CalFresh recipients may receive extra benefits to help buy food during pandemic
REDDING, Calif. — On Thursday, Shasta County Health and Human Services told KRCR that CalFresh recipients may get extra CalFresh benefits on their EBT card to help limit exposure to COVID-19.
Formerly known as food stamps, people who collect CalFresh benefits will now get the maximum amount allowed per their house-hold size.
If you are a three-person household, you will now receive $509 for the months of April and May. The max payout for families breakdown like this:
Ex. Household Size-Max Payout
- 1-$194
- 2-$355
- 3-$509
- 4-$646
- 5-$768
- 6-$921
- 7-$1,018
- 8-$1,164
If you already receive the maximum amount, your benefits will not change.
Shannon Kelley, the Program Manager, SCHHS said the added funds will hopefully keep families from visiting the grocery store as often.
"We are use to shopping when we need to shop, and now we are encouraging people to limit their exposure and maybe shop in more of a two-week bulk. That is not always easy to do when you are on a fixed income so the hope is that this additional allotment will allow them to buy in the bulk size," said Kelley.
If approved for CalFresh in April, extra benefits will be ready to use on May 10.
If you already have CalFresh, there is no additional information or actions needed, your benefits will already be available.
The extra benefits are available because congress passed the Families First Act (H.R. 6201) and it was signed into law on March 18, 2020.
If you would like to apply, click here.
