What other food assistance programs exist besides CalFresh in California?

Yes! There are several other food assistance programs you might qualify for even if you're over the CalFresh income limits. Here are a few to look into: 1. WIC (Women, Infants & Children) - If you have kids under 5 or are pregnant, WIC has higher income limits than CalFresh 2. School meal programs - Your kids might qualify for free or reduced lunch even if you're over CalFresh limits 3. Food banks and pantries - Many don't have income requirements at all 4. EFAP (Emergency Food Assistance Program) - Different eligibility than CalFresh 5. P-EBT for school-age children if your school participates Definitely check out WIC first if you have younger kids!

my neighbor was in the same boat and she gets food from our local church pantry. they give out pretty good stuff on wednesdays. no income check just show up. also check 211 they can tell u all the food places near your zip code.

The income limits for WIC are 185% of federal poverty level, which is quite a bit higher than CalFresh (which is 130% for gross income). For a family of 5 in 2025, WIC's monthly income limit is around $5,450 while CalFresh is about $3,850. WIC applications are through a different system - you need to contact your local WIC office, not the CalFresh county office. You can find your local WIC office at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CFH/DWICSN/Pages/HowCanIGetWIC.aspx Also look into the School Meals program. Even if your income is over the reduced meals threshold, some districts have universal free meals through Community Eligibility Provision.

Yes, California implemented Universal Meals in 2022, providing free breakfast and lunch to all public school students regardless of income. This is different from the federal program and applies to all CA public schools.

did your calfresh worker tell you about the expedited services review? sometimes if you ask for that they might be able to help you faster if you're in an emergency situation. not sure if that helps since you were already denied tho....

I went through this exact same situation last year. One thing that really helped me was calling 211 which connected me to all the local food resources. What's frustrating about CalFresh is getting through to talk to someone when you have questions about reapplying or appealing. I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you skip the phone wait times when calling county offices. It cost a little bit but saved me HOURS of waiting on hold. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Also, if your income is just slightly over the limit, you should ask about deductions! They can deduct certain expenses like childcare and some housing costs which might actually put you under the limit for CalFresh eligibility.

YES! Absolutely appeal with your childcare expenses! CalFresh allows deductions for: 1. Dependent care costs (like your afterschool care) 2. Medical expenses for elderly/disabled household members 3. Shelter costs that exceed 50% of your income after other deductions 4. Child support payments With $950/month in childcare expenses, you could definitely qualify even with slightly higher income. When you appeal, bring documentation of those childcare expenses. You typically have 90 days from denial to file an appeal.

DONT WASTE UR TIME WITH CALFRESH!!!! its all a scam anyway. I was getting $375/month then they cut me to $17!!!! SEVENTEEN DOLLARS what am i supposed to do with that???? the whole system is rigged against working people.

hey just checking back...did u try calling 211? curious if they were helpful for ur situation