If you live in Los Angeles County, California, have low income, and need help paying for food, you may qualify for the food stamps (also known as CalFresh). Follow the instructions below to learn more about how to apply for Los Angeles County Food Stamps.
Table of Contents:
- Los Angeles Food Stamps
- California Food Stamps Income Limits – 2023
- What do I need to Apply for Food Stamps in Los Angeles County?
- How to Apply for Los Angeles County Food Stamps
- How Much in CalFresh will I Get?
- What to do if you Need Food Assistance Now
Los Angeles Food Stamps
CalFresh is the name of the California Food Stamps program. It is also known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).
The SNAP program is a federal nutrition program that helps people with low income buy healthy food.
SNAP benefits can be used to purchase food at grocery stores, convenience stores, and some farmers’ markets and co-op food programs.
In Los Angeles County, the CalFresh program is managed by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS).
Eligibility for CalFresh, as well as the benefit amount, is based on your household’s size and income level.
A household can be one person, a group of people, a family, or any combination of people that buy and prepare food together.
Children living with their parents are considered part of the same household until age 22.
Furthermore, many legal non-citizens are eligible for CalFresh benefits.
Also, even if you can’t get CalFresh benefits for yourself, other members of your household may be eligible.
Once approved monthly benefits are provided on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card.
California Food Stamps Income Limits – 2023
To be eligible for food stamps in Los Angeles County, there is a gross income and net income limit that must be met.
Most households must have a total gross monthly income less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty level, to potentially qualify for CalFresh.
The elderly and persons with disabilities must still pass the net income test.
However, they are not subject to a gross income test.
Also, deductions are expenses that are subtracted from the household’s monthly gross income to arrive at the net monthly income.
Gross Income Limit for CalFresh
For CalFresh purposes, gross monthly income means a household’s total income before excluding allowable deductions.
The table below shows the gross monthly income limit for California food stamps.
| California Food Stamps Gross Income Limits for Fiscal Year 2023 | |
| Number of People in Household | Gross Income (200% of FPL) |
| 1 | $2,266/month |
| 2 | $3,052/month |
| 3 | $3,839/month |
| 4 | $4,625/month |
| 5 | $5,412/month |
| 6 | $6,199/month |
| 7 | $6,985/month |
| 8 | $7,772/month |
| Each Additional Household Member: Add | $787/month |
Net Income Limit for CalFresh
The net monthly income is used to determine eligibility and the amount of CalFresh benefits that will be received monthly.
The table below shows the net monthly income limit for California food stamps:
| California Food Stamps Net Income Limits for Fiscal Year 2023 | |
| Number of People in Household | Net Income (100% of FPL) |
| 1 | $1,133/month |
| 2 | $1,526/month |
| 3 | $1,920/month |
| 4 | $2,313/month |
| 5 | $2,706/month |
| 6 | $3,100/month |
| 7 | $3,493/month |
| 8 | $3,886/month |
| Each Additional Household Member: Add | $394/month |
To arrive at the net income, the following allowable expenses are subtracted from the gross monthly income.
CalFresh deductions include:
- 20% deduction from earned income,
- A standard deduction of $193 for households with 1-4 members,
- A standard deduction of $225 for a household with 5 members,
- Standard deduction of $258 for a household with 6 or more members,
- Cost of childcare when needed to work, seek work or attend training for work,
- Medical expenses exceeding $35 for elderly or disabled household members,
- Court-ordered child support payments paid to non-household members, and
- A portion of shelter (rent or mortgage) and utility costs
California Food Stamps Asset Limit
There is no asset limit for food stamps in California.
However, if a household has an elderly or disabled member and did not meet the Gross Income test above, there is an asset limit of $4,250.
What do I need to Apply for Food Stamps in Los Angeles County?
To apply for SNAP/CalFresh/Food Stamps in Los Angeles county, you need to complete an application with your name, address and signature.
See instructions for how to apply below.
If you are homeless, only your name and signature are needed.
Additionally, when you are interviewed, your Caseworker will likely ask you for the following information:
Identification: Driver’s license, an I.D card, health card, or other identification documents
Social Security Numbers: Your number and a number for those who live in your household (if they have one)
Proof of income: Pay stubs, child support orders, and benefit statements
For legal non-US citizens: Resident alien card or other proof of immigration status
How to Apply for Los Angeles County Food Stamps
There are three ways you can apply for CalFresh benefits in Los Angeles County:
Option 1 – Online
The easier and quickest way to apply for CalFresh in Los Angeles County is online through the BenefitCal portal at www.benefitscal.com.
