Checking Your Eligibility
FInd out about your eligibility before starting the application process.
Who is eligible for CalFresh
- Any household or individual (including homeless) based in San Francisco with low or no income
- Social Security Income (SSI) recipients starting in June 2019
- CalWORKS or CAAP applicants can apply for CalFresh as part of their application process for those services
- Students of higher education who meet eligibility requirements
- Legal permanent residents and qualified immigrants, see details in English | Español | 中文 | русский | Filipino | Tiếng Việt
Note: Receiving CalFresh benefits does not count against anyone applying for lawful permanent residency (a Green Card). Learn more.
Who must be included in the application
- Anyone who purchases and prepares meals together
- Everyone living at the address, such as husbands, wives, parents, and children under age 22
How benefit amounts are determined
Your household's benefit amount is based on your household size, income, and expenses such as:
- Child support payments
- Childcare expenses
- Medical expenses (only if your household has at least one member who is age 60 or older or has a disability)
- Rent or mortgage
- Utility and phone expenses
Household resources (such as investments, property ownership, and bank accounts) are exempt from your application requirements. However, any income generated from resources will count as part of your household’s total gross income.
Check your CalFresh eligibility in less than five minutes by answering just 10 simple questions from our partner mRelief.com.
Expedited Service
More immediate food assistance is available on the third business day following your CalFresh application date. To qualify, you must provide identification and meet all other CalFresh requirements in addition to one of the following:
- Your household makes less than $150 in monthly income and has less than $100 on hand right now.
- Your household's combined monthly income and money on hand are less than your household's combined monthly rent and utilities.
- You are a migrant or seasonal farm worker and have less than $100 on hand right now.
Emergency food assistance
If you are experiencing an emergency circumstance that prevents you from accessing any other food resource, you may be eligible to receive an emergency food box at our 1235 Mission Street Service Center.
Note: Due to limited emergency food box supplies, each recipient can receive only one every 12 months. For on-going food assistance, you have an opportunity to apply for monthly CalFresh benefits and/or obtain information on how to access food pantries and other community feeding sites that offer more regular food access.