2-4-25
Source: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/02/04/governor-newsom-announces-new-food-benefits-available-for-people-in-los-angeles-impacted-by-recent-fires/
What you need to know: People impacted by the recent fires in Los Angeles may be eligible for new food benefits. A family of four with a monthly income up to $3,529 per month may be eligible to receive $975.
Los Angeles, California – As part of California’s ongoing wildfire response and recovery efforts, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that individuals and families directly impacted by the recent fires in Los Angeles County – living in the zip codes listed below – may be eligible to receive Disaster CalFresh food benefits.
A family of four with a monthly income up to $3,529 per month may be eligible to receive a one-time $975 food benefit through this program, which is available to those who lived or worked in a fire-impacted area within Los Angeles County on January 7, 2025.
“California’s response and recovery efforts will continue to be guided by the needs of people throughout the impacted region. My administration is focused on serving the individuals and families who need our help the most, which means creating new and expanded benefit programs. Starting February 10th, I encourage eligible people to apply for D-CalFresh benefits, which will allow more families to put more food on the table.”
Who can apply?
Individuals and families who lived or worked in a fire impacted area within Los Angeles County on January 7, 2025 may be eligible for Disaster CalFresh food benefits. Wildfire impacted areas include the following ZIP codes:
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Eaton: 91104, 91206, 91103, 91016, 91010, 91001, 91214, 91101, 91107, 91006, 91208, 91020, 91105, 91011, 91024, 91008, 91007, 91042, and 91106 (total = 19)
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Hughes: 91334, 91350, 91355, 91384, 91390, 93015, 93040, 93225, 93243, 93532, 93536, and 00018 (total = 12)
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Hurst: 91342, 91344, 91321, 91326, 91381, and 91311 (total = 6)
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Palisades: 90049, 91302, 91301, 90290, 90272, 90265, 90402, 90073, 90077, 90095, 90401, 90403, 90404, 91316, 91356, 91367, 91403, 91436, and 91340 (total = 19)
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Other (qualifying power outages): 91750, 93510 (total = 2)
Additionally, at least one person in the household must not already be receiving regular CalFresh food benefits and must have experienced at least one of the following as a direct result of the severe wildfires:
- Money was spent because of the wildfires or related power outage,
- Money was lost from work because of the wildfires,
- Money was spent because of damage to a home or business, or
- Food loss alone.
Individuals already participating in CalFresh and living in these zip codes do not need to apply for Disaster CalFresh benefits, but may be eligible to receive supplemental benefits, which bring the household up to the maximum benefit amount based on their household size.
How to apply
Households may only apply for Disaster CalFresh between February 10-14, 2025 and February 18-19, 2025 by calling 866-488-8482 (M-F, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) or visiting a Los Angeles DPSS office to apply in person. In most cases, benefits will be available within three days of the date of a qualifying interview.
Benefits will be provided via an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which is like a debit card that can be used to purchase food items at grocery stores and other authorized retailers. If applicants are approved, the county will tell them when and where to pick up their EBT card.
Other food supports for survivors
California has also secured waivers to support people receiving CalFresh food benefits in the impacted region. People receiving CalFresh can use their benefits to purchase hot foods in Los Angeles and surrounding counties, as impacted individuals and families may not have access to food storage and/or cooking facilities. This waiver will be in effect through February 8, 2025.
Also, people receiving CalFresh who lost food due to the fires that was purchased with their benefits have an extended period of time to request replacement benefits. This waiver will be in effect through February 5, 2025. CalFresh recipients may contact the Los Angeles DPSS at (866) 613-3777 (M-F, 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.) to request replacement benefits.
California also released $1 million in emergency reserve funding that is providing emergency food boxes and potable water to people in need, in partnership with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. People can find a list of food distributions in their area here.
Source: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/calfresh/disaster-calfresh
Overview of CalFresh Emergency Response:
On January 10, several waiver types became available to individuals in effected areas.
CalFresh households in the impacted areas will have through February 5, 2025, to request individual replacement benefits.
How do I replace my benefits?
You can request replacement benefits for food that
- you bought using CalFresh
- and you lost or had damaged in an emergency (fire, natural disaster, power outages, etc.)
Follow these steps:
(Counties: Los Angeles and Ventura)
(County: Riverside)
On January 10, 2025, the FNS approved CDSS’ request to implement the following waiver.
This waiver is in effect through February 8, 2025.
