Delay in November CalFresh Food Benefits
November 10, 2025
Due to the federal government shutdown, CalFresh recipients may experience benefit delays in November. If your CalFresh benefits have been affected, we invite you to complete the CalFresh & Government Shutdown Survey. Multiple courts ruled last week that the USDA must release SNAP (CalFresh) benefits — and Governor Newsom has confirmed that benefits are now being released statewide.
Key information:
- If you normally receive your CalFresh monthly allotment between the 1st and 7th of the month, your full benefits should be on your EBT card.
- Those who normally receive benefits between the 8th and 10th of the month may experience continuous delays.
- Your eligibility and enrollment are not changing. This delay only affects when benefits are issued, not whether you receive them.
- Students should still continue to apply for CalFresh! County offices are still processing applications, reports, and renewals (including SAR-7 and recertifications) — the CalFresh Outreach center can help you with those!
If your benefits are delayed, Eddie’s Essentials is here to help you stay nourished and supported:
- Food Pantry: Open Monday through Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m
- Food Pantry Express: Provides flexible access to pantry items at an on-campus locker location.
- Basic Needs Emergency Grants: Offers emergency financial assistance for students facing unexpected hardship.
- Eddie Eats – On-Campus Restaurant Meals Program: Eligible students can receive a $50 meal deposit for use at campus dining locations.
What is CalFresh?
CalFresh, known federally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, provides monthly benefits to purchase groceries for low-income individuals and families. The monthly benefits are issued through an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card that works just like a debit card and can be used at most local grocery stores and some farmer’s markets, including ours!
Please submit the Pre-Screening Form below to see if you are potentially eligible for CalFresh. Once submitted, we will contact you to schedule an appointment within 1-3 business days.
Pre-Screening Form
Am I Eligible?
To be eligible for CalFresh you must meet the following eligibility guidelines:
Your household income must be under the limits listed in the following table:
household = a person living alone or a group of people living together who purchase and prepare food together.
2025-2026 Income & Eligibility Limits (Effective Oct. 1, 2025 - September 30, 2026)
People in Household | Gross Monthly Income Limits | Monthly Allotment Range |
|---|---|---|
1 | $2,610 | $24 - $298 |
2 | $3,526 | $24 - $546 |
3 | $4,442 | $24 - $785 |
4 | $5,360 | $24 - $994 |
5 | $6,276 | $24 - $1,183 |
Your household must include at least one U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.
CalFresh is a federally funded program. Unfortunately, you can't qualify for CalFresh if you are a:
- Students under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) and DREAM, even with a work VISA/SSN
- International students
We encourage you to submit a pre-screening form for the Golden Eagle Grocery Equity Program! An alternative to CalFresh offered by Cal State LA.
Other Qualifying Statuses:
- Refugee status, asylum, or parolee status
- A U-Visa or T-Visa or is applying for one
- An applicant for VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) relief
- A Cuban or Haitian entrant
- A Hmong/Laotian or American Indian born in Canada
- Afghan entering with Special Immigrant VISA (SIV), Special Immigrant (SQ/SI) Parole, or other forms of humanitarian parole.
If you are enrolled at least half-time and between ages 18 - 49, you are considered a student under the CalFresh program and therefore, must meet one of the "student exemptions" below.
STUDENT EXEMPTION OPTIONS:
- Work 20+ hours a week
- Employed at Cal State LA
- Cal Grant A or B recipient
- Enrolled in Federal Work Study
- Serve as a College Corp fellow
- Enrolled in the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)
- Participating in a Research or Teaching Assistantship
- CalWORKs Recipient or Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)
- Student with a child between 6 -12 years old with no adequate child care
- Unable to work and registered with the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD)
- Enrolled in a state approved Local Employment Program that Increases Employability(LPIE), which is a program that includes an internship, lab, or job training.
Do you have access to more than half (11+) meals a week from another source like an on campus meal plan?
If so, this can potentially make you ineligible because your local county will determine you are food secure.
The Cal State LA Meal Plans that give students access to more than 11 meals a week include: All Access 7 Plus, All Access 5 Plus, Block 250, and Block 200.
Application Process
Step 2: Receive an email from a CalFresh Advocate to set up an appointment.
Step 3: 45-minute virtual or in-person meeting with a CalFresh Advocate to guide you through the CalFresh application.
Step 4: Upload your documents on your account through BenefitsCal.com
Step 5: Complete a phone interview with a local country representative.
Step 6: Check for your approval notice in the mail! Your EBT card will be sent thereafter.
Keep Your Benefits - Eligibility Status Reports
Semi Annual Report 7 (SAR7)
Report any changes to your situation and proof of income of the last 30 days.
Recertification
This report is annually and an opportunity to make any changes (i.e. income, household size, mailing address, etc.) You can expect another interview with your local county office.
This website was funded by USDA, SNAP, known in California as CalFresh, an equal opportunity provider and employer, and the California Department of Social Services.