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County News Center | Office of Communications and Public Affairs
County News Center | Office of Communications and Public Affairs

County of Santa Clara Begins Historic Expansion of CalFresh Food Assistance to Low-income Seniors, People with Disabilities Receiving SSI/SSP Benefits

May 15, 2019

Applications Now Being Accepted; Benefits to Begin June 1

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. –Beginning on June 1, for the first time in over forty years, low-income seniors and people with disabilities who receive Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payments (SSI/SSP) will be eligible for CalFresh food assistance. There are approximately 43,000 elderly and disabled SSI/SSP recipients in Santa Clara County; approximately 13,000 of whom will likely meet the requirements to begin receiving CalFresh this summer.

Depending on the household income, CalFresh food benefits can range up to $192 per person a month. For low-income community members who are susceptible to hunger and food insecurity, CalFresh is a critical tool in providing access to good nutrition.

“These changes will directly benefit tens of thousands of low-income older adults and individuals with disabilities in Santa Clara County,” said Supervisor Cindy Chavez, Chair of the Board’s Children, Seniors and Families Committee. “It is reassuring for them and their families that they will have access to healthier food choices through the CalFresh program. We know that our health is impacted by the food we consume.”

This year, the County of Santa Clara Social Services Agency (SSA) is utilizing CalFresh Awareness Month as a platform to educate the community about the upcoming changes to the CalFresh program that will have a profound impact on clients who are recipients of SSI/SSP. The County proclaimed May as “CalFresh Awareness Month” as part of an annual statewide campaign to increase access to food assistance and promote healthier food choices for low-income individuals and families.

"We are working with the State to reach out to all potentially eligible SSI/SSP recipients, ensuring that they are informed of the CalFresh expansion and how to apply for CalFresh,” said Robert Menicocci, Director of the Social Services Agency. “Santa Clara County is one of the most expensive places to live in the nation. We want every eligible individual to receive benefits and have healthy food on their table at every meal.”

There are five ways to connect with the Social Services Agency and apply for CalFresh:

  • Online at https://www.mybenefitscalwin.org or https://www.getcalfresh.org
  • By phone at 1-877-962-3633
  • By fax at 408-295-9248
  • By mail at PO Box 11018, San Jose, CA 95103
  • In person at any of these SSA locations:
    • Assistance Application Center, 1867 Senter Road, San Jose, CA 95112
    • General Assistance Services, 1919 Senter Road, San Jose, CA 95112
    • North County Assistance, 1330 W. Middlefield Road, Mountain View, CA 94043
    • Medi-Cal Benefits Assistance, 650 South Bascom Ave., Ste. A, San Jose, CA 95128
    • South County Assistance, 379 Tomkins Court, Gilroy, CA 95020

In addition to working with the State, SSA and local community partners are collaborating to help SSI/SSP recipients utilize CalFresh. On May 7, SSA and Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties co-hosted a Community Convening Session entitled, “Get CalFresh Food and Keep SSI Benefits.”

The Community Convening Session targeted local non-profits and community-based organizations that work with SSI/SSP recipients. Subject matter experts from SSA and Second Harvest Food Bank provided a workshop for the County’s broad network of partners on how to help SSI/SSP recipients obtain and keep both CalFresh and SSI/SSP benefits. There should be no change or reduction to SSI/SSP benefits as a result of applying for or receiving CalFresh.

“Second Harvest Food Bank is pleased to partner with SSA to provide access to this important food benefit. CalFresh is an important tool in providing a baseline for our community to be nourished and healthy,” said Tracy Weatherby, Vice President of Community Engagement & Policy. “Many people who may have had to rely solely on Second Harvest’s network of food distributions may qualify for CalFresh benefits beginning on the first of June. In addition, Second Harvest Food Bank’s Food Connection hotline (800-984-3663) can help our community members apply for CalFresh benefits.”

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About CalFresh

CalFresh food benefits stretch household budgets, allowing individuals and families to afford nutritious food, including fruit, vegetables, and other healthy options. CalFresh food benefits are delivered on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) debit card and can be used at any grocery store and farmer’s market that accepts EBT. Food benefits for one person range from $15-$192 per month, with a national average of $105-$110 per month for older adults and people with disabilities.

CalFresh benefits can be used to purchase nutritious food at grocery stores and farmer’s markets throughout the area. Santa Clara County also offers a Restaurant Meals Program, which allows eligible recipients to use CalFresh benefits to buy hot meals at participating restaurants.

About the County of Santa Clara, California 

The County of Santa Clara government serves a diverse, multi-cultural population of 1.9 million residents in Santa Clara County, the sixth largest county in California. With a $7 billion budget, more than 70 agencies/departments and 20,000 employees, the County of Santa Clara plans for the needs of a dynamic community, offers quality services, and promotes a healthy, safe and prosperous community for all. The County provides essential services including public health and environmental protection, medical services through Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC), child and adult protection services, homelessness prevention and solutions, roads, parks, libraries, emergency response to disasters, protection of minority communities and those under threat, access to a fair criminal justice system, and scores of other services, particularly for those members of our community in the greatest need.

Visit the County of Santa Clara at: http://www.sccgov.org 
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Media Contact: Shannon García, Social Services Agency, (408) 755-7760;  Laurel Anderson/Marina Hinestrosa​, Office of Public Affairs, (408) 299-5119.