CalFresh Deadline Nears For Santa Clara County College Students

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — County officials are reminding college students in Santa Clara County to apply for CalFresh Food benefits before expanded, pandemic-era eligibility rules expire next month.

The state's version of SNAP is designed to help lower-income residents, including students, afford groceries. As part of the state's COVID-19 response, officials loosened the requirements for CalFresh Food, relaxing participation requirements to make it easier for more students to qualify.

The key changes included easing participation requirements in the Federal Work-Study Program and allowing students to qualify if their families did not provide financial support for their education.

Those rules are set to revert during the second week of June.

"The county urges students who are eligible for CalFresh Food under the expanded pandemic rules to apply for the program before June 10," said Angela Shing, director of the county's Department of Employment and Benefit Services. "Food insecurity is a serious problem that affects far too many young people in Santa Clara County. Students need all the help they can get to begin their adult lives and prepare for their careers."

The county notes CalFresh participation grew significantly across age groups during the pandemic, with one in 20 residents enrolled as of last year. Monthly benefits range from $23 to $234, based on the assessed needs of each enrollee.

Here are the requirements to qualify for CalFresh Food benefits:

You are subject to special CalFresh Food rules for college students if you are:

• Between 18 and 49 years old
• Enrolled at last half-time in an institution of higher learning
• Physically and mentally fit for employment

To be eligible for CalFresh Food, students who meet the above criteria must be employed or self-employed at least 20 hours per week. There are, however, exemptions from this work requirement. Common exemptions include:

• Participating in the Federal Work-Study Program
• Having parental control over a dependent child under the age of 6
• Having parental control over a dependent child between the ages of 6 and 11, without having adequate childcare services
• Being a single parent with a dependent child under 12 years of age
• Participating in CalWORKS

According to the county, students who apply by June 10 will be able to use their benefits for a year, as long as their circumstances do not change. CalFresh EBT cards can be used for purchases at grocery stores and farmers' markets, or to order food delivery through companies like Amazon, Walmart and Safeway.

>> Students can apply for benefits through the state's online portal.