In today’s post, we’re going to walk you through the C4Yourself Login process. The C4Yourself online portal (www.c4yourself.com) is the website used by about 37 counties in California to manage Food Stamps (CalFresh), Medical Assistance (MediCAL), and cash assistance (CALWORKs).
ALERT: Starting on September 27, 2021, C4YYourself has been replaced by BenefitsCal. Learn more about what you need to do by clicking here: BenefitsCal Explained.
To create a BenefitsCal account to access your benefits, see our post – How to Create a Benefitscal account.
If you already have a BenefitsCal account and need help to log in, including how to reset your password, see our post – BenefitsCal Account login Help.
In this article, we will cover:
- California Counties Authorized to use C4Yourself Online Portal
- C4Yourself Login Help
- CalFresh Food Stamps Frequently Asked Questions
For help login into your C4Yourself Account, continue reading and follow our guide below.
California Counties Authorized to use C4Yourself Online Portal
Not all counties in California use the C4Yourself online portal to apply for benefits or manage their benefits.
If you live in one of the following California counties listed below, then you CAN use the C4Yourself online portal to apply for and manage benefit assistance.
Counties that use the
|
|
| Alpine | Modoc |
| Amador | Mono |
| Butte | Monterey |
| Calaveras | Napa |
| Colusa | Nevada |
| Del Norte | Plumas |
| El Dorado | Riverside |
| Glenn | San Benito |
| Humboldt | San Bernardino |
| Imperial | San Joaquin |
| Inyo | Shasta |
| Kern | Sierra |
| Kings | Siskiyou |
| Lake | Stanislaus |
| Lassen | Sutter |
| Madera | Tehama |
| Marin | Trinity |
| Mariposa | Tuolumne |
| Mendocino | Yuba |
| Merced | |
C4Yourself Login Help
Here’s how to login to your C4Yourself online account:
Step 1 – Visit C4Yourself Website
The first step to login into your C4Yourself account is to visit the C4Yourself website at www.c4yourself.com.
Once there, locate the “Log In” link, as shown by the image below.
Step 2 – Enter User Name and Password
In the next step of the login process, you will be taken to a page where you will be required to enter your login credentials (username and password).
See the image below.
Enter the requested information and click “Next”.
Step 3 – View your account
If you entered the correct User Name and Password, you will be taken to your C4Yourself account page where you can perform tasks from your account as stated above, including:
- View details on your existing benefits
- Start or continue an existing application
- Check the status of an application you have already submitted
- Schedule an appointment for a new application
- Upload verification documents
- See eligibility information for CalFresh, CalWORKs, General Relief, and MediCal
Forgot Username and Password
If you do not remember your login credentials, follow the instructions below:
Forgot Username
If you do not remember your username, click on the “Forgot your User Name?” link, as shown below.
Next, You will then be taken to a page where you have to provide your email address to retrieve your username.
Enter your email address in the space provided, then click “Next”. You will receive an email with instructions about your username.
Forgot Password
If you forgot your password, click on the “Forgot your Password” link as shown in the image above.
Next, you will be taken to the page below where you will have to enter your username in order to receive further instructions on how to reset your password.
If you entered the correct username, you will be provided the information you need to reset your account password.
CalFresh Food Stamps FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked California Food Stamps questions.
Where do I go to apply for CalFresh benefits?
There are 3 ways you can apply for food stamps in California.
Option 1 – Apply online
You can apply online through the California getcalfresh.org account.
If you have an account, you can log in or create your getcalfresh.org account. Click here to be taken to the website.
Option 2 – Apply at CDSS Office Near You
You can apply in person at the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) office near you. Click here to locate a CDSS office.
Option 3 – Download California Food Stamps Application
You can download an application, complete it and mail it to your county CDSS office or submit it in person.
What is the Calfornia (CalFresh) Food Stamps Income Limit for 2023?
