Cal Fresh is California’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It helps low-income people get food every month. Because of this, Cal Fresh lets them buy healthy food.
People in California are looking forward to getting their Cal Fresh checks. People who get these payments need to know exactly when and how much they are so they can plan their food shopping for the whole month of September.
Introducing SUN Bucks: A Lifeline for Summer Nutrition
Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 in December 2022. This is what made SUN Bucks possible. In the lives of many kids who depend on school meals as their main source of nutrition, this program will make a big difference.
How SUN Bucks Works
The SUN Bucks program will give each kid $120, which is $40 a month during the three months that schools are usually closed for the summer. The goal of this cash help is to reduce food insecurity and make sure that kids can always get healthy meals during the summer.
Eligibility and Enrollment
Any child who meets any of these conditions will be immediately signed up for the SUN Bucks program:
- Eligible for free or reduced-price school meals through a school meal application
- Completed an alternative income form
- Enrolled in Cal Fresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal
This automatic enrollment ensures that the most vulnerable children receive the support they need without any additional hurdles.
How are checks distributed to Cal Fresh recipients?
An electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card, which works like a debit card and can be used at food stores and farmers’ markets that accept it, gives out these benefits.
The last figure of the person’s case number tells the system what day the benefits are put on their EBT card. Every month, distribution takes place over the first ten days. People who get benefits will get them on the first of every month if their case number ends in 1.
The schedule for distribution is broken down in this easy way:
- Case number ends in ‘1’ – Benefits loaded on the 1st
- Case number ends in ‘2’ – Benefits loaded on the 2nd
- Case number ends in ‘3’ – Benefits loaded on the 3rd
- And so on, up to the 10th day of the month
People who get Cal Fresh can better plan their grocery shopping and make the most of their benefits if they know this routine.
In an effort to help Californian kids who don’t have enough food, Governor Gavin Newsom has announced an important plan. The government food program SUN Bucks is being rolled out by the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). Its goal is to make sure that kids from low-income families get enough food during the summer.