Eligibility Information

You may be eligible for CalFresh if you can say yes to all of the following statements:

1. You are a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, U-Visa or T-Visa holder, VAWA applicant, or refugee, parole, or asylum designee. 
2. You do not have a meal plan that provides more than 11 meals per week. 
3. You meet the gross monthly income limit for your household (reference table below)
4. You meet ONE of the following qualifications listed below:
   • Work at least 20 hours per week OR a total of 80 hours a month
   • Approved for work study in financial aid offer
   • Receive CalGrant A or B
   • Does not expect to be enrolled next term (graduating this semester)
   • Currently employed on campus
   • Enrolled in one of the listed majors or programs (LPIE)
   • Responsible for the care of a child under 6
   • Responsible for a child between 6 - 12 without adequate childcare 
   • A single parent with a child under the age of 12
   • Applying for or receiving unemployment benefits
   • Applying for or receiving disability benefits or veterans’ disability

A household is defined as a person living alone or a group of people who purchase and prepare more than half of their meals together. 

• You do not have to apply with your roommates if you do not purchase and prepare more than half of your meals together. We encourage roommates to apply on their own. You can have multiple CalFresh cases under one address. 
• If you are living with your parents and you are 22 or older, you can apply by yourself as a single-person household.
• If you are living with your parents and under the age of 22, you must apply with your parents.

If you physically live with them, you must include the following Mandatory Household Members:

• Children under 18 (biological, adoptive, step)
• Parents if the applicant is under 22 (biological, adoptive, step)
• Spouses 

Gross Monthly Income is your income before taxes. Be prepared to submit verification documents for all sources of income. The following are considered sources of income.

• Wages from a job (excluding work study)
• Paid internships or volunteer opportunities
• Self employment work such as freelance, independent contractor, or self-employment work (ex: Uber/Lyft, Doordash/Grubhub, Instacart, freelancing, babysitting, petsitting, tutoring, small businesses/shops, etc)
• Rental income
• Stipends
• Spousal or Child Support
• Unemployment Benefits (EDD)
• Social Security Retirement (SSA)
• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
• State Disability Insurance (SDI)
• Military Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)
• Veteran’s Administration (VA) Benefits
• Worker’s Compensation
• Pensions or other retirement 
• Foster youth benefits the applicant receives directly
• Regular or frequent cash gifts