The Food Stamp Program is a Federally mandated State supervised, and County operated government program designed to eliminate hunger in the United States. Food Stamp benefits help low-income families and individuals improve their health by providing access to a nutritious diet. Income limits and financial resource levels establish eligibility for food stamp benefits. Most people enrolled in CalWORKs or San Francisco’s County Adult Assistance Programs (CAAP) are eligible. Click on the links to view other useful information about the program. The Food Stamp Fact Sheet, for example, outlines San Francisco’s program rules
and provides income and resource tables that may be used to determine eligibility and benefits.
Distribution of Benefits and Where to Use It
In San Francisco, Food stamp benefits are distributed via the
Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) debit cards, known as the Golden State
Advantage card. Food Stamp EBT cards can be used to purchase any food
at many San Francisco grocery stores. In addition, elderly, disabled, or homeless
food stamp customers may purchase meals at various restaurants in San
Francisco, including many Subways, Carl’s Jr’s, and several mom and pop
restaurants through our Restaurant Meals Program. EBT offer users privacy
when making their Food Stamp benefit transactions and can be used
at local farmer’s markets, offering an opportunity to buy affordable and
healthful food that stretches food budgets.
How to Apply for Food Stamps in San Francisco
There are three ways you can submit an application in San Francisco: 1. In
person, 2. by mail, and 3. by fax. You can walk in our offices during normal
working hours and ask for an application form. You may submit a completed
application on the spot. If there is an available slot for an immediate interview,
you may be interviewed and certified the same day. If the preferred way of
submitting is to mail or fax the application form, ensure that there is a good
contact phone number and include the best time for a worker to call to
schedule an interview.
Aside from picking up applications in person at our offices, application forms in
5 different languages including English, Chinese, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese
are available on line. Those who wish may download the forms and submit the
completed application forms in any of the three methods of submission discussed.
Applications may be mailed to: Food Stamps Program, PO Box 7988, San
Francisco, CA 94120. To fax, dial 415-558-1184. The Program continues to
find ways to make it easier for clients to submit applications. Several Outreach
efforts are conducted regularly and online applications are also being evaluated
for future use.
How to Contact Someone in the Program for Information
During normal business hours, you may call (415) 558-1000 and someone will
assist you. After normal working hours, call our hotline number at (415) 558-4186.
Leave a detailed message and a good call back number. Someone will contact you
the next business day to answer your questions.
Can I qualify for Food Stamps in San Francisco?
The USDA website has a self-screening tool that may be used to determine
eligibility. Simply answer the questions it asks and in the end, it will compute
what benefit amounts, if any, you will be entitled to. For those that do
not have computer access, you may call 415-558-1158 and request to be
screened. Since this will be only a basic screen, only income and resources
will be asked. Other conditions of eligibility discovered during the actual
interview may have a different result from what the screener will say.
Other Useful links
You should also check other links for other potential benefits like VA or
UIB benefits from (EDD). Other programs may also be linked to Food Stamps
such as CAPI and CALM. Applications for CAAP and even PAES are also
available in the same building.
Those that are already active in Food Stamps are aware of the QR7 and
Form 377.5. If you have lost those forms that your worker sent you, you
may now download the form from the computer and not be late in submitting
those requirements.
