Do you receive SSI/SSP benefits?
You may be eligible for CalFresh!
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program that provides monthly benefits to low-income older adults or individuals with a disability. As of June 2019, SSI/SSP Recipients are now eligible to apply for CalFresh.
Receiving CalFresh will not reduce your SSI payment amount.
If you apply for CalFresh, we highly recommend reporting all monthly medical expenses paid out of pocket. By reporting these expenses, you may be eligible for a larger amount of monthly CalFresh benefits.
Medical expenses range from vitamins to dental care to hospital bills. For a full list of eligible medical expenses, please see the Medical Expense Deduction Flyer.
If you encounter any issues with reporting your expenses to the county, please contact calfresh@sdhunger.org.
CalFresh for Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities Toolkit!
We've developed a toolkit specifically designed to help you navigate CalFresh benefits and maximize your access to essential resources.
Here’s a sneak peek of what you’ll find:
Step-by-step guides for eligibility and enrollment
Tips on maximizing resources for older adults and people with disabilities
Access to additional support programs like utility and health care assistance
Download the toolkit HERE!
Remember:
Do Not give your personal information over the phone.
Do Not pay money for assistance.
Do Not accept unsolicited phone calls offering application assistance.
DO use the application methods below.
Applying for CalFresh is easy!
Apply over the phone at 2-1-1
Apply online at www.GetCalFresh.org
Visit one of our partners for in-person CalFresh Assistance:
In order to make it easier to apply for CalFresh, the California Department of Social Services has released a simplified application form, the CF 485, with the Elderly Simplified Application Project - this is meant to help older adults and people with disabilities apply for food benefits via the CalFresh program.
What is the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP)?
The Elderly Simplified Application Project is a demonstration program that aims to increase the participation of the elderly and disabled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/CalFresh program. ESAP is a collection of policy and process changes that simplify the application, interview, and verification processes for SNAP/CalFresh.
Some of these benefits include:
A simplified paper application with the CF 485 form.
The application was formatted to be easy to read and understand, and may submitted in-person to a county Family Resource Center or online via the Benefitscal platform.
Reductions in verification requirements.
Electronic data matches can be used to verify identity, income, residency, medical expenses, and other verification requirements.
Applicants will not be required to submit as many documents and can ask for county workers to assist them in locating verifications via backend systems.
Extension of the certification period to 3 years for elderly/disabled households with no earned income.
After approval for CalFresh, most families will have to renew every 6 months through a SAR7 form. However, through ESAP, older adults and individuals with disabilities will only need to renew their benefits every 3 years.
This will make it easier for households to keep their benefits after being approved!
Waived interview requirements during renewal.
During recertification of benefits, an interview is typically required for the CalFresh household. However, through ESAP, it is waived, and elderly/disabled households will not have to complete one.
Only households made up of older adults (60+) and/or individuals with a disability with NO earned income are eligible for ESAP – this includes SSI recipients.
Through ESAP, it’s easier than ever for older adults and individuals with disabilities to apply for and be approved for CalFresh benefits.
Are you a San Diego nonprofit organization or government agency that assists SSI recipients and would like help or information for enrolling them in CalFresh? Check out our Nonprofit Partner page for information and resources!
