More college students to be assisted by CalFresh

Thousands of college students in California may soon find they qualify for CalFresh, the state’s food program that provides an average of nearly $6 billion annually in benefits, thanks to a recently passed state law.

On average, more than 127,000 California college students receive CalFresh funds each year, according to a report by the state Department of Social Services. The program, once known as food stamps, is designed to provide money for groceries to California residents, with college students receiving up to $250 per month. The same report, however, estimates that the number of college students who are eligible is much higher — somewhere from 416,000 to nearly 700,000.

College students are typically eligible for CalFresh if they work at least 20 hours per week or meet one of nearly a dozen work exemptions.

Assembly Bill 396, introduced by Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel, D-Woodland Hills, strengthened a key work exemption that students can meet to qualify for CalFresh benefits.

That exemption focuses on campus-based programs aimed at increasing a student’s employability via internships, apprenticeships or seminars that teach resumewriting or other skills. Students using this type of work exemption when applying for CalFresh can get it from programs that are certified by the state Department of Social Services.

One of the ongoing obstacles, however, is the difficulty of ensuring that every potentially food insecure college student knows they might qualify for one of the exemptions.

In addition to the certification issue, the eligibility rules and exemptions for college students can become a complex barrier for those seeking access to CalFresh.

“CalFresh, if you’re going to school, does get kind of tricky,” said Michael Morenola, a secondyear graduate student at San Diego State University.

Morenola knew he was eligible for CalFresh when he enrolled in his industrial and organizational psychology program, but he described his CalFresh application process as difficult and frustrating. Those days included many phone calls to his county office, he said, to ensure his eligibility documents were processed.

But those benefits have been crucial during the pandemic.

“It would be more of a strain. Now I never have to worry about what I’m going to eat,” he said.

The complexity of the eligibility and application process is partly alleviated by people like Nubia Goodwin, who serves as a basic needs coordinator at UC Davis. Goodwin’s job includes outreach to help students understand the CalFresh eligibility process.

“When we have these exemptions … we really can target who we’re addressing and who we’re working to get enrolled in CalFresh benefits,” Goodwin said.

Her team does targeted social media, print advertising and infographic design about CalFresh and other programs, in addition to walking students through their applications.

Work exemptions are often the only way students can access CalFresh and the state estimates over 416,000 college students in the state meet the criteria for at least one exemption.

During the pandemic, the state temporarily added to the list of exemptions that could help a student qualify for CalFresh. One of those temporary exemptions is for students who filed an application for financial aid and have a “$0 estimated family contribution,” meaning their family cannot provide financial support.

Nathan Godinez, who studies philosophy, psychology and communications at San Diego State, couldn’t access CalFresh before that temporary exemption. He said his first CalFresh application around 2018 was denied because his income exceeded the maximum. But the money in his bank account was from loans, he said, and he had other basic needs to pay for.

“I told them I was broke; I need money. You know, I need food. At the time I was living off loans,” said Godinez, a full-time student. “So, yeah, I got money in my bank, but I told him I had zero cash. That’s how I got denied.”

But then he heard about the temporary exemption for those who are not receiving money from their families and submitted a second application. This time, he was approved.

“I support myself entirely, so having that I don’t have to worry about a month, you know, that’s like actually getting a day off of work that I need for my mental health, for school,” Godinez said. “It’s more freedom.”