(Counties: Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and Ventura)
On January 15, 2025, the FNS approved CDSS’ modified request to implement the following waiver.
This waiver is in effect through February 8, 2025.
(Counties: Riverside and San Diego)
For additional resources or needs, email [email protected].
Overview of CalFresh Disaster Response
Emergency Response Waiver Types
Timely Reporting Waiver
The Timely Reporting Waiver extends the 10-day timeframe in which CalFresh households must report food loss in order to individually request replacement benefits. Typically, this timeframe is extended to 30-days past when the disaster occurred. Please refer to the Timely Reporting Waiver links in the Important Information section above for more information on specific waiver approvals.
Automated Mass Replacement Waiver
The Automated Mass Replacement Waiver allows for the replacement of a certain percentage of a households benefit allotment without the need to submit individual requests. This waiver is most often utilized when food loss can be assumed due to widespread adverse effects from a disaster (wildfires, storms, flooding, power loss, etc.), that impacts a majority (50 percent or more) of residents in a given geographic area (e.g., ZIP code) for four hours or more. Please refer to the Automated Mass Replacement Waiver links in the Important Information section above for more information on specific waiver approvals.
Disaster CalFresh (D-CalFresh)
What Is D-CalFresh?
D-CalFresh, known federally as the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP), is a way to meet the temporary nutritional needs of disaster victims following a natural disaster such as a flood, fire, earthquake or any other natural disaster. D-CalFresh provides a month's worth of benefits on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card which can be used to purchase food at authorized retail stores. D-CalFresh is only available when all of the following elements occur:
A Presidential Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance (IA) has been declared in the affected area;
Commercial channels of food distribution have been disrupted and those commercial channels have been restored; and
The State of California has been approved to operate a D-CalFresh program.
Outreach materials for Disaster CalFresh Operations are available and can be accessed on the Disaster CalFresh Outreach Materials webpage.
Who Can Apply for D-CalFresh?
Households who were living or working in an area that was issued a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration with IA, and who were negatively impacted by the disaster, can apply for D-CalFresh.
If you are a current CalFresh recipient affected by the disaster and you meet the household eligibility requirements listed below, you may be eligible for supplemental disaster benefits.
If you are a new applicant affected by the disaster, meet the household eligibility requirements listed below, you may be eligible for full month’s allotment of disaster benefits.
If you are a current CalFresh recipient affected by the disaster and you meet the household eligibility requirements listed below, you may be eligible for supplemental disaster benefits.
If you are a new applicant affected by the disaster, meet the household eligibility requirements listed below, you may be eligible for full month’s allotment of disaster benefits.
Household Eligibility Requirements for D-CalFresh
- 1) Residency
- The household must have lived or worked in the disaster area at the time of the disaster. If any member of a household lived or worked in the disaster area during the disaster benefit period, all household members could be eligible under D-CalFresh. The disaster area is defined in the Presidential Major Disaster Declaration with IA.
- 2) Purchase of Food
- The household must have purchased or planned to have purchased food during the disaster benefit period or have purchased food during that time, if the benefit period has passed.
- 3) Adverse Effect
- Disaster-related adverse effects fall into three categories: loss of income, inaccessible resources, and disaster expenses. The household must have experienced at least one of the adverse effects in order to be eligible for D-CalFresh.
- 4) Income and Resources
- Modified Categorical Eligibility (MCE), in the regular CalFresh program, wherein the CalFresh households resources are excluded when determining CalFresh eligibility does not apply in the D-CalFresh program. Income and resources must be counted in order to determine eligibility in the D-CalFresh program for households who have suffered a disaster loss.
Note: The total net (take-home) income received during the benefit period plus accessible liquid resources, minus eligible disaster-related expenses, shall not exceed the disaster gross income limit. View the disaster gross income limits for the period of 10/1/24 - 9/30/25.
Or Scan the code below on your phone and go straight to the Benefits Cal Platform to apply!
CalFresh is California's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, designed to help low-income individuals and families buy food. Participants receive a plastic card that functions like a debit card, where funds are added each month to assist with food purchases. Any unspent funds will roll over to the next month.
You may qualify for CalFresh if you are a U.S. citizen or a legal resident and meet one of the following criteria:
- Living on a fixed income due to age or disability (SSI recipients now qualify for CalFresh).
- Employed but earning a low income (you can still qualify for assistance even if you are working).
- Unemployed.
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