Children eligible for P-EBT 4.0 extension benefits meet the following criteria:

• Were under age 6 as of August 1, 2022; AND were part of a household getting CalFresh Food benefits from August 2022 through May 2023
• Were eligible for free or reduced-price meals; AND were enrolled in a school participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)/School Breakfast Program (SBP) or a Provision school; AND did not attend school in person or had five or more excused absences in any month due to COVID-19 (this includes students enrolled in virtual learning).
• Were enrolled in a virtual school or homeschool.

NOTE: Summer P-EBT benefits are distributed if they’re eligible for free or reduced meals and attended National School Lunch Program (NSLP)/School Breakfast Program (SBP) or a Provision school as of May 2023.

Please visit https://www.cdss.ca.gov/home/pandemic-ebt  or https://capandemic-ebt.org or more information.

Apply Online

To apply for benefits online, please visit BenefitsCal.com.

Apply by Mail or Fax

You may download an English or Spanish application from the California Department of Social Services website. You can also request an application by calling 559-675-2300. Once completed, the application can be mailed or faxed to:

Madera County Department of Social Services
PO BOX 569
Madera, CA 93639
Fax: 559-675-7690

Minimum Requirements to Apply

To be accepted, applications must contain each of these: your name, address, and signature.

For more information, please click the “How to Apply” Informational Flyer.

Expedited Services provide CalFresh benefits to potentially-eligible households (individuals, families, or groups of people that buy and prepare food together) by the third calendar day following the application date. A weekend (Saturday and Sunday) is considered one calendar day. An applicant may be eligible if:

• The household has less than $150 in monthly income and less than $100 in liquid resources (cash, savings, or checking); or
• The household’s combined monthly income and liquid resources on hand (cash, savings, or checking) are less than your household’s combined monthly rent and utilities; or
• You are a migrant or seasonal farm worker and have less than $100 on hand.

Household Size	Maximum Monthly Benefits
1	$291
2	$535
3	$766
4	$973
5	$1,155
6	$1,386
7	$1,532
8	$1,751
Each Additional Member	Add $219

 

CalFresh benefits are distributed via the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, also known as the Golden State Advantage Card. The EBT card is used like any other debit card with a four-digit PIN, and it offers you privacy when making purchases. CalFresh EBT cards can be used to purchase food at most Madera County grocery stores and farmers’ markets. Check out the EBT locator website to search for locations that accept the CalFresh EBT card.

If your EBT Card is lost or stolen, please call (877)328-9677.

Beware of Fake Smartphone Apps and Internet scams. The State of California and Madera County will never ask you to provide private EBT-related information by phone, email, or text message. Protecting your information is one of Madera County Department of Social Services’ main priorities.

Here are a few ways to minimize the risk of compromising your identity:

• Know who you share your information with;
• Store and dispose of your personal information securely, especially your Social Security Number;
• Ask questions before deciding to share your personal information; and
• Maintain appropriate security on your devices.

If you receive a request to provide information in this way, contact Madera County Department of Social Services immediately at (559)395-0605.

Beware of Fake Smartphone Apps, Internet, email, and text-message scams. To find out more, visit the EBT Scams page on the California EBT Project website.

EatFresh.org is playful, engaging and easy to use. It includes:

• Recipes searchable by food type, so that you can find recipes using whatever ingredients you have.
• Recipes that can be cooked in crockpots and microwaves.
• Ask a dietician: Type in your questions and a dietician sends you the answer.
• Tips about nutrition and healthy lifestyles.
• Text, email, share and print recipes.
• Discussions online about nutrition or cooking.
• Post recipes on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter.

Madera Food Bank     

The Madera County Food Bank plays a critical role in maintaining and improving the health and well-being of our community’s low income, and food insecure population. A number of food programs are offered to fight against food insecurity of Madera County.

 

Madera Rescue Mission             

The Madera Rescue Mission provides essential needs such as food, clothing and shelter. 

Central California Food Bank 

The Central California Food Bank (CCFB) provides CalFresh reporting assistance as well as guidance with CalFresh applications. Call to schedule an appointment (559) 997-6869.

Please help ensure the integrity of the CalFresh program. If you suspect fraud, please contact the Madera County Special Investigations Unit at (559) 661-5160.

Pursuant to State and Federal Law, the administration of social services programs are nondiscriminatory, and no person shall, because of race, color, national origin, political affiliation, religion, marital status, sex, age or disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits for, or be subjected to discrimination.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

Do you have any physical, mental, or emotional conditions that make it hard for you to apply for benefits or meet program requirements? We can give extra help. We call this type of help a reasonable accommodation.
The law protects people with physical, mental, and developmental disabilities as well as others with serious health problems (42 U.S.C. § 12132). If you require a reasonable accommodation, please contact the Civil Rights Coordinator at (559) 675-7841.

PUB 13: English  Spanish