Where do I apply for CalFresh EBT online? Helping elderly relatives
Hi everyone, my elderly in-laws need to apply for CalFresh benefits but they're not tech-savvy at all. I promised to help them get started online rather than making them go to the county office (my mother-in-law has mobility issues). Can someone point me to the correct website for California EBT/CalFresh applications? I've found several different sites when searching and I'm not sure which is the official one. Don't want to accidentally send them to a scam site! Also, does anyone know if they'll still need to do a phone interview even if they apply online? They're both in their 70s with fixed income from Social Security.
14 comments
Join the conversation
Diego Flores
The official website for applying for CalFresh in California is BenefitsCal.com. It's the state's integrated benefits portal where your in-laws can apply for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and other programs all in one place. It replaced the old C4Yourself system a few years ago. And yes, they will still need to complete a phone interview even with an online application. The county worker will call them within 10 days after submitting the application. Make sure they answer unknown numbers during that period or they might miss it and have their application delayed.
0 coins
Chloe Robinson
•Thank you! BenefitsCal.com sounds right - that was one of the sites I found but wasn't sure if it was official. Good to know about the phone interview requirement. They never answer unknown numbers (too many scam calls these days), so I'll have to make sure I'm there when they're expecting the call.
0 coins
Anastasia Kozlov
benefitscal is confusing af tho!! my grandma tried n she gave up halfwy thru. too many questions she didnt understand. ended up jus calling the office n doing it over phone. might b easier for older folks
0 coins
Chloe Robinson
•That's what I'm worried about too. I was planning to sit with them and fill it out together, but maybe calling directly would be easier. Did your grandma have to wait on hold for a long time?
0 coins
Sean Flanagan
When i helped my dad apply last year, we just called the county office and they took the application right over the phone! Didnt need the website at all. Got his EBT card about 2 weeks later in the mail. Much easier for seniors!
0 coins
Zara Mirza
•The problem with calling is actually getting through to a real person. I spent THREE DAYS trying to reach someone at LA County last month about my father's benefits. Three days!!! Each time the automated system just disconnected me after 45+ minutes on hold. So frustrating trying to help family members with CalFresh honestly.
0 coins
NebulaNinja
SENIORS GET SPECIAL TREATMENT FYI!!! They should call the senior helpline for calfresh!!! My mom got help that way and was approved in 3 days!!!!!! The regular process takes forever!!!!!
0 coins
Luca Russo
•This isn't entirely accurate. While there is expedited service for some cases (which can result in benefits in 3 days), it's based on financial need, not age. Seniors don't automatically qualify for expedited service. However, there is a simplified application process for elderly applicants called the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP), which requires less verification and extends the certification period to 36 months instead of 12. But the standard processing timeframe is still up to 30 days unless they qualify for expedited service.
0 coins
Diego Flores
Just to add some helpful info for your in-laws - since they're both seniors on fixed Social Security income, they may qualify for the simplified reporting requirements under ESAP (Elderly Simplified Application Project). This means: 1. Longer certification periods (36 months instead of 12) 2. No Semi-Annual Report (SAR7) requirement 3. Simplified verification process Make sure to mention they're seniors on fixed income when applying. Also, if their medical expenses exceed $35/month (prescriptions, doctor visits, medicare premiums, etc), make sure to report all of those as they can be deducted from income calculations and potentially increase their benefit amount.
0 coins
Chloe Robinson
•This is incredibly helpful information! I had no idea about the ESAP program or that medical expenses could be deducted. They definitely spend well over $35/month on medications alone. I'll make sure to gather all their medical bills and Medicare premium statements before we apply. Thank you!
0 coins
Anastasia Kozlov
oh also they mite get rlly small benefits if they get SSI. my grandpa only got like $27 a month on EBT cuz his SSI was too high or somethin. still worth it tho
0 coins
Diego Flores
•Quick correction - SSI (Supplemental Security Income) recipients in California aren't eligible for CalFresh at all because California includes a nutrition benefit in the SSI payment itself. However, if they're receiving Social Security retirement benefits (not SSI), then they can absolutely receive CalFresh. The minimum benefit for a qualifying household is $23 in 2025, but many seniors receive more, especially after medical expense deductions are applied.
0 coins
Chloe Robinson
Update: Thanks everyone for your help! We ended up going to BenefitsCal.com and started the application together. We got about halfway through but then realized we needed more documentation than we had on hand (they couldn't find their most recent Social Security award letters). Going to finish it tomorrow after gathering everything. The website was actually pretty user-friendly! I'm helping them navigate it, but the questions are straightforward. Much better than I expected. Will update again once we finish the process in case it helps others with elderly family members.
0 coins
Sean Flanagan
•Good luck!! hope they get approved quick! let us know how the phone interview goes, thats the part my dad struggled with most
0 coins