Frequently Asked Questions

CalFresh (federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP) is a federally mandated, state-supervised, and county-operated government entitlement program that provides monthly food benefits to assist low-income households in purchasing the food they need to maintain adequate nutritional levels. In general, these benefits are for any food or food product intended for human consumption and can add to your food budget to put healthy and nutritious food on the table.

The program issues monthly benefits that can be used to buy most foods at many markets and food stores. These benefits are issued on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card which looks like any other credit card. Benefits may not be used for items such as alcoholic beverages, cigarettes or paper products.

There are certain eligibility requirements for students enrolling in CalFresh. Typically students must remain under the income limit for their household, be a citizen or legal permanent resident, provide food for themselves and meet one of the qualifying criteria including:

• Work at least 20 hours per week OR 80 hours per month.
• TANF Funded Cal Grant A or B recipient
• Student workers on campus (No minimum hour requirement).
• Be an EOPOS Student
• Enrolled in a Local Program that Increases Employability (LPIE)- All undergraduate programs are eligible under LPIE.
• Some graduate programs & certificates are exempt from the 20+ hours of work. Some students with dependents may also be eligible. Additionally, student parents and students with registered disabilities have separate ways in which they may qualify. 
• Students on Flex 5 and lower meal plans may also qualify for CalFresh benefits on top of their meal plan.

SDSU students can get assistance with enrollment in CalFresh or the SAR7/ recertification on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday on a drop-in basis from 9am to 3pm at the Basic Needs Center. We are located on the third floor of the Calpulli Center in suite #3200. These services are on a drop-in, first come first serve basis. The Calpulli Center is located at 5700 Hardy Ave, San Diego, CA 92115. 

If you are unable to make it to the Basic needs Center for assistance or you have case specific questions, feel free to email our county representative. Her email is [email protected] 

There are a couple of ways you can apply for CalFresh and learn about the application process: 

• SDSU students can get assistance with enrollment on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday on a drop-in basis from 9:00am-3:00pm at the Basic Needs Center.
• You can enroll on your own by visiting https://benefitscal.com/
• Call +1-877-847-3663 to learn more about the CalFresh application process in your specific county.
• Visit https://211sandiego.org/, call 2-1-1, or search for your local 211 organization in your county to receive CalFresh enrollment information and assistance.

It may take up to 30 days for the county to approve or deny your application. If you are in need of emergency food assistance, you might qualify for CalFresh expedited services (ES)*. 

Expedited Services is an emergency program intended to assist individuals experiencing financial hardship. ES funds are provided within 3 calendar days instead of the standard 30-day processing time.

Your benefit amount will depend on your household size, income, and monthly expenses. CalFresh benefit allotments may range from $298 for a 1 person household up to $1,789 for an 8 person household. 

If you need your SDSU financial aid documentation for your application, you can email [email protected] to request it. Please email from your SDSU email and include your RedID in the request.

LPIE stands for Local Programs that Increase Employability. Being enrolled in an LPIE allows students to bypass the strict work-hour requirement.

Students enrolled in an LPIE program meet the student exemption requirement to apply to CalFresh. All undergrad associate and bachelors degrees are under LPIE including undeclared majors. You must be enrolled at least part-time.

A list of the approved LPIE programs can be found at our LPIE Booklet Document. 

• You may be eligible for our Aztec Fresh application. This program is intended to support students who are ineligible for CalFresh benefits and have a documented financial need for food assistance. This application is available at the start of every semester and closes by the add/drop deadline. 
• SDSU offers free food resources for all students. You can review our Food Resource Page to learn more. 
• You can also appeal the outcome up to 30 days after your denial. Please contact us to help with this process: [email protected]

Students must meet at least one student exemption from the following list: 

• Employment - Working 20 hrs/wk or 80 hrs/mth
• Receive TANF Cal Grant A or B
• Work study offered & accepted
• On campus employment (No minimum hour requirement)
• Be an EOPOS (Educational Opportunity Programs, Outreach, and Success) Student
• Under LPIE List - Some graduate programs, & Certificates are exempt from the 20+ hours of work. All Undergraduate programs are exempt.
• Some Students with Dependents may also be eligible.
• Students must still meet the general and income requirements 
  You can find out if you may be eligible through our CalFresh Prescreen

We recommend gathering the following documents for your application - whether you plan on applying online or receiving assistance from our CalFresh representative:  

• An identification (drivers license, passport, or birth certificate).
• Proof of income
• Proof of enrollment (ex: class schedule)
• Financial aid award letter
• Proof of expenses (Copy of your lease, rent receipt, utility bills, etc). 

The monthly income limit is based on your household size. Monthly income cannot exceed the income guidelines depending on household size:

Household size 1: $2,610
Household size 2: $3,526
Household size 3: $4,442

Information for a larger household size can be found here.

You can still apply for CalFresh even if you live with your family. If you are under 22 and live with your parents, you will need to apply as a family. If you are 22 or older, you may apply individually if you buy and prepare your own meals separate from your family. 

Graduate students can still apply if they meet general eligibility and one student exemption. Some graduate students may be exempt from the work requirement if they are enrolled in an approved LPIE. 

Unfortunately, undocumented, DACA, dreamers, AB540, and international students are not eligible to apply for CalFresh. Students who do not qualify for Calfresh due to citizenship requirement may qualify for our Aztec Fresh application to which you can apply for up until the add/drop deadline of each semester (excluding summer). 

However, if you are undocumented and you have dependents/children that are U.S. citizens, you may apply for CalFresh on their behalf.  In this case your household would be considered a “mixed-status household”. You must include your household's total income and resources to determine the children's eligibility, but you only need to provide Social Security Numbers and identity documents for the family members who are applying. 

Yes, you can still apply for CalFresh if you are unhoused or experiencing homelessness. You do not need a permanent address or a place to cook food to qualify for CalFresh. Students who are experiencing housing challenges are encouraged to connect with the Economic Crisis Response Team (ECRT) or email [email protected] for any questions.

Students on Flex 5 and lower meal plans may qualify for CalFresh.

All applicants/households must complete an eligibility interview. Most often it will be a phone call, but you may also request an in-person invterview. During the interview, your county worker will review over your application and ask about your household, income and expenses. If there is additional information/documentation requested for your application, your county worker will direct you on how to upload this information. 

If you miss your interview call, you may call the San Diego County Office at +1 866-262-9881 or connect with your case worker directly to reschedule. 

Once approved, most students will receive a physical approval letter from the County. Students can expect to receive their Electronic Benefit Transfer Card (EBT) within 7-10 business days upon approval. Congratulations! 

You can use your EBT card as if you were using a debit card. To use it, you will swipe or tap at a store's point-of-sale (POS) terminal, select the EBT/food payment option, and enter your secure four-digit PIN to purchase eligible food items. Funds are automatically added to your card every month. 

Your food benefits can be used in person at SNAP-authorized retailers and at farmers' markets. CalFresh recipients can use their benefits to buy a wide variety of groceries at stores and farmers' markets that accept EBT. 

BenefitsCal is the official online platform you can use to apply, view or manage your accounts with public assistance programs like food, cash aid or health coverage. It is the easiest way to apply and manage benefits online. If you've been approved for CalFresh, MediCal or other public benefit programs, we highly recommend to create an account to save application progress, upload documents, check application status, report changes, receive notices or renew benefits. 

You can make an account by completing the following: 

1. Go to the BenefitsCal homepage and click Log In in the top right-hand corner.
2. Click Create An Account.
3. Select BenefitsCal User Account and click Next.
4. Enter your personal details: first name, last name, email address, and create a password. Your password must be at least 8 characters long and contain at least 1 number, 1 letter, and 1 special character (e.g., $!#%).
5. Accept the Terms and Conditions and set up 3 security questions with unique answers.
6. Check your email for a verification code and enter it on the website to verify and activate your account
7. Click here to watch how to create a BenefitsCal account in English. Click here to watch the video in Spanish. 

