MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES — The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) today announced that individuals and families affected by the recent severe winter storms in Madera, Mendocino, and Mono counties may be eligible to receive Disaster CalFresh food benefits as part of continuing disaster recovery efforts.
A family of four with a monthly income up to $3,130 per month may be eligible to receive up to $939 in food benefits through this program, which is available to those who lived or worked in Madera, Mendocino, and Mono counties between February 21, 2023 – March 22, 2023.
The Disaster CalFresh program will be operated by phone, online, and in-person. Please call your local county social services office for in-person hours or in-person assistance.
Those already receiving regular CalFresh food benefits are not eligible for Disaster CalFresh.
Who Can Apply?
Image by alandsmann.
To be eligible for Disaster CalFresh benefits, a household must have lived or worked in a disaster-impacted county on the date that the disaster began. Any individuals and families who lived or worked within Madera, Mendocino, and Mono counties between February 21, 2023 – March 22, 2023, may be eligible for Disaster CalFresh food benefits if the household experienced at least one of the following as a direct result of the severe winter storms:
- At least one person in the household was not getting regular CalFresh food benefits.
- Money was spent because of the storms or related power outage.
- Money was lost from work because of the severe winter storms.
- Money was spent because of damage to a home or business.
- Food loss alone.
How To Apply
Households may apply between May 15, 2023 – May 19, 2023, by calling their local county social services office, submitting a paper application, or submitting a pre-registration application online. In most cases, Disaster CalFresh food benefits will be available within three days of the date of a qualifying interview.
Online pre-registrations will be available beginning May 13, 2023, and will be accepted in Madera, Mendocino, and Mono counties at BenefitsCal. Pre-registrations received May 13-14, 2023, will be considered as received on Monday, May 15, 2023.
Disaster CalFresh food benefits will be provided via an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which is like a debit card that can be used to purchase food items at grocery stores and other authorized retailers. If applicants are approved, their county will tell them when and where to pick up their EBT card.
On May 10, 2023, the United States Department of Agriculture approved California’s request for Disaster CalFresh food benefits to enhance recovery efforts in Madera, Mendocino, and Mono counties. The program is known nationally as the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP).
Additional information is available at CalFresh Disaster Response.
Image by Christine Sponchia.
Clients may reach their local county social services office by calling 877-847-3663 (FOOD) for more information. For more information about Disaster CalFresh for impacted counties, call your local county social services office:
- Madera: 559-675-2300
- Mendocino: 707-463-7700
- Mono: 760-924-1770
Other Counties
Previously, CDSS announced the availability of Disaster CalFresh food benefits in other counties.
Most recently, CDSS released a PDF detailing the availability of Disaster CalFresh food benefits for those who lived or worked in San Bernardino County between February 21, 2023 – March 22, 2023. The application period for that county closed on May 9, 2023.
Trying to feed a family on a budget? Check out this great video by Julia Pacheco!
