Will California food stamps recipients receive extra CalFresh benefits for March? The extra food stamps for California for March 2022 are part of the Emergency Allotment (EA) Program. If you want to know how much extra CalFresh benefits you can expect in March and when you’ll receive them, continue reading below.
Alert: April 2022 Extra SNAP Payment Schedule
In this article, we will cover:
- What are Emergency Allotment benefits?
- Who qualifies for extra SNAP benefits?
- How much in extra food stamps will I receive?
- When you’ll receive your Extra Food Stamps in California
- Extra Food Stamps for California – March 2022
- California P-EBT FAQs
- $3000 Child Tax Credit Payments – starts in July, 2021
- Why you may have received $95 in extra CalFresh benefits this month
- Restaurant Meals Program FAQs
Extra Food Stamp Benefits in California
Since March 2020, California has been using temporary SNAP flexibility to provide emergency food benefits to households impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
These temporary flexibilities are also referred to as Emergency Allotment (EA) benefits.
What are Emergency Allotment benefits?
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act authorized emergency SNAP benefits because of COVID-19.
In California, the emergency allotments will raise each household’s monthly allotment of CalFresh to the maximum allowable based on household size.
In addition, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will approve requests for the additional benefits on a month-by-month basis.
We will update this post each month to reflect the extra food stamps that was approved for the month.
EA benefits are part of the Pandemic Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also know as P-SNAP.
To find out what households qualify to receive Emergency Allotment (EA) benefits during the Coronavirus pandemic, continue reading below.
Emergency Allotment Benefits Eligibility
If you are trying to find out if you are eligible to receive extra CalFresh benefits in California, we can help.
To find out who qualifies for extra food stamps benefits, continue reading below.
Who qualifies for extra CalFresh benefits?
Any household that is currently receiving CalFresh benefits qualifies for extra food stamp Emergency Allotment (EA) benefits.
There is no extra paperwork to turn in to get the extra CalFresh benefits.
It will simply be added to your EBT card, and you’ll be able to use it just like regular CalFresh.
In addition, any household that is approved for SNAP EBT in a month when EA benefits are issued, will also qualify to receive extra food stamp benefits.
To find out how much you can expect to receive in extra SNAP benefits, continue reading below.
How much in extra food stamps will I receive?
The amount of extra food stamp benefits you receive is determined by your household size.
Your Emergency Allotment benefits through P-SNAP is the difference between the amount of benefits you are currently receiving and the maximum benefit amount for your household size.
If you are already receiving the maximum monthly benefit amount for your household size, then you will not receive any additional or extra SNAP benefits.
However, if you are not receiving the maximum benefit allotment for your household size, then you will receive extra food stamp benefits.
This means that you will receive the Maximum Benefit Amount for your household size with EA benefits.
For help, check out our example on how to calculate your Emergency Allotment benefits below:
Emergency Allotment Benefits Calculator
The formula to calculate how much in extra CalFresh you will receive through Emergency Allotment (EA) benefits is provided below.
Maximum Monthly Benefit Allotment for Household Size – Current Monthly CalFresh Benefits = Total Extra Allotment CalFresh benefits
Example:
If you live in a household of 3 people and are currently receiving $400 in CalFresh benefits per month, then you will receive $135 in extra food stamp benefits.
That’s because the maximum allotment amount for a household of three is $535 per month.
To find out the maximum SNAP benefit allotment for your household size, check out the table below.
Maximum SNAP Benefit Allotment by Household Size
Use the chart below to find the Maximum SNAP Allotment Amount for your household size.
The 2021 maximum SNAP allotments for the District of Columbia and all states other than Alaska and Hawaii are as follows:
| Household Size | CalFresh Maximum Monthly Allotment |
| 1 | $250 |
| 2 | $459 |
| 3 | $658 |
| 4 | $835 |
| 5 | $992 |
| 6 | $1,190 |
| 7 | $1,316 |
| 8 | $1,504 |
| Each Additional Member: | +$188 |
When you’ll receive Extra SNAP Benefits in California
All households with active CalFresh cases in the benefit month will receive the maximum amount of benefits for their household size.
Emergency Allotments are approved on a rolling basis and issued by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS).
The Emergency Allotment for a benefit month is issued in the middle of the next month.
For example, when you get the extra benefit in mid-December, it’s technically for the month of November.
If you do not receive your Emergency Allotment benefits, please contact your SNAP caseworker at your local CDSS office.
However, before you call your caseworker, make sure you have reviewed the payment schedule below to see all three issuance dates for extra benefit for the month you are missing.
To find the CDSS office near you, click here.
To find out when you can expect to receive your extra California SNAP benefits for this month, continue reading below.
Extra Food Stamps for California – March 2022
To find out when you can expect to receive your Emergency Allotment EA benefits on your California SNAP EBT Card for March 2022, see below.
When will I receive my extra food stamp benefits for March 2022?
California has been approved for emergency allotments for the month of March 2022.
March Extra CalFresh benefits will be issued on April 16, 2022.
I did not receive Extra Food Stamps in February. What Can I Do?
Extra food stamps benefits will be paid on March 19, 2022, for CalWIN and March 26,
2022 for CalSAWS
However, if you did not receive your benefits in March, the next round of February payments will be issued in April 2022.
I still have not received my Extra Food Stamps for January. What Can I Do?
Extra food stamps benefits for January were paid on February 26th.
However, if you did not receive your benefits on February 26th, the next round of January payments will be issued on March 9th and March 26th, 2022.
Also, if your January payment did not come on March 9th and March 26th, 2022, then the last opportunity to receive your payment for January is on April 16, 2022.
Is California issuing extra SNAP benefits in April 2022?
Yes. California has requested and been approved by the USDA to issue CalFresh emergency allotments for the month of April 2022.
Each eligible household will only receive one emergency allotment per benefit month that emergency allotments are approved.
However, California runs three issuances for each approved emergency allotment for a given month.
This is done to ensure that all eligible households receive an emergency allotment for each benefit month that emergency allotments are approved.
Therefore, if you did not get the benefit on the first issuance date for a particular month, it means it may be sent on the second issuance date.
Furthermore, if you did not get the benefit for a particular month on the first or second issuance date, it means you will receive that benefit on the third issuance date for that month.
Are new California SNAP recipients eligible for extra food stamp benefits?
Yes, if your CalFresh application is approved during the month of September, P-SNAP benefits will be issued at the time of approval.
How do I check to see if I received my extra SNAP benefits?
To find out if you have received your extra SNAP EBT benefits for September, check your CalFresh EBT Card balance.
The Emergency Allotment benefits will be automatically deposited to your card EBT Card on your scheduled date.
Click here to find out how to check your CalFresh EBT Card balance.
CalFresh Emergency Allotment Payment Schedule for 2020 – and 2022
Here’s how to read the Emergency Allotment Payment Schedule Below:
As mentioned above, each eligible household will only receive one emergency allotment per benefit month that emergency allotments are approved.
However, California runs three issuances for each approved emergency allotment for a given month.
Therefore, if you did not get the benefit on the first issuance date for a particular month, it means it may be sent on the second issuance date.
Furthermore, if you did not get the benefit for a particular month on the first or second issuance date, it means you will receive that benefit on the third issuance date for that month.
It is therefore possible that your extra benefit for a particular month may be issued the following month, two months after, or three months after.
Here’s the CalFresh Emergency Allotment Issuance Schedule for 2020-2022.
