you can potentially get your benefits in less than 3 days if you meet the income guidelines.
I’m Nick Bryant and I am a case manager with over 11 years of experience helping people just like you apply for benefits like food stamps.
In this article, I will help you to understand the eligibility to qualify for emergency food stamps in California and exactly how you apply for the benefits. Keep reading to learn more about the process.
Who Manages The Food Stamp Program In California?
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is responsible for administering the CalFresh program in California, also known as the food stamp program. This is the agency that you will need to contact if you are interested in applying for emergency food stamp benefits.
The state name for food stamps in California is called CalFresh food. Other names that you may hear that refer to food stamps include CalFresh Food, SNAP, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Qualifications To Get Your CalFresh Application Expedited In 3 Days
There are 3 scenarios in which the California Department of Social Services will issue you CalFresh benefits in less than 72 hours. Those include:
- You have limited money in the bank.
- Housing costs are less than your monthly income.
- You are a migrant or a seasonal worker.
You can find details about how qualifications for receiving Calfresh benefits in less than 3 days on the first page of the CalFresh application.
Below are more details about the qualifications to receive emergency SNAP benefits in California in less than 3 days.
1.) You Have Limited Money In The Bank
If your household’s monthly income is less than $150 and you have less than $100 in a bank account this could qualify you for California emergency food stamps.
2.) Housing Costs Are Less Than Your Monthly Income
To qualify for expedited food stamps in California under this rule, your housing cost (this could be the light bill, your rent, or mortgage) would need to be more than your monthly income and the money you have in your bank account.
3.) You Are A Migrant Or A Seasonal Worker
The last rule states that if you are a seasonal worker or a migrant who has less than $100 in your bank account and 1.) you no longer receive income or 2.) you receive income but don’t anticipate receiving more than $25 in the next 10 days.
3 Ways To Apply For Emergency Food Stamps In California
You can apply for expedited SNAP benefits in California by either:
- Applying online at GetCalFresh.org
- Calling the CalFresh food stamp helpline at 877.847.3663.
- Visiting a California food stamp office near you.
Here are more details about each option listed above.
Editor’s Note: The same way that you apply for regular food stamps is the same way that you would apply for emergency food stamps. The key difference is the set of questions that you must answer. Later in this guide, I will go over the questions and 3 scenarios that can qualify you to receive your Calfresh benefits in less than 3 days.
Apply For Calfresh Online
To apply for food stamps online in California you will need to visit the GetCalFresh.org website. Below is a screenshot of that website to familiarize yourself with.
Personally, I think it’s probably best if you apply for SNAP benefits online because you can check your status anytime. Many food stamp recipients sometimes fail to complete the enrollment process for Calfresh because they lose track of where they are in the enrollment process. If you do not submit all the necessary documents in 30 days you will have to apply all over for food stamps.
When you apply for food stamps online via GetCalFresh.org you can see your status and a listing of documents that you may still need to submit to the California Department of Social Services.
The Get Cal Fresh website is easy to navigate, however, if you are not comfortable working with apps or completing applications online then you can look to the next two options to apply for emergency food stamps in California.
Call The CalFresh Phone Number
The CalFresh phone number is 877.847.3663. You can dial this number to apply for food stamps in California by phone.
Even if you speak another language like Spanish, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Korean, or Russian, they can assist you. This helpline even offers services for individuals with speech or hearing difficulties.
Visit A California Food Stamps Office
Lastly, you can visit a local food stamp office in California to apply for emergency CalFresh benefits. You can find the nearest California SNAP office by using the CalFresh County Office Locator. Simply enter your address and this tool will show you the nearest California Department of Social Services office to your location.
If you do decide to visit a food stamp office consider calling them to see if appointments are available. While it is beneficial to have someone face to face helping you complete your emergency California food stamp application, keep in mind that this may not be a quick visit. Especially if there are many other people applying for Calfresh or Medi-Cal on that day.
Documents Needed To Apply For Emergency Calfresh Benefits
You will need to submit the following documents within 30 days of applying for Calfresh:
- A copy of your ID card
- Proof of income. This can include paycheck stubs, bank statements, SSI award letters, child support payments, etc.
- Documents detailing your immigration status if you are a non-citizen. This article can help you understand what types of non-citizens can qualify for food stamp benefits.
Conclusion
In California, it is possible to receive emergency food stamps in less than 3 days. In order to qualify for expedited CalFresh benefits, you will need to demonstrate you have a very low income. This includes having less than $100 in your bank account, your monthly bills are more than your monthly income, or you are a seasonal or migrant worker.
If you satisfy any of those requirements you can apply for emergency food stamps in California by visiting the GetCalFresh.org website, a local food stamps office, or by calling the CalFresh phone number at 877.847.3663.
Similar Articles That May Interest You:
Nick Bryant is the author of Understanding Healthcare Is Half The Battle and a Senior Counselor with 13+ years of experience working in community health and mental health. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching WWE on Friday nights, and working toward a Google Data Analytics certification. If you have additional questions about community resources or government assistance programs, simply leave a comment below and he will follow up as soon as possible.