Here’s the CalFresh SNAP Income Eligibility Standards for Fiscal Year 2023
Note that both the Gross Income Limit and the Net Income Limit as based on a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
| California SNAP (CalFresh) Income Eligibility Standards for Fiscal Year 2023 | ||
| Effective October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023 | ||
| Household Size | Monthly Gross Income (200% of FPL) | Monthly Net Income (100% of FPL) |
| 1 | $2,266 | $1,133 |
| 2 | $3,052 | $1,526 |
| 3 | $3,839 | $1,920 |
| 4 | $4,625 | $2,313 |
| 5 | $5,412 | $2,706 |
| 6 | $6,199 | $3,100 |
| 7 | $6,985 | $3,493 |
| 8 | $7,772 | $3,886 |
| Each Additional Household Member: Add | $787 | $394 |
How Much will I receive in CalFresh Benefits if I am Approved?
Once you are approved for CalFresh food stamps, you probably want to know how much in benefits your household will get on a monthly basis.
See the chart below for details.
| Maximum SNAP Benefit Amount by Household Size for Fiscal Year 2023 | |
| Effective October 1, 2022 – September 30, 2023 | |
| Household Size | Maximum SNAP Benefit Allotment |
| 1 | $281 |
| 2 | $516 |
| 3 | $740 |
| 4 | $939 |
| 5 | $1,116 |
| 6 | $1,339 |
| 7 | $1,480 |
| 8 | $1,691 |
| Each Additional Household Member: Add | $211 |
Who can receive CalFresh benefits?
You may be eligible to receive CalFresh benefits, whether or not you work, if you have a low income. See the income limit above for gross and net income requirements.
What can you purchase with CalFresh?
CalFresh can be used to buy any food or food product that is produced for human consumption. The exception to this is hot foods or lunch counter items prepared or heated in the store.
In addition, CalFresh benefits cannot be used to buy non-food items like soap, toilet paper, shampoo, alcoholic beverages and tobacco, vitamins or medicines, and pet food.
However, you can use your California SNAP EBT Card to purchase seeds and plants for use in home gardens to produce food.
I didn’t get my CalFresh benefits. What’s going on?
Questions about your CalFresh benefits should be directed to the local county public assistance office that issues the benefits.
For information on how to reach your county CalFresh office, visit www.cdss.ca.gov/County-Offices.
Can SSI/SSP recipients get CalFresh?
As of June 1st, 2019, SSI/SSP recipients may be eligible to receive CalFresh in addition to receiving a monthly Social Security Disability benefit.
Can I get CalFresh just for myself if I live with my family or with others?
People who live together and purchase food and prepare meals together are grouped as a “household”. Husbands and wives and their children under age 22 must be one household.
Can I get CalFresh if I am not a United States citizen?
You may be eligible if you are a “qualified” noncitizen. This includes Permanent Legal Residents (holders of a green card), refugees, asylees (an individual who has been granted asylum), and individuals granted withholding of deportation or removal.
In addition, Cuban/Haitian entrants, individuals paroled into the U.S. for a least one year by immigration authorities, conditional entrants (temporary green card).
Furthermore, certain victims of domestic violence, victims of human trafficking (T visa), and applicants for U visa/interim relief are also eligible for CalFresh.
When will I receive my CalFresh benefits?
In all California counties, except Los Angeles, food Stamps Benefits are deposited on EBT Cards over the first 10 days of every month.
When your food stamps benefit is deposited on your EBT Card depends on the last digit of your case number.
Here is the schedule of payment based on the last digit of your case number:
| If your Case Number ends in | Benefits are deposited on the |
| 1 | 1st of the month |
| 2 | 2nd of the month |
| 3 | 3rd of the month |
| 4 | 4th of the month |
| 5 | 5th of the month |
| 6 | 6th of the month |
| 7 | 7th of the month |
| 8 | 8th of the month |
| 9 | 9th of the month |
| 0 | 10th of the month |
Can I get CalFresh if I am a college student?
