Food & Nutrition Benefits

CalFresh stretches your food budget

CalFresh gives you monthly benefits on an ATM-style plastic card, called an Electronic Benefit Transfer or EBT card, that you can use to purchase food.

calfresh ebt card The CalFresh card can be used instead of money for food at grocery stores and many local farmers markets. The benefits help you afford to buy the groceries you need to be healthy.

Known as CalFresh in California, this food and nutrition program is part of a federal government program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

As of April 2020, CalFresh recipients can now use their EBT cards to purchase groceries online at Amazon.*

You can order food online that you would normally buy with your EBT card in the store. Availability of fresh items may be limited, however you may order non-perishable food. When you order, select Amazon home delivery (delivery may take longer than usual). CalFresh Food benefits cannot be used to cover the cost of delivery, though Amazon offers free delivery on orders over $35. EBT Card holders are eligible for a reduced cost Prime Membership, which eliminates the delivery fee on most items and grants access to other Prime benefits.

For more information, please visit EBT Online at www.cdss.ca.gov/ebtonline.

*Walmart online purchasing and delivery are unavailable in Sonoma County.

You may qualify for Pandemic EBT

Who gets Pandemic EBT (P-EBT)?

Children who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals can get a food benefit called Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) for the months their school is closed. Families will get up to $365 per eligible child on their P-EBT card to use for food and groceries, just like a debit card. This benefit is in addition to their pick-up meals from the school and receiving P-EBT does not impact their ability to receive CalFresh benefits.

P-EBT is available to all eligible California families with school aged children, regardless of their immigration status. P-EBT is not the same as CalFresh or Food Stamps. P-EBT is an emergency food benefit and is similar to other benefits that immigration officials do not consider for public charge purposes.

Click here for information in Spanish

How to get P-EBT

Who does NOT need to apply

If your family receives CalFresh, Medi-Cal, or CalWORKs benefits, you do NOT need to apply for P-EBT. The state will automatically mail you a P-EBT card with $365 per child between May 12 and May 22, 2020. Note: You may not get the full P-EBT amount if your family started getting CalFresh or Medi-Cal benefits for the first time after schools closed.

Who NEEDS to apply

If you have children who are eligible for free or reduced-price meals but did not get a P-EBT card in the mail by May 22, 2020, you must apply online before June 30, 2020. To apply after May 22, visit ca.p-ebt.org. Eligible families should receive their P-EBT card within 10 days after applying.

More information

For details on P-EBT: Information About P-EBT
Download the flyer ( English/ Spanish)
To apply for P-EBT after May 22: Visit ca.p-ebt.org.
For help with your P-EBT card: Call California’s EBT Service Center at (877) 328-9677, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for help with PIN set-up, address change, lost or stolen cards, application status, and basic eligibility troubleshooting.
For questions about your existing CalFresh or Medi-Cal benefits: Call (877) 699-6868.
For SonomaWORKs, call (707) 565-5500.

Economic Assistance Lobby Closed -- Options for Services

The County of Sonoma has transitioned to a temporary and precautionary suspension of non-essential operations until May 3, 2020, in an effort to protect employees and the community by limiting person-to-person contact to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

While most of the Human Services’ offices are temporarily closed, we will continue to provide essential services, including emergency services for child welfare, adult protective services, IHSS, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and General Assistance.

Read the questions and answers about how public benefits are affected on the Human Services Department home page first. For additional information, please email info@schsd.org or call 707-565-5800. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work together to keep our communities safe.

For Medi-Cal, CalFresh and General Assistance services while the Economic Assistance Lobby is closed, access services through these options:

Online

MyBenefitsCalWIN.org

Report Changes
Apply for Benefits
Submit Reports & Documents

CoveredCA.com

Apply for Medi-Cal

GetCalFresh.org

Apply for CalFresh

Telephone/Fax

Service Center 1-877-699-6868

Report Changes
Request Replacement EBT Card
General Assistance Questions

Fax 707-565-2929

Report Changes
Apply for Benefits

Mail/Office Drop Box

Report Changes
Apply for Benefits
Submit Reports & Documents

Cancelled: Free Food and Fresh Produce Cancelado: Comida y Productos Frescos Gratis

Redwood Empire Food Bank and Economic Assistance offer free Groceries to Go for families and individuals needing food assistance. Find fresh produce, bread and more.
Where: Economic Assistance, 2550 Paulin Ave., Santa Rosa Google Maps™ Directions
When: Cancelled until further notice.
Upcoming Dates: Cancelled until further notice.
For information, call Food Connections Office, (707) 523-7903

El Redwood Empire Food Bank and Economic Assistance ofrecen Groceries to Go gratuitos para familias y personas que necesitan asistencia alimentaria. Encuentra productos frescos, pan y más.
Adonde: Assistencia Economica, 2550 Paulin Ave., Santa Rosa Google Maps™ Directions
Cuando: Cancelado hasta nuevo aviso.
Próximas fechas: Cancelado hasta nuevo aviso.
Para más informacion, llame a la Food Connections Office, (707) 523-7903

Who May Be Eligible?

All U.S. citizens who are residents of Sonoma County who meet the guidelines.
Children born in the United States, regardless of where the parents were born.
Immigrants who are legal permanent residents, victims of trafficking, U-visa applicants and holders and others may be eligible.
Residents who receive SSI or SSP.
Students and people who meet the other CalFresh guidelines (in English and Spanish).

For details about eligibility and income rules in English and Español, you may want to visit the California Department of Social Services website.

Current CalFresh Clients

Even if you've had CalFresh for a while, benefits and rules can change. It's important that you keep in touch with us, and check this site for new information.

Visit Renew Your Benefits to learn how to keep your CalFresh benefits ongoing or make changes to your home address or income.
Visit Use Your Benefits for a list of what you can buy with CalFresh, and how and where to use your benefits.
Check CalFresh Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for answers about your benefits. Here are two FAQs that many clients ask:

How do I check my CalFresh Card balance amount?

Using your card number, check online at mybenefitscalwin.org or call (877) 328-9677.

How do I replace a damaged, lost or stolen CalFresh Card?

Using your card number, check online at mybenefitscalwin.org or call (877) 328-9677.

Contact Information

Economic Assistance

Human Services Department

Business Hours

Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Addresses

Address

Santa Rosa

2550 Paulin Drive

Santa Rosa, CA 95403

38.465026, -122.721484

Google Maps™ Directions

Petaluma Office

5350 Old Redwood Highway

Suite 100

Petaluma, CA 94954

38.278495, -122.668033

Google Maps™ Directions

Drop off paperwork at any office or mail to:

Economic Assistance

P.O. Box 1539

Santa Rosa, CA 95402

Apply for CalFresh

Apply Online
In English and Spanish

Apply by Phone
Dial 2-1-1 from any phone

Apply in Person
Visit our the Economic Assistance office 8 AM - 5 PM

Healthy Eating Guides

SNAP: Eat Right

Learn about healthy food for every body

EatFresh.org

Senior Resource Guide

In English and Spanish

Find home meal delivery, meals at sites countywide and more helpful programs

Services for older adults 65+