If you are applying for Food Stamps (CalFresh) Medical Assistance (MediCAL) or Cash Assistance (CALWorks) in the State of California, you need a C4Yourself online account to manage the application process and your benefits if you are approved. In this article, we will walk you through the step by step process of how to create a C4Yourself online account.
ALERT: Starting on September 27, 2021, C4YYourself will soon be 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
- Benefits of C4Yourself Account
- How to Create a C4Yourself Account
- CalFresh Food Stamps Frequently Asked Questions
For help creating 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.
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 | |
Benefits of C4Yourself Online Account
C4Yourself is an online application system that allows you to apply for benefits in the California counties listed above.
There are several benefits to signing up for a C4Yourself account. You can use the C4Yourself account to:
- 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
- Renew your benefits or complete recertification
- See your Caseworker details
- Review your benefits information
- Update your account profile
- See details on the Semi-Annual or Quarterly reports you are required to submit
Benefits you can access through the C4Yourself portal include:
- CalFresh (Food and Nutrition Assistance)
- CalWORKs (Cash Assistance)
- MediCal (Medical assistance)
How to Create a C4Yourself Online Account
Here’s how to create your C4Yourself online account:
Step 1 – Visit C4Yourself Website
The first step in creating a C4Yourself online account is to visit the C4Yourself website. Click here to be taken there.
Next, click the “Create an Account” link as shown in the image below.
Step 2 – Register a New Account
You will then be taken to the page below. Click on the “register a new account here” link as shown below.
Step 3 – Select Your County and Complete Information
As mentioned above, not every county in California uses the C4Yourself online portal to manage their benefit assistance program.
Therefore, in order to make sure your county is authorized to use the portal, you first have to select your county of residence, as shown below.
If your county is authorized to use the system, then you will be able to proceed to the next step.
Enter the following information as shown below:
- Username
- Password
- Select Secret Questions
Once you have finished entering the information requested, click on the “Next” link to continue, as shown below.
Step 4 – View Account
Congratulations!! If you correctly entered the information requested, you will be taken to your newly created C4Yourself account.
There, you can perform the list of tasks listed above in this article, 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
C4Yourself Video
We strongly suggest that you watch the video below, which does an excellent job of explaining in detail how to navigate the C4Yourself website.
It explains the various task you can perform once logged in, including how you can check your eligibility for benefits and the status of your application.
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 2021?
Here’s the CalFresh SNAP Income Eligibility Standards for Fiscal Year 2021
Note that both the Gross Income Limit and the Net Income Limit as based on a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
| Household Size |
Gross Income Limit 200% FPL | Net Income Limit 100% FPL |
| 1 | $2,128 | $1,064 |
| 2 | $2,874 | $1,437 |
| 3 | $3,620 | $1,810 |
| 4 | $4,368 | $2,184 |
| 5 | $5,114 | $2,557 |
| 6 | $5,860 | $2,930 |
| 7 | $6,608 | $3,304 |
| 8 | $7,354 | $3,677 |
| 9 | $8,102 | $4,051 |
| 10 | $8,850 | $4,425 |
|
For each additional
person add: |
$748 | $374 |
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.
| SNAP Benefits by Household Size | ||
| Household Size | Maximum Monthly Benefit, Fiscal Year 2021 |
Estimated Average Monthly Benefit, Fiscal Year 2021 |
| 1 | $204 | $138 |
| 2 | $374 | $260 |
| 3 | $535 | $401 |
| 4 | $680 | $477 |
| 5 | $807 | $560 |
| 6 | $969 | $673 |
| 7 | $1,071 | $656 |
| 8 | $1,224 | $927 |
| Each additional person | $153 | |
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.
Talk to a CalFresh Eligibility Worker. Even if you are not eligible for Calfresh benefits, other members of your family may be eligible.
Parents who do not qualify themselves should apply for their children born in the United States.
If you do receive CalFresh benefits, it will not count against you when you apply to become a citizen or legal permanent resident of the U.S.
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
Are there items I cannot purchase with CalFresh benefits?
Yes. CalFresh benefits cannot be used to purchase:
- Any non-food items, including pet food, soaps, paper products, household supplies, grooming items, and cosmetics.
- Alcoholic beverages and tobacco products.
- Any food that will be eaten in the store.
- Vitamins and medicines.
- Any food marketed to be heated in the store.
Can I get CalFresh if I am not working?
Yes, but you may be required to participate in a work or training program.
Can I get CalFresh if I am working?
Yes, if your income does not exceed the eligibility requirements, you may receive CalFresh benefits even if you work.
Also, income eligibility limits vary depending on the number of persons in your household, therefore it is important to apply first to see if you are eligible.
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.
Be sure to check out our other articles about EBT, including YourBenefitsNow Login, California Food Stamps Income Limit, California Food Stamps Card Replacement, and How to Purchase Groceries Online with California EBT.