While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the LIHEAP program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.

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What Are Food Stamps?

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as Food Stamps, helps eligible low-income individuals and families buy the food they need to stay healthy in the form of monthly benefits.

SNAP uses Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards to distribute the benefits.

The California SNAP food assistance program is administered by the California Department of Social Services. Learn more about SNAP on the California Department of Social Services website here.

What Can Food Stamps Buy?

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, SNAP benefits can be used to purchase approved food items. These include:

  • Fruits and vegetables;
  • Meat, poultry, and fish;
  • Dairy products;
  • Breads and cereals;
  • Other foods such as snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages; and
  • Seeds and plants, which produce food for the household to eat.

See a more comprehensive list of what you can buy with SNAP benefits here and a list of approved snacks and meal supplements here.

There are also food items that cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits, including alcoholic beverages and hot prepared food. See a comprehensive list of what you cannot buy with SNAP benefits here.

How Much Assistance Does SNAP Provide?

SNAP provides monthly benefits, known as an allotment, to eligible households. The allotment amount you can receive is based on 1) the number of people in your household and 2) your household income.

To calculate your allotment amount, multiply your household’s net income by 0.3 and then subtract that number from the federal maximum monthly benefit amount in the table below.

Household NumberFederal Maximum Allotment Per Month
1$291
2$535
3$766
4$973
5$1,155
6$1,386
7$1,532
8$1,751
Each additional household member+219

You have one year (365 days) to use your allotment or the benefits on your EBT card will be canceled.

To learn more about your benefit amount in California, click here.

Requirements to Qualify for SNAP in California

To qualify for SNAP in California, you must meet the following requirements:

  • You must be a United States citizen or legal resident
  • You must be a resident of California
  • You must have a household income and resources that do not exceed the limits set by California and the federal government
  • You must work or participate in an employment training program, if applicable

Learn more about California’s income limits and other eligibility criteria here.

Steps to Apply for SNAP in California

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the California Food Stamps program, helps families buy the food they need to stay healthy. If you are in need of food assistance and wish to apply to SNAP, complete the following three steps:

  1. Review the application requirements.

Learn about the income limits and personal eligibility requirements to receive SNAP benefits here.

  1. Gather the documentation and information you will need for the application.

Find a list of what you need to apply here.

  1. Choose how you are going to apply, whether online, in person or by phone.

To apply for SNAP online, create an account on California’s assistance portal here and fill out the SNAP application.

To apply for SNAP in person, click here to find the nearest California Department of Social Services office location.

To apply for SNAP by phone, call 1 (877) 847-3663.

If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact your local county social service agency. Click here for office contact information. You can also call the CalFresh Info Line at 1 (877) 847-3663.

How to Check Your Application Status

Depending on your method of application, you can check your application status in the following ways:

  • If you applied online, you can check your application status using the California assistance portal here.
  • If you applied in person, contact the California Department of Social Services office location where you applied. Find contact information here.
  • If you applied by phone, you can call 1 (877) 847-3663 to check the status of your application.

What Happens After You Apply for SNAP?

After you have submitted your application, you will need to complete an interview. The interview may be in person or by telephone.

If documents are missing from your application or the Department of Social Services needs more information from you to finish processing your request, your application will be delayed.

If you are approved, you will then receive your EBT card in the mail within 30 days of your determination letter unless you are eligible for expedited services, which give you benefits within only 7 days. You may be eligible for expedited food assistance if:

  • Your household has less than $150 in monthly income and $100 or less in cash.
  • Your rent/mortgage and utilities are more than your household’s combined monthly income.
  • A member of your house is a migrant or seasonal farmworker.

Once you receive your EBT card, you can use it to purchase items that are approved by SNAP at groceries and retail stores that accept EBT transactions. Learn about what you can purchase with SNAP here.

SNAP benefits are replenished each month that you are a member of the program. To check the balance of your EBT card, call the number on the back of your card or 1 (877) 328-9677. You can also check you balance online here.

How to Appeal a Denial of Benefits or a Low Benefit Amount

If you do not agree with the benefit decision given to you by the California Department of Social Services, you can appeal your decision online, by phone, by mail or by fax.

To file an appeal online, click here.

To file a claim by phone, call 1 (800) 743-8525.

To file a claim by mail or by fax, you will need to complete the “Request for State Hearing” on the back of the determination notice or write a letter that includes the following information:

  • Your name
  • Your address
  • Your phone number
  • The name of the county that took action against you
  • The reason for your appeal, whether you were denied benefits or you received a lower benefit amount than you believe you should have
  • Your desired solution for how the Department of Social Services should remedy the situation

Then send the request by fax to 1 (833) 281-0905 or by mail to:

California Department of Social ServicesState Hearings DivisionP.O. Box 944243, Mail Station 9-17-37Sacramento, California 94244-2430

For more information on the appeal process, review the state’s webpage on State Hearing Requests here.

How to Check the Balance on Your EBT Card

You can check the balance of your EBT card by calling the number on the back of your card or 1 (877) 328-9677. You can also check you balance online here.

