1. Will CalFresh affect my Financial Aid?
   No. You are not required to report your CalFresh Benefits on your FAFSA application.
2. Will CalFresh affect my taxes?
   No. You are not required to report CalFresh Benefits on your taxes.
3. Do I have to repay the benefits I receive from CalFresh?
   No.

How do I check if I have CalGrant A/B Eligibility?
First, check to see if you receive Cal Grant. Log on to your UCI financial aid→ click print my awards → award summary. CalGrant A or CalGrant B should be listed. Please note that CalGrant A/B is not the same as the Pell Grant or UC Irvine Grants. Not all Cal Grants are funded by TANF, and only those funded by TANF are eligible for CalFresh. You can check to see if you’ve received the email below. It would’ve been sent from studentsupport@csac.ca.gov to the email you used to apply for financial aid (which may not be your UCI email). For the 23-24 academic year, the email needed to have been sent in Fall of 2023, as indicated in the image.

1. What if I missed my phone interview with a caseworker?
   If you missed your phone interview, immediately call the same number. If this is a private phone number, you can call the Orange County Social Services (OCSSA)office to ask about your phone interview. Their number is (800) 281-9799.
2. What if I did not submit my SAR7/Annual Recertification before/on the due date?
   If you missed the deadline for your SAR 7 or Annual Recertification, there might still be time! If it is already past the 5th of the Submit Month (the month your form is due), you can still fill out the form, but your benefits may be delayed. We recommend to submit your documents and contact OCSSA as soon as possible to reduce the chance of a delay. If it has been two months or more past the due month, your benefits may have been discontinued and the next step would be to re-apply.
3. Do I have to reapply every month to keep getting my benefits?
   No. Once you submit an application and receive your Golden State (EBT) card via mail or pick up, benefits are automatically dispersed onto the account once a month. After 6 months, you are required to fill out an Eligibility Status Report (also known as SAR7). This can be done online, or with the assistance of a CalFresh advocate at the Basic Needs Center.

Myth: Applying for CalFresh can affect my immigration status.

Fact: Applying for CalFresh will not affect your immigration status. Legal permanent residents are able to apply, without affecting one’s chance of becoming a citizen. For undocumented parents, applying for CalFresh for their citizen children will be kept confidential and not shared with authorities.

Myth: Only those who are unemployed can qualify for CalFresh.

Fact: Anyone can apply for CalFresh as long as they meet the income limit requirements.

Myth: CalFresh is welfare.

Fact: CalFresh is NOT welfare, it is a U.S Department of Agriculture nutrition program.