Another way to apply online is through www.getcalfresh.org.
Option 2 – By Phone
You can call the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) to apply by phone or have an application mailed to you.
Here is the number to call:
DPSS Customer Service Center (CSC) (866) 613-3777.
You can complete the paper application and return it to the DPSS office for processing.
Option 3 – In Person
Lastly, you can apply In person at any Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) District Office or outreach site.
To locate a DPSS office near you, click here.
After you submit an application, you will be contacted by an eligibility worker to complete the application process.
How soon will my application be approved?
You will receive CalFresh benefits within 30 days of submitting your application.
However, all required information has been provided and verified before a decision can be made on our application.
How Much in CalFresh will I Get?
If you are approved for food stamps in California, how much in benefits you get partly depends on the number of people in your household.
For details on how much in benefits your household is likely to receive. see our post on California food stamps benefits amount.
Do you Need Food Now?
Is your household struggling and needing food assistance now?
If so, there are two ways to get food quickly in Los Angeles County, as explained below:
Option 1 – Expedited CalFresh Application
If your household has little or no money and needs food assistance right away, you may qualify for Expedited CalFresh (ES) benefits within three days, or even as early as the same day after the application is received.
To be eligible for expedited Calfresh benefits, your household must be eligible for regular food stamps and meet one of the following requirements:
- Cash resources of $100 or less and a gross monthly income of less than $150.
- Combined cash resources and gross monthly income are less than your monthly expenses for rent/mortgage and utilities.
- Your family includes a migrant or seasonal farmworker who has $100 or less in cash resources and very little income or income has been terminated.
If you do qualify for expedited Calfresh, you will receive your food stamp benefits within 3 calendar days.
A weekend (Saturday and Sunday) is considered one calendar day.
Option 2 – Food Pantries in Los Angeles County
Another way to get food now is to visit food banks and pantries in Los Angeles County.
Below is a list of food pantries in Los Angeles County where you can get food assistance immediately:
Silverlake Community Church
2930 Hyperion Ave.
Los Angeles, CA. 90027
(323) 663-3151
Open: Wednesdays 5 – 6:30 PM
Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church
535 N. Main St.
Los Angeles, CA. 90012
(213) 629-3101
Open: Mondays – Fridays 5 – 6:30 PM
The Dream Center
2301 Bellevue Ave.
Los Angeles, CA. 90026
(213) 273-7021
Open: MOBILE FOOD BANKS Mondays – Fridays 11 AM – 2 PM
Christian Food Center
1355 E. Washington Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA. 90021
(213) 716-9115
Open: Tuesdays – Fridays 9 AM – 3:30 PM and Saturdays 9 AM – NOON
Blessed Sacrament
6657 W. Sunset Blvd.
Hollywood, CA 90028
(323) 663-3151
Open: Saturdays 9 AM – NOON
Food Pantry, LAX
355 E. Beach Ave.
Inglewood, CA 90302
(310) 677-5597
Open: Tuesdays and Fridays 10 AM – NOON
Lutheran Social Services
1611 Pine Ave.
Long Beach, CA. 90813
(562) 599-1321
Open: Mondays/Tuesdays/Thursdays 10 AM – NOON and 12:30 – 2 PM, Wednesdays 11 AM – NOON and 12:30 – 2 PM
Catholic Charities of Los Angeles, Inc. – Loaves and Fishes
4322 San Fernando Rd.
Glendale, CA 91204
(213) 318-5707
Mondays-Wednesdays, Fridays 10 AM – NOON and 1:15 pm – 3:30 pm.
Foothill Unity Center
790 W. Chestnut Ave.
Monrovia, CA. 91016
191 N. Oak Ave.
Pasadena, CA. 91107
(626) 358-3486
(626) 584-7420
Open: Mondays – Fridays 9 AM – 5 PM
Click here for a complete list.
CalFresh Los Angeles Summary
We hope this post on CalFresh Los Angeles was helpful.
Questions?
If you have further questions about CalFresh in Los Angeles County or California EBT Card, please let us know in the comments section below.
Be sure to check out our other articles about CalFresh and CalFresh EBT, including:
