CalFresh Disaster Response

Important Information About the CalFresh Disaster Response

The CDSS will regularly post updates regarding CalFresh’s response to disasters such as wildfires, earthquakes, and severe storms on this webpage. The CDSS will regularly post updates regarding CalFresh’s response to disasters such as wildfires, earthquakes, and severe storms on this webpage. Outreach materials are available and can be accessed on the Disaster CalFresh Outreach Materials webpage.

On March 28, 2023, the FNS approved CDSS’ request to implement the following waiver for specific ZIP codes:
- Automated Mass Replacement Waiver (for specific ZIP codes in the following counties:
  Amador, Butte, Calaveras, El Dorado, Fresno, Humboldt, Lake, Madera, Mariposa, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, and Yuba)
On March 21, 2023, the FNS approved CDSS’ request to implement the following waiver:
- Timely Household Reporting of Food Loss Waiver (County: Alpine, Orange, and Trinity)
On March 20, 2023, the FNS approved CDSS’ request to implement the following waiver:
- Timely Household Reporting of Food Loss Waiver (County: Calaveras, Del Norte, Glenn, Kings, San Benito, and San Joaquin)
On March 15, 2023, the FNS approved CDSS’ request to implement the following waiver:
- Timely Household Reporting of Food Loss Waiver (County: Butte, El Dorado, Fresno, Humboldt, Imperial, Inyo, Lake, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Yuba)
On March 9, 2023, the FNS approved CDSS’ request to implement the following waiver:
- Timely Household Reporting of Food Loss Waiver (County: Amador, Kern, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Nevada, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Sierra, Sonoma, and Tulare)
On March 8, 2023, the FNS approved CDSS’ request to implement the following waiver:
- Timely Household Reporting of Food Loss Waiver (County: Lake, Napa, and Tuolumne)
On February 28, 2023, the FNS approved CDSS’ D-CalFresh Plan.
- D-CalFresh Plan Approval (Counties: Amador)
On February 22, 2023, a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration with Individual Assistance (FEMA-4683-DR-Amendment-009) for Amador County was approved. A Disaster CalFresh (D-CalFresh) operation has not yet been approved by the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). More information will be shared here as available.
On February 14, 2023, the FNS approved CDSS’ D-CalFresh Plan.
- D-CalFresh Plan Approval (Counties: Alameda)
On February 7, 2023, the FNS approved CDSS’ D-CalFresh Plan.
- D-CalFresh Plan Approval (Counties: Contra Costa, Mendocino, and specific ZIP codes in Ventura County (3022, 93023, 93001, 93023))
On February 6, 2023, the FNS approved CDSS’ request to amend the following waiver:
- Hot Foods Waiver (County: Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Los Angeles, Mendocino, Sonoma, Tehama, and Trinity)
On February 1, 2023, a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration with Individual Assistance (FEMA-4683-DR-Amendment-006) for Alameda, Contra Costa, Mendocino, and Ventura Counties was approved. A Disaster CalFresh (D-CalFresh) operation has not yet been approved by the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). More information will be shared here as available.
On January 31, 2023, the FNS approved CDSS’ request to implement the following waiver for specific ZIP codes:
- Automated Mass Replacement Waiver (for specific ZIP codes in the following counties: Alameda, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Fresno, Humboldt, Kings, Lake, Madera, Marin, Mariposa, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Benito, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Sonoma, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo, and Yuba)
On January 31, 2023, the FNS approved CDSS’ D-CalFresh Plan.
- D-CalFresh Plan Approval (Counties: Calaveras, Merced, Monterey, Sacramento, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz)
On January 27, 2023, the FNS approved CDSS’ request to amend the following waiver:
- Hot Foods Waiver (County: San Mateo and San Francisco)
On January 26, 2023, a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration with Individual Assistance (FEMA-4683-DR-Amendment-005) for San Mateo County was approved. A Disaster CalFresh (D-CalFresh) operation has not yet been approved by the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). More information will be shared here as available.
On January 25, 2023, the FNS approved CDSS’ request to amend the following waiver:
- Hot Foods Waiver (County: Alpine and Tuolumne)
On January 23, 2023, a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration with Individual Assistance (FEMA-4683-DR-Amendment-003) for Calaveras County was approved. A Disaster CalFresh (D-CalFresh) operation has not yet been approved by the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). More information will be shared here as available.
On January 23, 2023, the FNS approved CDSS’ request to implement the following waiver:
- Hot Foods Waiver (County: Alameda, Amador, Calaveras, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Monterey, Placer, Sacramento, San Benito, San Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Stanislaus, Sutter, Ventura, and Yolo)
On January 20, 2023, the FNS approved CDSS’ request to implement the following waiver for specific ZIP codes:
- Automated Mass Replacement Waiver (for specific ZIP codes in the following counties: Humboldt, Monterey, and Trinity)
On January 18, 2023, a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration with Individual Assistance (FEMA-4683-DR-Amendment-002) for San Joaquin County was approved. A Disaster CalFresh (D-CalFresh) operation has not yet been approved by the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). More information will be shared here as available.
On January 17, 2023, a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration with Individual Assistance (FEMA-4683-DR-Amendment) for Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbra Counties was approved. A Disaster CalFresh (D-CalFresh) operation has not yet been approved by the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). More information will be shared here as available.
On January 17, 2023, the FNS approved CDSS’ request to implement the following waiver:
- Timely Household Reporting of Food Loss Waiver (County: Statewide)
On January 14, 2023, a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration with Individual Assistance (FEMA (DR-4683-CA)) for Merced, Sacramento, and Santa Cruz Counties was approved. A Disaster CalFresh (D-CalFresh) operation has not yet been approved by the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). More information will be shared here as available.
On January 9, 2023, the FNS approved CDSS’ request to implement the following waiver:
- Timely Household Reporting of Food Loss Waiver (County: Humboldt and Santa Cruz)
On December 27, 2022, the FNS approved CDSS’ request to implement the following waiver:
- Timely Household Reporting of Food Loss Waiver (County: Humboldt)

