Evelyn-Ch 1 CF Intro

Question 1

What is CalFresh?

Answer 1

• 1st line of defense against hunger
• federally funded “supplemental nutrition assistance program” (SNAP)- not a welfare program
• emphasis on encouraging low-income household to buy nutritious food
• administered by the US Dept. of Agriculture(USDA) at the federal level through its food and nutrition service(FNS)

Question 2

What is the purpose of CalFresh?

Answer 2

• Help improve health and wellbeing of qualified households/individuals and provide a means to meet their nutritional needs.
• Promote proper nutrition that leads to reducing illness and health risksEx: 3-4-50 Live Well statistic there are 3 behaviors: substance use, physical inactivity and poor diet that lead to 4 diseases: cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and pulmonary disease that lead to 50% of deaths in San Diego

Question 3

What is the History of CalFresh?

Answer 3

• “Food Stamp plan” began in 1939 to help needy families during Depression era
• modern program started pilot project 1961 became permanent program in 1964
• major expansion of program happened after 1974: congress requires all states to offer food stamps
• federal Prog. Renamed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in 2008 (legislators are restructuring Prog. To emphasize nutrition)

Question 4

Methods to apply for CalFresh

Answer 4

• online through My Benefits CalWIN
• Call 2-1-1
• Submit application in person at any Family Resource Center(FRC)
• Call access to request an application

Question 5

Method for Benefit Delivery

Answer 5

• CF benefit/allotment is issued through EBT(electronic benefit transfer)
• benefits are received on staggers basis from the 1st through the 10th of the month
• CF issuance is staggered based on last digit of customers case number ex. 1=1st calendar day; 2= 2nd calendar day… etc. 0=10th calendar day

Question 6

Benefit Delivery(continued) Time of Day, Rollover rules, EBT Statuses(4)

Answer 6

• benefits available by batch at 5am the next morning
• benefits remaining in CF account at end of month are rolled over to next month
• benefits not used in 365 days are expunged (removed and cannot be reinstated)
• Statuses:1. Active: accounts with ongoing transactions within last 135 days
  2. Inactive: no activity in last 135 days
  3. Dormant: after 180 consecutive days of no acct. activity
  4. Expunged: after 365 days of inactivity from the date benefits were posted to acct.

Question 7

What can typically be purchased with CF?

Answer 7

• Food: bread, cereal, fruits and veggies, meat, fish, poultry and dairy products
• Seeds and plants that produce food

Question 8

What CANNOT be purchased with CF?

Answer 8

• Alcohol or Tobacco
• non food items: pet food, soaps, paper products, cleaning/household supplies
• vitamins and medicines
• hot foods (exception RMP)

Question 9

Restaurant Meals Program (RMP)

Answer 9

• option for individuals who have difficulty preparing meals for themselves or don’t have a place to store and/or cook food
• RMP eligible recipients can use their EBT card for hot meals at participating restaurants

Ex: homeless, elderly, and disabled individuals