Latest CalFresh Program Updates
End of Emergency Allotments
As advocates and champions of nutrition security in San Diego County, we are disheartened at the timeline the federal government has chosen during a time of rampant inflation, EBT theft, and amid the COVID-19 Pandemic. The end of emergency allotments will disrupt the lives of all CalFresh recipients as households have grown used to the additional dollars in their monthly budget for nutrition security. For San Diego County, this equates to about 7.7 million meals lost per month in our county. The Hunger Coalition has information on additional food assistance resources that can help people replace lost meals. We also recommend that CalFresh recipients make sure they are getting the maximum amount they are eligible for by ensuring the County has record of their monthly household expenses, such as childcare and medical care costs, which can increase monthly CalFresh benefits.
WHAT CAN CALFRESH HOUSEHOLDS DO?
You may be eligible to increase your normal monthly CalFresh amount by updating your shelter (housing) costs, dependent care costs (like childcare), education costs, medical deductions (for seniors 60+ and/or disabled households only), utility costs, and more. See the “How to Maximize CalFresh Benefits” information below.
There are community organizations across San Diego County that can assist you with boosting your benefit amount. Visit www.sdhunger.org/getcalfresh to find a nonprofit organization or healthcare provider providing FREE CalFresh application assistance.
Find information about other types of food assistance here: www.sdhunger.org/resources.
END OF EMERGENCY ALLOTMENTS
The 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act signed into law on December 29, 2022 ended federal authority to issue Emergency Allotments effective February 28, 2023. This means that regardless of the Federal or State Public Health Emergency, new federal law sunsets Emergency Allotments effective February 28, 2023 and there will not be a 30-day transition month.
As a reminder, in response to COVID-19 and its effects on the economy, all CalFresh households receive a minimum emergency allotment of $95 per month. This revised minimum emergency allotment applies regardless of household size. Emergency allotments are approved by the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) on a month-by-month basis. We anticipate the last deposit will be in March 2023 for most CalFresh households.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
CalFresh households have been able to access increased purchasing power with the emergency allotments. However, with the end of emergency allotments, benefits will revert to a household's calculated benefit allotment. This means that households of 1 could go from receiving $281 back to $23 in benefits. As the last of the emergency allotments will be deposited in March 2023, the impact will be felt April 2023.
Currently: January’s CalFresh emergency allotments will be available to customers on February 5 (CalSAWS) and February 12 (CalWIN). As a reminder, eligible households will receive at least $95.
CDSS will be notifying all CalFresh households about the end of emergency allotments via mail, text, and robocalls. CDSS will also be providing a hotline for clients to call about the end of emergency allotments.
