Sonoma State University

CalFresh Outreach Program

CalFresh (SNAP) is a nutrition program that helps people buy food at the grocery store, local farmer’s market, or online via an EBT card. Eligible students may qualify for up to $292 per month! Our team helps guide people through the application process.

Apply for CalFresh

  1. Find out if you qualify for benefits by filling out the CALFRESH PRESCREEN.
    • You may qualify if you:
      • Enrolled in a LPIE PROGRAM
      • Work on campus
      • Receive Cal Grant A or B
      • Qualify for Work Study
      • Work more than 20 hours a week
         

  1. Apply for benefits with a CalFresh advisor 
  2. Apply on your own 
    • Use the Sonoma State University’s BENEFITSCAL APPLICATION LINK to create and BenefitsCal account and apply for CalFresh benefits. Make sure to upload all required verification documents with your application. 
  3. Receive expedited benefits
    • You may be eligible to receive benefits within 2 days of submitting your application if you meet one of the following criteria: 
      • $150 or less gross monthly
      • $100 or less cash on hand
      • Your housing costs (e.g. rent, utilities) exceed your monthly income 
      • You are experiencing homelessness 
    • If you believe you qualify for expedited benefits, please contact our team right away by emailing [email protected].

Important Notice: If you are currently experiencing homelessness, please see Housing Resources.
 

  1. Check your BenifitsCal account and your mail
    • After submitting your application, you will receive an electronic notification and a mailed letter with the date of your phone appointment. Make sure to check your BenefitsCal account and mail regularly so that you do not miss these important notices. The county may also call you to verify your appointment date and time.
    • If you do not receive a letter within 4 weeks of submitting your application or If you have any issues receiving physical mail, please contact our team for help at [email protected].
  2. Complete your phone Interview
    • You will need to call the Sonoma County Health and Human Services Office on the day of your appointment to complete your phone interview. 
    • It is recommended to call at 8:00 AM to get in line to speak with a county worker. If you get a busy signal, keep calling until you get through. 
    • Be prepared to be on hold with the county for 2-3 hours and make sure you have your verification documents available. 
    • If you are not able to get through the county on the day of your interview, try calling again the following day. You will have to reapply for benefits if you do not complete a phone interview within 10 days of your scheduled interview. 
      • CALL 1-877-699-6868 TO COMPLETE YOUR PHONE INTERVIEW

SCHEDULE CONFLICTS: If your appointment is scheduled during class(es) or work, please contact [email protected]. We may be able to assist you in resolving this schedule conflict.
 

Maintain Your Benefits

  1. Utilize BenefitsCal
    • BENEFITSCAL is the best way to manage your benefits. The platform provides your benefits status, amount, and case information. BenefitsCal will also provide important reminders of upcoming deadlines (e.g. SAR-7 and re-certification due dates) and electronic notices. You can even opt in for text and email reminders.
  2. Create an account & set up automatic notifications
    • Create a BENIFITSCAL ACCOUNT
    • After you receive your case number in the mail, link your account to your case number to receive important notifications.
      • STEPS TO LINK
        • Select “Link a case”
        • Enter your date of birth, zip code, and case number
        • Select your county
        • Click “Next”
    • BenefitsCal will notify you of upcoming deadlines if you have opted in for text and email notifications.
      • SET UP NOTIFICATIONS
        • Log in 
        • Go to “Things To Do”
        • Click 'Update Profile Information' under 'Account Management' 
        • Follow the instructions and fill in your email to receive alerts.
  3. Complete your SAR-7/Re-certification on time
    • Submitting your SAR-7 is required to maintain your benefits. It must be submitted every 6 months.
    • Your Re-certification is also required to maintain your benefits. This must be submitted annually. 
    • Failure to report an increase in income may result in having to pay back benefits to the county.
    • Please make sure you are submitting your SAR-7/Re-certification within 1–2 days of the due date online. If you submit too far in advance, your request will not be processed and your benefits will be discontinued.
      • For example, if your SAR-7 is due in November, you must submit it between November 5–11. 
  4. Receive help with your paperwork

Using Your benefits

  1. Find local vendors near you
    • AfterAfter you receive your card in the mail, you can purchase food at most grocery stores, gas stations, etc. You can even use your EBT card online to make grocery purchases.
    • Use the EBT RETAILERS NEAR SSU map to find stores that accept EBT within 1-3 miles of SSU.
  2. Double your benefits at the Farmers Market
    • MARKET MATCH is California’s healthy food incentive program that matches EBT benefits at local farmers’ markets. When you use Market Match, you will double your money. That means that when you use $10 of CalFresh benefits, you can get another $10 worth of food ($10 of CalFresh benefits = $20 of food money at the market).
  3. Create a monthly budget

CalFresh FAQs

You are required to apply for benefits in your county of residence. If you live, work, and/or attend school in Sonoma County, then you are a Sonoma County resident. If you leave for winter or summer break while applying for benefits, let the county know you are visiting family or friends. A county worker will be confused by your application request if you communicate “you are going home” to another county. 

You are eligible for benefits if you are regularly purchasing your meals (not provided by family and friends).

The county may require proof of your enrollment for the next semester to qualify for benefits. You can submit your class schedule for the following semester to prove you are still a Sonoma County resident.
 

Using your BENEFITSCAL account, you can opt-in for electronic notifications. You’ll be able to track the progress of your application and even track any upcoming appointments all through your BenefitsCal account. You can also contact our team at [email protected] for other options. 
 

CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT
 

While you wait for benefits, we encourage you to utilize LOBO’S PANTRY, which is completely free to students. There are other FOOD RESOURCES available throughout Sonoma County you can also use. 

Create calendar reminders for yourself right after you are approved for benefits to complete your SAR-7 and Recertification on time. Failure to do so may result in loss of benefits. 

Turn on E-notifications on BENEFITSCAL. 

Check BenefitsCal every month.
 

You CAN purchase:

  • Fruits & vegetables
  • Meat, poultry, & fish
  • Dairy products
  • Breads or cereals

You CANNOT purchase:

  • Hot foods
  • Alcohol
  • Cigarettes
  • Pet food
  • Paper products
  • Medicine
  • Household supplies

You can make online purchases through stores that accept SNAP ONLINE.

CalFresh benefits are received on a plastic card, similar to a debit/credit card. Here are steps to use it at checkout: 

  • Swipe the card at the register terminal
  • Select EBT Food option on the screen
  • Type in your 4-digit PIN when prompted 
     

You will receive EBT funds monthly and they will roll over if you do not use them. To determine what day of the month your benefits will be received, refer to your EBT card. The last number of your case number is the day you receive benefits.

You can check your balance using your BENEFITSCAL 

OR you can call Customer Service.  

  • Call Customer Service at 1-877-328-9677 (the number located on the back of the card)
  • Select your preferred language
  • Enter the 16-digit card number followed by the #
     

Request a replacement card:

  • Call customer service right away at 1-877-328-9677
  • Wait through two card number prompts without entering your EBT card number and you will hear a prompt to report your card as lost, stolen, or damaged
  • Once reported, your EBT card is disabled and you are told how to get a new card
     

To determine your Case Number, refer to your EBT card. The entire series of numbers listed below your name is your case number.

Yes, the BenefitsCal application will prompt you to specify the benefits you wish to apply for. To apply for both programs simultaneously, select "Food (CalFresh)" and "Health Coverage (Medi-Cal)."