You check your CalFresh balance instantly using any of these quick methods:

• By Phone: Call the California EBT Customer Service helpline at 1-877-328-9677 (available 24/7) and follow the automated prompts.
• Online: Log in to BenefitsCal to check your program and case details, or use the ebtEDGE Cardholder Portal.
• Mobile App: Download the ebtEDGE app (Google Play) or ebtEDGE app (Apple App store) on your smartphone.
• In Person: Check the bottom of your last grocery receipt.

You will need your 16-digit EBT card number to check your balance. 

The ebtEDGE app is an app that CalFresh recipients may download to manage their benefits. With this app, recipients have access to: 

• Reset their pin
• View scheduled benefits
• View transactions
• Help prevent fraud 
• Replace or Freeze Cards 

Click here to learn more information in English. Click here to learn more information in Spanish. 

The SAR7 is a required form that the County of San Diego uses to confirm that you’re still eligible for CalFresh benefits. The SAR7 must be completed six months after the submission of your application.  If you fail to submit your SAR7, your benefits will be discontinued, and you will need to reapply.

You may be contacted by the county a month before your SAR7 is due. 

You can fill out the form on your own. We recommend to watch this video for more guidance on how to complete your SAR7. If you would like additional assistance, students can receive assistance with enrolling in and recertifying their CalFresh benefits by visiting the Basic Needs Center in the Capulli Center on the third floor in suite #3200 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on a drop-in basis.

Similar to the SAR7, the Recertification Renewal is a required form all CalFresh recipients must fill out to maintain their benefits. Renewal Recertification must be completed six months after the SAR7 (one year after the initial submission of your application).  If you fail to submit your Recertification, your benefits will be discontinued, and you will need to reapply.

You may be contacted by the county a month before your Renewal Recertification is due. 

You can fill out the form on your own. We recommend to watch this video for more guidance on how to complete your Recertification form. If you would like additional assistance, students can receive assistance with enrolling in and recertifying their CalFresh benefits by visiting the Basic Needs Center in the Capulli Center on the third floor in suite #3200 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on a drop-in basis.

The federal H.R. 1 legislation introduces significant cuts and stricter requirements to CalFresh. This includes blocking certain categories of lawfully present immigrants from receiving benefits, expanding work requirements for adults, and drastically reducing federal funding for program administration.

Key impacts to CalFresh include:

• Expanded Work Requirements: Stricter work and training regulations apply to Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs), expanding time limits to adults up to age 64. This ends or limits prior exemptions for veterans, individuals experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth. Noncompliance limits recipients to only three months of assistance within a 36-month period. 

• Immigrant Eligibility Restrictions: Many lawfully present humanitarian immigrants are blocked from enrolling. Excluded groups include asylees, refugees, parolees, and trafficking survivors, unless they fit into specifically permitted categories like Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) or COFA participants.

Public charge refers to a ground of inadmissibility. Grounds of inadmissibility are reasons that a person may be denied a green card, visa or admission into the United States. 

Under the new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) public charge rule taking effect on September 18, 2026, immigration officers will be permitted to consider the use of non-cash benefits, including CalFresh (food stamps), when evaluating green card applications. 

Until then, CalFresh is not considered under the current public charge rule. We are still waiting for additional federal guidance explaining how CalFresh and other benefits may be treated once the new rule takes effect. 

The public charge does not apply to everyone, and receiving CalFresh does not automatically affect someone’s immigration status. The rule generally comes up for certain people applying for a green card. 

Anyone with questions about how public charge may affect their own immigration situation should speak with a qualified immigration legal service provider. Nonprofit organizations qualified to assist with public charge questions can be found here.