The CalFresh program provides monthly benefits to help low-income individuals or families purchase healthy and nutritious food.

Eligibility

CalFresh benefits are provided to eligible, low-income “households.” A household can be one person, a group of people, a family, or any combination of people that buy and prepare food together. Children living with their parents are considered part of the same household until age 22.

Many legal non-citizens are eligible for CalFresh benefits.  Even if you can’t get CalFresh benefits for yourself, other members of your household may be eligible.

Benefits are based on household size and household income, with deductions allowed for certain expenses such as housing.

While most eligible households receive CalFresh assistance within 30 days of submitting an application, you may meet the criteria for "Expedited Service", in which CalFresh assistance is provided within 3 days of submitting your application. Households are eligible to Expedited Service if they meet one of the following criteria:

• Household has both less than $150 in gross monthly income and less than $100 liquid resources.
• Household combined gross monthly income and resources is less than household’s monthly rent or mortgage and utilities.
• Migrant or seasonal farmworker who is destitute and has less than $100 resources.
• Household is destitute, meaning the household’s only income was received before the application date and has terminated, the household has income from a new source but no more than $25 will be received within 10 calendar days of the application, or a combination of those.
• You have experienced domestic violence and are a resident of or on a waiting list for a domestic violence shelter and certified as a separate household from the abuser if the separate household is receiving CalFresh.

Apply for CalFresh

Set up your online account for CalFresh (Food Stamps) or Medi-Cal at https://benefitscal.com

You can also apply for CalFresh:

• By phone at (855) 278-1594
• In-person at one of our office locations found at the bottom of this page
• By mailing a CalFresh Application to 137 N Cottonwood St Woodland, CA 95695
• By faxing a CalFresh Application to (916)372-2874

Your name, address, and signature are all that is required to apply. View Spanish CalFresh applications. View Russian CalFresh applications.. If you request an interpreter or other interview arrangements due to a disability, please inform the county.

CalFresh Updates:

Changes to CalFresh Noncitizen Eligibility

Due to the passage of House Resolution 1 (H.R. 1), certain qualified noncitizens will no longer be able to receive CalFresh benefits starting April 1, 2026. For more information, please review the following flyer and FAQ, which will provide information on who will still be eligible for CalFresh, who will be losing eligibility, and additional resources:

English Flyer          English FAQ

Folleto en español         Preguntas Frecuentes

 New EBT Chip and Tap Card Replacement

California has mailed new EBT cards with integrated chip and tap technology to all cardholders. These cards are designed to reduce the risk of benefit theft. If you are already using your new chip/tap enabled EBT card, no further action is needed. If you have not started using it yet, begin using your new card right away to activate it. All existing CalFresh benefits will transfer automatically to the new chip/tap enabled EBT card, and your PIN will remain the same. If you have not received your new card, you can request a new EBT card by calling the EBT Customer Service line at (877) 328-9677, making a request via BenefitsCal, ebtEDGE cardholder portal, ebtEDGE mobile application, or by visiting one of our office locations. Old magstripe only EBT cards will stop working starting April 19, 2026.

Stretch Your CalFresh Dollars at Farmers’ Markets

If you receive CalFresh or Sun Bucks, you may be able to get extra money for fresh produce when you shop at participating farmers’ markets. By using your CalFresh EBT or Sun Bucks card at the market’s CalFresh booth, you can receive Market Match benefits to help you buy more fruits and vegetables from local farmers. In Yolo County, several participating markets offer up to $15 in matching benefits per day. Please review the attached flyer for participating locations, hours, and details.

Yolo County Market Match Flyer

Change to SUAS and the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) Deduction

Effective October 31, 2025, only certain CalFresh households will be eligible for the annual State Utility Assistance Subsidy (SUAS) payment of $20.01. This payment allows eligible households to receive the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) deduction when determining CalFresh benefits.

Under new federal rules established by HR 1 (the “Big Beautiful Bill”), SUAS payments will now be limited to households that:
• Are not otherwise eligible for the SUA,
• Are not already receiving the maximum CalFresh allotment for their household size, and
• Contain an elderly (age 60 or older) or disabled household member.