| Benefit Month | First Issuance | Second Issuance | Third Issuance |
| 2020 | |||
| March | April 12 | May 10 | June 14 |
| April | May 10 | June 14 | July 12 |
| May | June 14 | July 12 | August 16 |
| June | July 12 | August 16 | September 13 |
| July | August 16 | September 13 | October 18 |
| August | September 13 | October 18 | November 15 |
| September | October 18 | November 15 | December 20 |
| October | November 15 | December 20 | January 10 |
| November | December 20 | January 10 | February 14 |
| December | January 10 | February 14 | March 7 |
| 2021 | |||
| January | February 14 | March 7 | April 18 |
| February | March 7 | April 18 | May 16 |
| March | April 18 | May 16 | June 13 |
| April | May 16 | June 13 | July 18 |
| May | June 13 | July 18 | August 8 |
| June | July 18 | August 8 | September 11 |
| July | August 8 | September 11 | October 23 |
| August | September 11 | October 24 | November 14 |
| September | October 24 | November 14 | December 12 |
| October | November 14 | December 12 | January 16 |
| November | December 12 | January 16 | February 26 |
| December | January 16 | February 26 | March 19 & 26 |
| 2022 | |||
| January | February 26 | March 19 & 26 | April 16 |
| February | March 19 & 26 | April 16 | TBD |
| March | April 16 | TBD | TBD |
California P-EBT FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the California P-EBT program.
Who is eligible for P-EBT benefits?
Children are eligible for P-EBT benefits if:
- Their school is closed due to coronavirus (COVID 19); and
- They are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals
How Much is P-EBT Benefits?
- 2019-2020 School Year– March 2020 through June 2020
- Breakfast- $2.20
- Lunch- $3.50
- Daily Total- $5.70
- 2020-2021 School Year– August 2020 through June 2021
- Breakfast- $2.26
- Lunch- $3.60
- Daily Total- $5.86
- With 15% increase- $6.82
If my family is eligible for the August-September benefit extension, will we get a new P-EBT card?
Yes. You will get new cards in the mail. There will be one card per child. Benefits are available up to one year after issuance.
Can I use a P-EBT card to withdraw cash from an ATM?
No. You cannot use a P-EBT card to get cash at an ATM.
A P-EBT card can only be used to purchase food in most grocery stores and farmer’s markets.
Also, you can use your P-EBT card to buy groceries online for delivery from Amazon or pick-up from Walmart.
For how to use EBT cards online, see our post on Buying Groceries Online with California EBT.
If I already got a P-EBT card in the mail do I need to apply online?
No. If you already got a P-EBT card in the mail do not apply online.
Just follow the instructions on your card and create your private PIN number.
After that, your card will be ready to use.
If I get P-EBT benefits, will it make me a public charge?
No. The P-EBT program is a disaster emergency benefit based on free and reduced-fee school meal eligibility.
This is similar to other benefits that DHS has said would not be considered for
public charge purposes.
However, USCIS can consider several factors under their public charge test.
Also, the Public charge rule does not apply to all immigrants.
The Biden Administration Increases P-EBT Benefits
As of January 22, 2021, the Biden Administration passed a law to increase Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) benefits by 15% to help fight childhood hunger.
Previously, the P-EBT program was capped at $5.86 per child per school day.
In addition, many households have had issues claiming their P-EBT benefits.
The 15% increase to the P-EBT Program will tackle the problem of food insecurity among children during the school year.
$3000 Child Tax Credit Payments
The American Rescue Plan increased the Child Tax Credit from $2,000 per child to $3,000 per child for children over the age of six.
Additionally, it went from $2,000 to $3,600 for children under the age of six, and raised the age limit from 16 to 17.
All working families will get the full credit if they make up to $150,000 for a couple or $112,500 for a family with a single parent (also called Head of Household).
When will I get the Child Tax Credit?
Starting on July 15th, 2021, most families will automatically receive monthly payments of $250 or $300 per child without having to take any action.
If you’ve filed tax returns for 2019 or 2020, or if you signed up to receive a stimulus check from the Internal Revenue Service, you will get this tax relief automatically.
You do not need to sign up or take any action.
Restaurant Meals Program FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program (RMP).
What is the Restaurant Meals Program?
The CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program allows certain groups of CalFresh recipients to buy prepared meals with their EBT benefits.
The program provides the option for eligible SNAP recipients to use their CalFresh EBT benefits or Golden State Advantage card to purchase prepared meals at approved participating restaurants.