Students, ages 18 through 49 enrolled in college or other institutions of higher education at least half time, students may be able to get CalFresh if they are:
- Physically or mentally unfit, or
- Working at least 20 hours per week, or
- Participating in a state or federally financed work-study program, or
- Participating in an on-the-job training program, or
- Receiving CalWORKs benefits, or
- Taking care of a dependent household member under the age of 6, or
- Taking care of a dependent household member over the age of 6 but under 12 and do not have adequate child care to be able to attend school and work a minimum of 20 hours, or take part in a state or federally financed work-study program, or
- Single parent enrolled full time in college and taking care of a dependent household member under the age of 12, or
- Enrolled in college as a result of participation in the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), or the Job Opportunities and Basic Skill (JOBS) program under Title IV of the Social Security Act.
- Voluntarily participating in The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) or The Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS).
- Voluntarily participating in EOP, JOBS, DSPS, CARE, MESA, Puente, McNAIR, Former Foster Youth Programs, Cal Grant A&B that meet TANF requirements.
I just moved to another city in California. What should I do to continue getting CalFresh?
If you moved to a city in the same county you lived in before, update your address with the CalFresh office right away.
This will ensure you will still get important notices about your CalFresh.
However, if you moved to a different county, contact the CalFresh office in your new county right away and request an Inter-County Transfer of benefits.
The county can transfer your case and you should not have to reapply.
For information on how to reach your county CalFresh office, visit www.cdss.ca.gov/County-Offices.
How to Check CalFresh EBT Card Balance?
There are three ways to check your CalFresh EBT Card balance.
Option 1 – Via Phone
Call 1-877-328-9677 to check the balance on your California EBT Card
Option 2 – Online
- You can check the balance online here.
Option 3 – Using the Last Transaction Receipt.
- You can also check the balance by locating your Last Receipt
Do I have to be on Public Assistance to be eligible to receive CalFresh?
No. Many recipients of CalFresh are employed, elderly or disabled who need assistance purchasing nutritional food.
How long does it take to receive CalFresh benefits?
If you qualify for CalFresh, you should receive benefits no later than 30 days from the date the CalFresh office received your application.
However, if you have very little or no income and less than $100 in cash, you may be eligible to receive CalFresh within 3 days.
What if I have a bank account, own a home, or have a car?
Most resources including cars, cash, and bank accounts are not counted in the CalFresh Program.
An eligibility worker can answer any other question you have.
Call your county’s CalFresh office and talk to an eligibility worker for more details.
What if I’m not a US Citizen?
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) guidelines permit immigrants and their children to use certain non-cash benefits and special purpose cash benefits without affecting their immigration status including:
- Medi-Cal (Unless you use these services to pay for long-term care i.e. long-term nursing home care)
- CalFresh
- Healthy Families
- Emergency Medical Assistance
- WIC (Women, Infants and Children)
- Job Training Programs
- Foster Care and Adoption Assistance
- Non-Cash benefits funded under CalWORKs
- Emergency Disaster Relief
- Testing & Treatment of Communicable Diseases
- One time emergency payments under CalWORKs
- Prenatal Care
- County Health Programs
- Immunizations
- Nutrition Programs
- Housing Assistance
- Energy Assistance
- Educational Assistance
- Child Care Services
- Transportation Vouchers
It is important to note that some of the above programs may provide cash benefits.
However, the purpose of such benefits is not for income maintenance but rather to avoid the need for ongoing cash assistance for income maintenance.
Therefore, they are not subject to public charge consideration.
For more, see this Important Notice to Immigrants.
How to Create a YourBenefitsNow Account Summary
We hope this post on how to create a YourBenefitsNow account online was helpful to you.
If you have additional questions or need help applying for CalFresh, leave those in the comments section below.
Also, be sure to check out our other articles about California SNAP and EBT, including:
