What are Sun Bucks with CalFresh EBT? Only getting $47/month at age 70

Yes! Sun Bucks (or sometimes called Market Match) is a program at many farmers markets where they match your CalFresh dollars. For example, if you spend $10 of your EBT at participating farmers markets, they'll give you another $10 in Sun Bucks to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. It's a great way to double your benefits! Here's a list of participating markets in San Diego County: https://www.sdfarmbureau.org/farmers-market/. Also, at your age, you should look into the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) which provides free monthly food boxes to seniors 60+. Call 2-1-1 to get connected to this program and other senior food resources.

the $47 is probly the minimum benefit for a single person household. i get that too and im 45. its not based on age its based on ur income and expenses. but yeah sun bucks are good at farmers markets they dubble ur money

In addition to Sun Bucks/Market Match program that others mentioned, you should also look into these programs for seniors on limited incomes: 1. Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program - provides coupons to use at farmers markets (seasonal) 2. CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program - if you're 60+ you can use EBT at certain restaurants in San Diego County 3. Senior Food Distribution Programs through local food banks 4. Home-delivered meals through Meals on Wheels Also, I would recommend requesting a recertification interview with your county worker. $47 seems very low, and they might not have all your medical expenses recorded. Make sure they know about all your out-of-pocket medical costs over $35/month (prescriptions, doctor visits, medical transportation, etc.) as these can be deducted from your income when calculating benefits. The medical deduction could potentially increase your benefits significantly.

Trying to reach CalFresh by phone to discuss your medical deductions can be frustrating! I spent 3 hours on hold last month trying to get my medical expenses added to my case. Finally, I found Claimyr.com which got me connected to a real person at my county office in under 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. It made such a difference in getting my medical expenses counted properly. My benefits went up by $120 after they recorded all my healthcare costs correctly!

I work at a senior center and wanted to add that many seniors don't realize you can deduct RECURRING medical expenses over $35 monthly when calculating CalFresh benefits. This includes: - Insurance premiums Medicare doesn't cover - Prescription costs and co-pays - Over-the-counter medications if prescribed by a doctor - Medical transportation costs (including mileage to appointments) - Medical equipment Even with just $320 in monthly medical expenses, your CalFresh benefits should be significantly higher than $47. Definitely request a recertification and bring documentation of ALL medical costs!

SUN BUCKS SAVED ME!! im 68 and was getting $65/month EBT. at the hillcrest farmers market they DOUBLE your money for produce!!! they call it Market Match. bring your EBT card to the info booth BEFORE shopping. they swipe it and give you tokens + matching sun bucks. you can get up to $10 extra PER VISIT i go every week so thats $40 extra per month just for fresh veggies!!!!!

I'm sorry you're struggling with such a small benefit amount. It's really tough. Have you applied for the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP)? It's similar to CalFresh but specifically for legal immigrants who don't qualify for regular CalFresh. Not sure if that applies to your situation but thought I'd mention it just in case. Also, some areas have special community gardens for seniors where you can grow your own vegetables for free.

After reviewing the other comments, I wanted to clarify a few things: 1. The $47 amount is likely because your income is reducing your benefits. The gross monthly income limit for a single senior is around $2,250 for 2025, and your Social Security puts you close to that threshold. 2. When you request a recertification interview, specifically ask for them to apply the "Standard Medical Deduction" based on your $320 monthly medical expenses. In California, if you verify medical expenses over $35/month, you can get a standard deduction of $165 (as of 2025) without having to itemize every expense. 3. Alternative option: ask about applying for the "Standard Utility Allowance" if you pay for heating/cooling separately from rent. Both of these deductions could potentially increase your monthly benefit amount significantly. Don't be discouraged by the recertification process - it's worth it!

just remembered!!! senior food boxes!!! my neighbor gets one every month from the food bank. has pasta, rice, cereal, canned veggies, cheese, and sometimes meat. its for seniors with low income. call 866-350-FOOD to find out where to get it in san diego!!!

I wanted to add one more resource that might help - the San Diego Food Bank has a Senior Food Rescue program where they deliver fresh produce and pantry items directly to seniors who have transportation challenges. You can call them at (858) 527-1419 to see if you qualify. They also partner with some senior housing complexes to do mobile food distributions. Also, if you're comfortable with technology, there's an app called "FlashFood" that shows discounted groceries at stores near you - sometimes up to 50% off items that are close to their sell-by date but still perfectly good. It's helped me stretch my food budget when money is tight. You can pay with your EBT card at participating stores. Keep us updated on how the recertification goes - I'm rooting for you to get those medical deductions applied!

I'm a senior food advocate and wanted to add a few more resources that might help you stretch your benefits: 1. **Senior Gleaning Programs** - Many farms in North County San Diego let seniors pick leftover produce for free after harvest. Contact the San Diego County Farm Bureau at (760) 745-3023 for current opportunities. 2. **WIC Senior Farmers Market Program** - If you're not already enrolled, this gives you additional coupons ($20-40 per season) specifically for fresh produce at farmers markets. It's separate from CalFresh. 3. **Food 4 Less discount days** - Many locations offer 10% senior discounts on Wednesdays, and they accept EBT. Combined with sales, this can really help your $47 go further. 4. **Community fridges** - There are several "blessing boxes" and community fridges around San Diego where people leave free food. The Little Free Pantry map shows locations near you. Regarding your medical expenses - $320/month should definitely increase your benefits significantly! When you call for recertification, also ask if you qualify for "expedited processing" since you're a senior with very low benefits. This can speed up the review process. You're doing great by reaching out for help - that takes courage. The combination of all these resources should make a real difference in your food security.