Disaster CalFresh Offered in San Diego County
March 9, 2024 - The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) along with state, local and federal partners, 
continues to assist San Diego County individuals, families, and business owners to recover from the late January 2024 storms.
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) announced that individuals and families affected by the recent severe winter storms in San Diego County 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 $3,380 per month may be eligible to receive up to $973 in food benefits through this program, which is available to those who lived or worked in San Diego County on January 21, 2024.
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.
WHO CAN APPLY?
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 in San Diego County on January 21, 2024, 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, or
- Food loss alone.
Those who already receive regular CalFresh food benefits will not be eligible for Disaster CalFresh, but may be eligible to receive supplemental benefits, which bring the household up to the maximum allotment level based on their household size. Households already participating in CalFresh may contact their local agency to request supplemental benefits by phone, online or in person.
HOW TO APPLY
Households may apply between March 7-8, 2024, and March 11-15, 2024, by calling their local county social services office, submitting a paper application, or submitting a preregistration 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 prior to the application period beginning Tuesday, March 5, 2024, and Wednesday, March 6, 2024, and will be accepted in San Diego County at BenefitsCal.
Online pre-registrations received Tuesday, March 5, 2024, and Wednesday, March 6, 2024, will be considered as received on Thursday, March 7, 2024.
Online pre-registrations will also be available during the application period, between Saturday, March 9, 2024, and Sunday, March 10, 2024, and will be accepted in San Diego County at BenefitsCal.
Online pre-registrations received Saturday, March 9, 2024, and Sunday, March 10, 2024, will be considered as received on Monday, March 11, 2024.
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 March 1, 2024, the United States Department of Agriculture approved California’s request for Disaster CalFresh food benefits to enhance recovery efforts in San Diego County. The program is known nationally as the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or D-SNAP.
Additional information is available at: CalFresh Disaster Response.
QUESTIONS?
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:
- San Diego: 866-262-9881