For additional resources or needs, email DisasterCalFresh@dss.ca.gov.

This page includes information to assist County Welfare Departments with the implementation of Disaster CalFresh and general emergency response. If you are an individual who has been impacted by a recent disaster and needs food assistance or additional information on Disaster CalFresh or general CalFresh emergency response efforts, please contact your local County Welfare Department for additional information.

Information

What Is Disaster CalFresh?

Disaster CalFresh (D-CalFresh), federally known as the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP), is a way to meet the temporary nutritional needs of disaster victims within a 30-day period, following a natural disaster such as a flood, fire, earthquake or any other natural disaster. D-CalFresh provides a month's worth of benefits on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card which can be used to purchase food at authorized retail stores. D-CalFresh is only available when all of the following elements occur:

A Presidential Declaration for Individual Assistance has been declared in the affected area;
Commercial channels of food distribution have been disrupted and those commercial channels have been restored; and
The State of California has been approved to operate a D-CalFresh program.

The 58 County Welfare Departments (CWDs) administer CalFresh and in the event of a disaster administers D-CalFresh. The affected county is responsible for submitting an application request to implement a D-CalFresh or program waivers, whichever is the most appropriate response, to CDSS for review. CDSS will forward the application request to the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) for final approval.

If you are a current CalFresh recipient affected by the disaster and you meet the household eligibility requirements listed below, please contact your local County Welfare Department for additional information on how to request supplemental disaster benefits.

If you are a new applicant affected by the disaster, meet the household eligibility requirements listed below, and you would like to apply for D-CalFresh, you can apply in person at your local County Welfare Department or other designated D-CalFresh application site.

In order to qualify for a temporary disaster benefit all disaster victims must meet the household eligibility requirements listed below.

Household Eligibility Requirements under D-CalFresh

Residency

The household must have lived in the disaster area at the time of the disaster.
In some cases, D-CalFresh approvals may include eligibility for people who worked in the disaster area.

Purchase of Food

To be eligible, households must plan on purchasing food during the disaster benefit period.

Adverse Effect

The household must have experienced one of the following adverse actions:
- Damage to home or self-employment property
- Disaster-related expenses
- A disruption in income
- Inaccessible liquid resources
- In some cases, D-CalFresh approvals may include eligibility for households that lost food, but had no other disaster-related expenses.

Income and Resources

Modified Categorical Eligibility (MCE), in the regular CalFresh program, wherein the CalFresh households resources are excluded when determining CalFresh eligibility does not apply in the D-CalFresh program. Income and resources must be counted in order to determine eligibility in the D-CalFresh program for households who have suffered a disaster loss.

Note: The total net (take-home) income received during the benefit period plus accessible liquid resources, minus eligible disaster-related expenses, shall not exceed the disaster gross income limit. View the disaster gross income limits for the period of 10/1/22 - 9/30/23.

Quick Links

Integrity Resources

Fraud Warning Poster English (Spanish)
Duplicate Participation Poster English (Spanish)

Additional Resources

CalFresh Benefits Helpline

Toll-free: 1-877-847-3663