Food help for your family, whatever your status

Worrying about feeding your family is heavy. You are not alone, and there is help.

This page is general information, not legal advice. It covers food help only. For health coverage, see Medi-Cal for adults in 2026. For other local help, see 211.

Can my children get CalFresh if I cannot?

Yes. The state says parents can apply for children who are U.S. citizens, whatever the parents' immigration status. CalFresh is California's food benefit (SNAP). It puts money on an EBT card to buy groceries.

Each person in the home is checked on their own. Some people can get CalFresh and others cannot. Since April 1, 2026, a new federal law (H.R. 1) lets only these people get CalFresh:

• U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals
• Lawful permanent residents (green card holders). Some must also meet other rules, such as a five year wait.
• Cuban and Haitian entrants
• People living here under a Compact of Free Association (from the Marshall Islands, Micronesia or Palau)

Refugees, asylees and most parolees lost CalFresh under this law. They may become eligible after they get a green card.

How does the county count my household?

A CalFresh household is the people who live together and buy and make food together. When some people in the home cannot get CalFresh:

• Household size: only the people who can get CalFresh count toward the size used for your benefit amount.
• Income: the county still counts most of the income of a parent who cannot get CalFresh. It divides that income evenly among everyone in the home, then leaves out the share for each person who cannot get benefits.
• Bills: rent and child care costs are split the same way. Only the share for the eligible people is used to lower your countable income.

Your children may get a smaller amount than a family where everyone qualifies. It is still help, and it can add up.

The same rules apply if a parent can get CalFresh but chooses not to share immigration papers. That parent is left out. The rest of the family can still get benefits.

How to apply: go to BenefitsCal, call your county, or visit a county office. In San Mateo County there are offices in East Palo Alto, Redwood City, San Mateo and Daly City. San Mateo County CalFresh

What is CFAP, and who can get it?

CFAP is the California Food Assistance Program. The state pays for it, and it works like CalFresh. Today it is for some immigrants with legal status who cannot get CalFresh only because of their status, such as some green card holders who have not yet met the CalFresh waiting rules. Most people without papers cannot get CFAP today. Who qualifies changed after H.R. 1. The state's nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office says about 72,000 people on CalFresh or CFAP will lose food aid because of the H.R. 1 noncitizen change, so losing CalFresh does not mean you move to CFAP. The state's own CFAP eligibility page has not been updated since. Ask your county what fits your family.

Adults 55 and older, whatever your status. The state plans to open CFAP to income eligible Californians age 55 and older, regardless of immigration status. The California Department of Social Services says this will start October 1, 2027.

Yes, that is a delay. It was first expected in October 2025. The 2024 state budget pushed it back two years. The Legislature still has to fund the payments, so the date could change again. You cannot apply for it yet. CFAP expansion updates (CDSS)

Can we get WIC?

WIC is a food and nutrition program for people who are pregnant, have given birth or had a pregnancy loss, and for infants and children under 5. Dads, grandparents and foster parents of young children can sign up children too.

California WIC's own eligibility check asks where you live, your family situation and your income. It does not ask about immigration status. Federal WIC rules do not require citizenship. Already get Medi-Cal, CalFresh or CalWORKs? You may meet the income rule automatically.

What to bring: WIC may ask for ID for you and your children under 5, proof of address, proof of income, proof of pregnancy, and medical forms from your health care provider. You may be asked to bring your child.

• Do I qualify for WIC? (California WIC)
• Call 1-800-852-5770, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Are school meals free?

Yes. California public schools and charter schools give every student a free breakfast and a free lunch each school day, if the child wants one. This is for all students. Your child does not need to qualify by income. Some schools still send home a meal form, because it helps the school get funding. To enroll your child in school, see Every child can go to public school.

Where can I get food today?

Start with Second Harvest or 211.

Second Harvest of Silicon Valley serves San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Use the Food Locator to find free groceries or ready to eat meals near you, by day and time. Or call the Food Connection line at 1-800-984-3663. Second Harvest can also help you apply for CalFresh.

211 finds pantries, free meals and CalFresh help near you. In San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, dial 211 or text your zip code to 898211. 211 does not serve every California county; check Find your local 211. It is free and open day and night. See 211: free help finding local services.

Pantries set their own rules. Call ahead to ask about hours and what to bring.

Will food help hurt our immigration case?

It depends on your case. Here is what we know, and what is still unclear.

What changed. A new federal public charge rule took effect on September 18, 2026. Public charge is a test used in some green card and visa cases. Under the new rule, officers may look at any income based public benefit a person gets on or after September 18, 2026, together with other facts like age, health, income and job. For benefits used before that date, USCIS says officers consider only cash aid for income and long term care paid by the government. CalFresh and WIC are neither.

CalFresh and WIC. The rule itself does not name CalFresh or WIC. The California Health and Human Services Agency says the benefits that can now count include CalFresh. The San Francisco Human Services Agency says officers may consider WIC and school meals too. Older flyers that say CalFresh and WIC "do not count" were written before this rule.

Your children's benefits. The state says benefits used by your children or other family members are not treated as benefits you received. USCIS says the same, and that applying for food help for your child is not your own application. But if your child gets CalFresh because your income is low, the officer may weigh your low income as part of your finances.

Who this does not affect. Public charge does not apply to most immigrants already in the United States. San Francisco's Human Services Agency says it does not apply to U.S. citizens, to green card holders (unless they leave the country for 6 months or more), to people who are not seeking a green card, to many refugees and asylees, or to DACA applications and renewals.

• Public charge guide (California Health and Human Services Agency)

Who can help?

These are public offices and nonprofits. Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• San Mateo County Human Services Agency: CalFresh applications. Call 1-800-223-8383. smcgov.org/hsa/calfresh
• California WIC: call 1-800-852-5770 to find a WIC office. myfamily.wic.ca.gov
• Second Harvest of Silicon Valley: free food in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, and CalFresh help. Call 1-800-984-3663. shfb.org/get-food
• 211 Bay Area: food and other local help. Dial 211 or text your zip code to 898211. 211bayarea.org
• Free legal help: for public charge questions, see Free legal help in the Bay Area.

No family should go hungry. Take the first step today, and let others walk with you.

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