Shutdown jeopardizes Calfresh funding

Benefits issued early as a precaution

Calfresh benefits are being issued early because access to federal funds may no longer be available as the government shutdown continues.

Nutrition assistance benefits for the month of February will be issued starting today to most electronic benefits transfer (EBT) accounts, according to a press release from the California Department of Social Services.

“We have a window of opportunity to ensure children and families across our state have nutrition assistance they need for the month of February,” said Pat Leary, acting director. “We are asking everyone receiving Calfresh to please be aware that although benefits are being issued early they should plan ahead to ensure these benefits last through the month of February.”

Calfresh recipients who are required to recertify in January and complete the recertification after Jan. 15, will have benefits issued on or after Feb. 1, if federal funds are available, the release said.

The same goes for individuals and families who applied for benefits on or after Jan. 15.

California Department of Social Services spokesman Michael Weston said the federal government issues the funds to each account and some recipients started receiving funds as early as yesterday.

After receiving information that funds would not be available from the federal government, the CDSS was urged to move up the issuance for the month of February.

It’s a tremendous undertaking,” Weston said. “But we’ve been able to get the work done and help those that were in need of the benefits we supply.”

Calfresh is the nation’s largest nutrition assistance program, providing nearly 4 million individuals with food benefits each month – 1 in 10 Californians.

It was a combined effort of the 58 counties in California to make sure everything was set in motion to ensure recipients were able to receive their benefits.