Learn more information about EBT cards and how to use your benefits on the California Department of Social Services EBT card page here.

How to Replace a Lost EBT Card or Benefits

If you have not received your EBT card within 10 days of receiving your approval notice, call 1 (877) 847-3663 for assistance.

If you have lost your EBT card and require a replacement, call California’s EBT customer service number at 1 (877) 328-9677.

You cannot obtain a replacement EBT card in person at a Department of Social Services office in California.

For more answers to common questions related to EBT cards, click here.

Need More Help?

For help with obtaining SNAP benefits, or for any further questions about your application, call the CalFresh Benefits Helpline at 1 (877) 847-3663. You can also email the California Department of Social Services at piar@dss.ca.gov.

You can also visit or call a local Department of Social Services office for further assistance. Find your nearest location here.

View or Download Our Free Guide

While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Food Stamps program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.

Our free Food Stamps Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, requirements for program eligibility, and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.

Last Updated: February 2, 2024

Table of Contents

Steps to Apply for SNAP in California

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the California Food Stamps program, helps families buy the food they need to stay healthy. If you are in need of food assistance and wish to apply to SNAP, complete the following three steps:

  1. Review the application requirements.

Learn about the income limits and personal eligibility requirements to receive SNAP benefits here.

  1. Gather the documentation and information you will need for the application.

Find a list of what you need to apply here.

  1. Choose how you are going to apply, whether online, in person or by phone.

To apply for SNAP online, create an account on California’s assistance portal here and fill out the SNAP application.

To apply for SNAP in person, click here to find the nearest California Department of Social Services office location.

To apply for SNAP by phone, call 1 (877) 847-3663.

If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, contact your local county social service agency. Click here for office contact information. You can also call the CalFresh Info Line at 1 (877) 847-3663.

How to Check Your Application Status

Depending on your method of application, you can check your application status in the following ways:

  • If you applied online, you can check your application status using the California assistance portal here.
  • If you applied in person, contact the California Department of Social Services office location where you applied. Find contact information here.
  • If you applied by phone, you can call 1 (877) 847-3663 to check the status of your application.

What Happens After You Apply for SNAP?

After you have submitted your application, you will need to complete an interview. The interview may be in person or by telephone.

If documents are missing from your application or the Department of Social Services needs more information from you to finish processing your request, your application will be delayed.

If you are approved, you will then receive your EBT card in the mail within 30 days of your determination letter unless you are eligible for expedited services, which give you benefits within only 7 days. You may be eligible for expedited food assistance if:

  • Your household has less than $150 in monthly income and $100 or less in cash.
  • Your rent/mortgage and utilities are more than your household’s combined monthly income.
  • A member of your house is a migrant or seasonal farmworker.

Once you receive your EBT card, you can use it to purchase items that are approved by SNAP at groceries and retail stores that accept EBT transactions. Learn about what you can purchase with SNAP here.

SNAP benefits are replenished each month that you are a member of the program. To check the balance of your EBT card, call the number on the back of your card or 1 (877) 328-9677. You can also check you balance online here.

How to Appeal a Denial of Benefits or a Low Benefit Amount

If you do not agree with the benefit decision given to you by the California Department of Social Services, you can appeal your decision online, by phone, by mail or by fax.

To file an appeal online, click here.

To file a claim by phone, call 1 (800) 743-8525.

To file a claim by mail or by fax, you will need to complete the “Request for State Hearing” on the back of the determination notice or write a letter that includes the following information:

  • Your name
  • Your address
  • Your phone number
  • The name of the county that took action against you
  • The reason for your appeal, whether you were denied benefits or you received a lower benefit amount than you believe you should have
  • Your desired solution for how the Department of Social Services should remedy the situation

Then send the request by fax to 1 (833) 281-0905 or by mail to:

California Department of Social ServicesState Hearings DivisionP.O. Box 944243, Mail Station 9-17-37Sacramento, California 94244-2430

For more information on the appeal process, review the state’s webpage on State Hearing Requests here.

How to Check the Balance on Your EBT Card

You can check the balance of your EBT card by calling the number on the back of your card or 1 (877) 328-9677. You can also check you balance online here.

Learn more information about EBT cards and how to use your benefits on the California Department of Social Services EBT card page here.

How to Replace a Lost EBT Card or Benefits

If you have not received your EBT card within 10 days of receiving your approval notice, call 1 (877) 847-3663 for assistance.

If you have lost your EBT card and require a replacement, call California’s EBT customer service number at 1 (877) 328-9677.

You cannot obtain a replacement EBT card in person at a Department of Social Services office in California.

For more answers to common questions related to EBT cards, click here.

Need More Help?

For help with obtaining SNAP benefits, or for any further questions about your application, call the CalFresh Benefits Helpline at 1 (877) 847-3663. You can also email the California Department of Social Services at piar@dss.ca.gov.

You can also visit or call a local Department of Social Services office for further assistance. Find your nearest location here.

View or Download Our Free Guide

While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Food Stamps program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.

Our free Food Stamps Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, requirements for program eligibility, and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.

Last Updated: February 2, 2024