Participating counties have a list of approved restaurants that participate in the RMP and eligible CalFresh recipients can only use their EBT card at approved restaurants within their county.
Who is Eligible for the Restaurant Meals Program?
To be eligible for the California SNAP Restaurant Meals Program, you must be part of the three demographics below:
Elderly: 60 years or old
Disabled: Have been determined disabled through the Social Security Administration, are a veteran with a service-based disability, or are receiving disability payments through the Railroad Retirement Act.
Homeless: Living in a supervised shelter, halfway house, or a place not designated for, or ordinarily used as sleeping accommodations for human beings.
Which California Counties Participate in the Restaurant Meals Program?
As of February 2021, the following counties are participating in the Restaurant Meals Program:
Click on your county below for details about the restaurant meals program and the list of approved restaurants:
- Alameda
- Fresno
- Los Angeles
- Madera
- Mariposa
- Monterey
- Orange
- Riverside
- Sacramento
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- Santa Clara
- San Luis Obispo
- San Mateo
- Santa Cruz
- Siskiyou
- Tehama
- Ventura
How do I know that a Restaurant Participates in RMP?
Each participating county provides a list of approved RMP restaurants.
In addition, look for the ” EBT Cards Accepted Here ” sign in the window or contact your local county human services office to get a list of participating restaurants.
Also, you can click on the participating county list above to see our detailed list of approved RMP restaurants in each county.
What is the New CalFresh Income Limit for 2021/2022?
Most households must have a total gross monthly income less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty level, to be potentially eligible for CalFresh.
If your household has a person who is 60 or older or disabled, only the net income limit must be met.
| Number of People in Household | Maximum Monthly Gross Income Allowed – 200% Federal Poverty Level | Maximum Monthly Net Income Allowed – 100% Federal Poverty Level |
| 1 | $2,148 | $1,074 |
| 2 | $2,904 | $1,452 |
| 3 | $3,660 | $1,830 |
| 4 | $4,418 | $2,209 |
| 5 | $5,174 | $2,587 |
| 6 | $5,930 | $2,965 |
| 7 | $6,688 | $3,344 |
| 8 | $7,444 | $3,722 |
| 9 | $8,202 | $4,101 |
| 10 | $8,960 | $4,480 |
| Each additional member | +$758 | +$379 |
Number of CalFresh recipients skyrockets in S.F. Bay Area
According to this report from the San Francisco Chronicle, the number of San Francisco CalFresh recipients has skyrocketed in recent months.
The number of CalFresh recipients in the area rose 42% from about 64,800 in November 2019 to more than 92,000 in November 2021.
That means there were 74 CalFresh recipients per 1,000 residents in San Francisco in November.
Historically, the Bay Area had generally low CalFresh participation rates.
For example, San Mateo County had the lowest per person rate of CalFresh recipients in California in 2019.
However, their CalFresh numbers rose 45% from November 2019 to November 2021 — a higher increase than any other county in the state.
Additionally, Alameda, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara counties rates are all up more than 30%.
The graph below highlights the increase:
Extra Food Stamps for California – March 2022 Summary
Here’s the bottom line about Extra Food Stamps for California – March 2022:
Since March 2020, California has been using temporary SNAP flexibility to provide emergency food benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Each eligible household will only receive one emergency allotment per benefit month that emergency allotments are approved.
Extra CalFresh benefits for March 2022 will be paid on April 16, 2022.
However, California runs three issuances for each approved emergency allotment for a given month.
Therefore, it is possible that your extra benefit for March may be issued in April, May 2022, or June 2022.
Also, if you did not receive your February extra benefit in March, the next round of February payments will be issued on April 16, 2022, as well.
Questions?
We hope this post on Extra Food Stamps for California – March 2022 was helpful.
If you have further questions about CalFresh 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:
$3,000 Child Tax Credit from 2021 Stimulus
California P-EBT Extension for 2020/2021
How much will I get in CalFresh in 2021?
How to Complete CalFresh SAR 7 Form
Get Printable CalFresh SAR 7 Form
CalFresh Payment Schedule for April