New CalFresh applicants will have this updated SUAS guidance applied at initial certification, while ongoing CalFresh households will have their eligibility reviewed and updated at their next recertification. Households that lose their SUAS-based SUA deduction may see a reduction in CalFresh benefits due to a lower shelter cost deduction.

Replacement of Stolen CalFresh Benefits

You can protect yourself from future EBT theft by downloading the ebtEDGE Mobile Application on your phone today.

More information can be found here:

English: FIS ebtEDGE Flyer (PUB 525)

Spanish: FIS ebtEDGE Flyer (PUB 525 - Spanish)

Russian: FIS ebtEDGE Flyer (PUB 525 - Russian)

FFY 2026 CalFresh Cost Of Living Adjustment

The U.S. Department of Agriculture updates the SNAP (CalFresh) maximum allotments, deductions and income eligibility standards at the beginning of each Federal Fiscal Year (FFY), which runs from October 1 through September 30 of each year.

Effective from October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 eligible households may see new benefit amounts and deductions applied. More information on the FFY 2026 CalFresh Cost of Living Adjustment can be found on the CF 11 – Notice to All CalFresh Recipients (English) (Spanish).

 Public Charge

If you have questions or concerns about how public charge may affect you or your family, consult a qualified immigration legal service provider. Visit the California Department of Social Services’ Public Charge Provider List to find nonprofit organizations that can provide assistance regarding public charge. For updates and additional information, visit the CalHHS website.

Si tiene preguntas o inquietudes sobre cómo la carga pública puede afectarle a usted o a su familia, consulte con un proveedor calificado de servicios legales de inmigración. Visite la Lista de Proveedores sobre Carga Pública del Departamento de Servicios Sociales de California para encontrar organizaciones sin fines de lucro que pueden brindar asistencia relacionada con la carga pública. Para obtener actualizaciones e información adicional, visite el sitio web de CalHHS.

Be Aware of a Text Message Scam Targeting SNAP Recipients

Be aware of a scam using texting to obtain your personal information.  The text might say you were chosen to receive SNAP, CalFresh, or Food Stamp benefits.  If you do not know if a request for information about CalFresh is real or not, contact the county office. 

Never share personal information with individuals or organizations that you do not know.  Personal information includes your social security number, bank information, or CalFresh electronic benefits transfer card (EBT) or PIN number.

If you think the text is a scam, do not reply at all.  Just delete.

EBT Online Purchasing is here!

 You can now use your CalFresh EBT card benefits to purchase groceries online from Amazon.com and Walmart.com. If you receive CalWORKs or General Assistance, you may also be able to use your cash benefits to make purchases online at Wal-Mart.  More retailers will be added in the future.

 CalFresh EBT card benefits cannot be used to pay for delivery, convenience, or other fees and charges associated with online purchasing. Amazon offers free delivery online with purchases over $35.00. Walmart does not offer free grocery delivery, but they do accept EBT cash benefits to pay for delivery fees.

View more information at the CalFresh website

Other Food Resources in Yolo County

Yolo Food Bank- 233 Harter Ave - Woodland CA 95776 - (530) 668-0690

View food distribution calendars and sites

Mercy Coalition - 3605 Gregory Ave - West Sacramento CA 95605 - (916) 371-6706

(free lunches everyday Mon - Fri at 11am to noon - 500 Jefferson Blvd. West Sacramento)

 or

Subscribe to FreshText

FreshText connects people to food in their area via a free phone texting program. View flyer.

If you would like to subscribe to receive text messages about food distribution sites in your area

simply text 888777 to the keyword(s) below:

KEYWORDS:

For Davis: Text TOMATO to 888777

For UCD Students: Text AGGIES to 888777

For Esparto and Guinda: Text WALNUT to 888777 

For Winters: Text ALMOND to 888777

For West Sacramento: Text GRAPE to 888777

For Woodland: Text OLIVE to 888777

For Dunnigan, Yolo, and Knights Landing: Text RICE to 888777

 Contact Us 

Days and Hours of Operation: 
Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 4:00 pm