CalFresh Task Force
The Humboldt County CalFresh Task Force brings together community-based organizations and County agencies serving CalFresh eligible households in Humboldt County and is facilitated by Food for People. Together, we stay up to date on local CalFresh enrollment statistics and processes, in addition to state and federal legislation that impacts the seniors, children, and families we serve. We work toward making the doorways to applying for CalFresh accessible to all who need it, and work in partnership with the County on methods that suit the unique needs of our rural county's many communities.
CalFresh Task Force member organizations share current and upcoming projects and events that reach low-income Humboldt County households with CalFresh information and application assistance, ranging from farmers' market incentive programs, application assistance at an increasing number of local nonprofits, home and community gardening initiatives through CalFresh, integrating CalFresh outreach with health programs, localized outreach at family resource centers, community centers and through senior programs county-wide, trainings for community members and nonprofit providers, and so much more.
Community partners with questions about the CalFresh Task Force can get in touch with us by emailing CalFresh@foodforpeople.org
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CalFresh Task Force Topics
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Access forms and more information at the CalFresh Application Assistance and Training page here
This includes:
Download a CalFresh application in English or Spanish
Info & Downloads for SAR 7 (Semi-Annual Report) form; SAR 3 (Mid-Period Status Report); or a Recertification form
Verification Documents Checklist
Release of Information (ROI) form in English and Spanish
Ways to talk about CalFresh
Legal Services of Northern CA Guide to CalFresh Benefits
CalFresh Outreach tools & trainings
Informational fact sheets on Humboldt County DHHS programs
Webinar trainings on specific CalFresh Outreach topics
Reducing "churn" (falling off the program)
Benefit Over-issuances
Inter-County Transfer of CalFresh Benefits
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CalFresh Emergency Allotments (extra benefits) ended February 2023
CalFresh participants will still receive regular monthly benefits, but not the extra benefits that were provided during the pandemic. CalFresh Emergency Allotments (EA), which were additional benefits granted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ended in February 2023 and were deposited onto EBT cards in March 2023. As a result, CalFresh participants started seeing less in CalFresh dollars on their benefits cards beginning in April 2023.
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Summer EBT for kids has a new name and a new look for 2024. The program helps families buy food for their school-aged children during the summer.
Families will get $120 for each eligible child to buy groceries during the summer. Families must use SUN Bucks within 122 days of funds being loaded to their card. Children who get SUN Bucks can still participate in other summer meal programs. SUN Bucks will not affect immigration status.
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EBT theft by skimming and scamming is on the rise!
Customers can download the ebtEDGE app to a smartphone to protect their benefits:
*With real-time tracking
*Freeze/unfreeze your card
*Stop online and out of state transactions
*Reset your PIN
*View the last 365 days of transactions
*Order EBT card replacements
*and more!
The ebtEDGE app is specifically for controlling and monitoring EBT cards.
BenefitsCal is different, is NOT an app, and is just focused on your CalFresh case itself.
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Disaster CalFresh
Disaster CalFresh is a program that provides immediate food assistance for victims of natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, or fires. You could get up to a month’s benefits, or $250 per person in your household. You can get Disaster CalFresh even if you don't have immigration documentation, because it isn't considered a public benefit.
If you have moved to another county in California due to fires, you can apply for Disaster CalFresh at the local County DHHS office where you are. People who are not usually eligible for CalFresh can qualify for Disaster CalFresh if they meet the criteria. If you already get CalFresh, then you are not eligible for Disaster CalFresh. Check with your county for supplemental disaster benefits and replacement benefits.
Replacement of Benefits
If food that you bought with CalFresh was damaged or lost in an emergency, you may be able to get extra benefits to replace it. Request the replacement up to 10 days after one of these things happened: Damaged in a fire, flood, or other natural disaster; Power outage; Refrigerator or freezer stopped working; Went bad after utilities got shut off; Or food bought with CalFresh was lost in another way.
After completing a form, a county DHHS worker will figure out what percentage of your benefits can be replaced. It will depend on what happened, and when. Some people can get a full month's replacement, others might only get part of the month.
Learn more about Disaster CalFresh & How to Get Benefits Replacement here
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On Tuesday, March 9, 2021, the Supreme Court and the Seventh Circuit rejected pending Public Charge cases, ending Public Charge rules changed during President Trump's administration. The decision is final. The long-established 1999 guidance went back into effect again immediately, offering certainty to eligible immigrants and their family members to safely access health, nutrition, and housing benefits.
Health care programs, including Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) and COVID care, housing, food programs, and many other vital services are again safe to apply for.
Additionally, many eligible immigrants can apply for legal status without fear of harmful Public Charge rules. The State Department has been blocked from enforcing Public Charge rules established by President Trump's administration at all US consulates and embassies since July 29, 2020.
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Food for People produces a series of Garden Growing Cards that explain how to grow many common vegetables and fruits in a Humboldt County garden, from seed or seedling. The back of each card includes information about CalFresh, how and where to apply in Humboldt County. Cards are accessible at farmers' markets and at Food for People distribution sites.
Plant starts and seeds that produce food can be purchased with CalFresh, and when you do so at a farmers' market, you receive Match bonus dollars to spend at the market!
Download Garden Growing Cards and learn more about using EBT at farmers’ markets here
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BenefitsCal is an online portal where Californians can get and manage benefits online. This includes food assistance (CalFresh), cash aid (CalWORKs, General Assistance, Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants), and affordable health insurance (Medi-Cal).
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In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writ a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
1. mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email:program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.