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    CalFresh Outreach Program

    Program Code

    The CalFresh Outreach code is 3890300.

    Program Description

    The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has contracted the California Department of Aging (CDA) to administer the CalFresh Program to qualifying California older adults. Previously, older adults in the state who received a Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or a State Supplementary Payment (SSP) could only receive $10 as part of the cash out provision but in June 2019 this SSI/SSP exemption was reversed. Now eligible older adults can receive a monthly food benefit. This cash-out reversal and growth of CalFresh for older adults in California is called CalFresh Outreach.

    CalFresh Outreach is carried out by 17 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), covering 33 counties, and their contracted providers. Each county is responsible for administering CalFresh benefits to eligible older adults. AAAs provide application assistance at local offices or at eligible sites or certain meeting venues. Participating AAAs are required to provide outreach and CalFresh application assistance. They track their application numbers, related challenges as well as other metrics and report them to the Health Program Specialist at CDA.

    Program Benefits

    The CalFresh Outreach Program assists older adults to apply for regular food benefits (CalFresh). Prior to the change of state law in 2019, this food assistance was not accessible to California seniors who received SSI/SSP. Eligible seniors in California have the lowest participation rates when compared to the levels in other states. Roughly 1.5 million California seniors qualify yet are not taking advantage of the CalFresh Program geared to reduce food insecurity and poverty and this is due to a variety of reasons. The CalFresh Expansion Program was established to reverse this condition.

    Program Eligibility

    Eligibility Criteria Eligibility Requirement
    Age Individuals 60 years of age or older
    Income Income at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines (FPG)
    Other Not applicable

    Program Funding

    Funding Type Funding Information
    Source $744,000 from CalFresh Outreach federal funds via the U.S. Department of Agriculture and $968,000 State General Fund
    Allocation Formula Base funding to participating AAAs and the remainder is allocated based on SSI/SSP recipients 65 and over.
    Match Requirements No match requirement of the AAAs, CDA meets the match requirement with the State General Fund.
    Other Not applicable
    State Fiscal Year Cycle October 1 – September 30

    Program Statistics

    Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2023 2024
    Participants assisted with applications 12,968 (approximation) 39,917 (approximation)

    Program Fact Sheets - Statewide

    Program Fact Sheets - Local Level

    Program Narratives