SSI/SSP Recipients Now Eligible to Apply for CalFresh

This is a press release from the Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services:

Humboldt County Department of Health & (and) Human Services DHHSNearly 6,000 disabled and elderly Humboldt County residents are eligible to apply for CalFresh benefits after the state expanded the nutritional benefits to people on Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP).

Although benefits cannot be granted until June 1, applications can be submitted in May.

Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) Social Services Deputy Director Kelly Hampton said, “We have thousands of SSI/SSP recipients in Humboldt County who will really benefit from this expansion. This change will provide some of our most vulnerable community members with the ability to stretch their food dollars.”

She said there will be no change in recipients’ SSI/SSP benefits.

SSI is a federally-funded program administered by the Social Security Administration that provides income support to eligible individuals who are 65 years old or older, blind or disabled. SSI benefits are also available to qualified blind or disabled children.

In 1974, the program opted to give recipients additional SSI benefits instead of providing them the option to apply for Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, or food stamps, known in California as CalFresh.

Hampton said the decision made sense in 1974 when food stamps were difficult to utilize and reporting requirements were more strenuous. She said the system is more streamlined now and benefits are available on an Electronic Benefits Card.

To see if you qualify for CalFresh, visit www.getcalfresh.org, phone the DHHS Call Center at 877-410-8809 or visit Social Services’ main office at 929 Koster St. in Eureka.

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48 Comments
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Willie Caso-Mayhem
Guest
4 years ago

🕯🌳Good morning Oliver and thank you that information and link.

Asst chief
Guest
Asst chief
4 years ago

Used to work at blue lake casino, the place was packed on the 1st of the month with lowlifes spending their ssi check. I Know plenty of young people collecting who fake disability.

Skeptic
Guest
Skeptic
4 years ago
Reply to  Asst chief

You would rather they steal from you directly I suppose.

Asst chief
Guest
Asst chief
4 years ago
Reply to  Skeptic

Maybe don’t steal at all?

Skeptic
Guest
Skeptic
4 years ago
Reply to  Asst chief

SSI & foodstamps are not stealing☺

Asst chief
Guest
Asst chief
4 years ago
Reply to  Skeptic

It is stealing if you are young and more than capable of working but make up a disability in order to avoid work.

Jane
Guest
Jane
4 years ago
Reply to  Asst chief

Cash aid perhaps, but do you have any idea what the process is to get social security? My son is disabled and the process was not quick or easy. Medical documentation signed by licenced doctor’s must be submitted and approved at times by a few people before a check is issued. Anyone who thinks it is easier to collect from social security than get a job, let’s me know they have not delt with that particular office recently. If your issue is not on the compassionate list they have, you are usually looking at a wait if 6 months to years

Heather
Guest
Heather
4 years ago
Reply to  Asst chief

Sometimes just because a person dosent look sick dosent mean there faking a disability sometimes you dont know what is wrong with someone just because you cant see it.

Falcon Paw
Guest
Falcon Paw
4 years ago
Reply to  Heather

Absolutely correct there are many his abilities which do not show just by looking at someone, people should Live and Let Live, treat other people the way you want to be treated, everything is perception nothing is absolute truth,

Curtis Surpless
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Heather

My disability is seizures, brought on by a Traumatic Brain Injury I suffered back in 1997. Seizures can’t be seen.

Diamond
Guest
Diamond
4 years ago
Reply to  Asst chief

You know nothing

memy selfandi
Guest
memy selfandi
4 years ago
Reply to  Asst chief

so if you know them turn them in. apparently you spend time with them?

GLOBAL BASE INCOME
Guest
GLOBAL BASE INCOME
4 years ago
Reply to  Asst chief

Government spends so much on wasteful military operations in all reality every person in the world deserves a Global Base Income, why do corporations get to plunder the public lands and we the people are not sent a monthly base income check…. time to realize there is enough resources to go around and only a “shortage of money” share the real wealth which is resources like food, money is a tool for measurement like inches or cups….

Thought u should know
Guest
Thought u should know
4 years ago

Something people should know .. for example my child is on ssi and my house has 2 adults and 2 children we gets food stamps for the 2 adults and 1 child because of the 1 child on ssi. so when I called to have the other child added to my food stamps they said we had to wait until June to get them for July. People that can apply in may for june have to be new applicants. Everyone who already gets them has to wait till June to apply

Truth
Guest
Truth
4 years ago

Get a job?

Global Base Income
Guest
Global Base Income
4 years ago
Reply to  Truth

Get Global Base Income intead….

Diane Arndt
Guest
4 years ago

So because 1 child on SSI you the whole family gets Calfresh?

Diane Arndt
Guest
4 years ago

Wow! Isn’t it enough food stamps already 2 adults and 1 child and SSI that’s all free to you.

Susan
Guest
Susan
4 years ago
Reply to  Diane Arndt

Do you KNOW HOW MUCH they get? Probably not. You should try to not be ABLE to work and get by.

Thought u should know
Guest
Thought u should know
4 years ago
Reply to  Diane Arndt

One of those adults does have a job and you know nothing of why my child is on ssi. Ssi provides the best help I need with medical bills. Not only that but all the best programs that help my child to have a great somewhat normal life. May all be free to me but we do not get very much in food stamps and a smidge more only helps so that we can focus more of our income on the things that food stamps does not cover in order the support our family.

Monica
Guest
Monica
4 years ago

Just something to keep in mind. By adding the SSI/SSP person to your Calfresh, their income will now be counted in the budget when it was excluded before.

Jane
Guest
Jane
4 years ago
Reply to  Diane Arndt

No. It is not enough. Food is expensive. Living is expensive. Therapy for a disabled child is expensive and not all are covered by insurance. Also some children are pickey eaters, due to disability and the food they eat is expensive. Being a parent is a struggle, but when you add disability in the equation, struggle looks like a vacation.

Shannon M Riggle
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Diane Arndt

Not always
NO
I Have 2 disabled children
Both on ssi
My husband and I on foodstamps
I work he watches them!!
Due to the fact nobody knows how to take care of there needs but his father and I.
So we get a WHOLE WOPPING 164.00
in foodstamps for both of us
Because I bring in about $1000/$1555 A Month
Now bills
Thank God for this new. Law!!

Old lady
Guest
Old lady
4 years ago

This is wonderful news and will make a significant difference in my life.

Kym Kemp
Admin
4 years ago
Reply to  Old lady

I’m glad!

curlybill
Guest
curlybill
4 years ago

I am happy to hear that people living on the margins of society can have a better quality of life.

Joe
Guest
Joe
4 years ago

Is this applicable to Humboldt county only or does it applies to California as a hole? I feel weird I even have to ask this question.

Steve Parr
Guest
Steve Parr
4 years ago
Reply to  Joe

There are some who believe living in California is the pits, but I don’t believe it is a “hole.”

Marissa
Guest
Marissa
4 years ago
Reply to  Joe

So California yes or no? Lol

Heather
Guest
Heather
4 years ago

Diamond are talking to me?

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago

“Hampton said the decision made sense in 1974 when food stamps were difficult to utilize and reporting requirements were more strenuous. She said the system is more streamlined now and benefits are available on an Electronic Benefits Card.” Eliminating requirements so it conforms to the Federal rules certainly makes it cheaper for the State to run the program. However if you have stood behind a person using WIC, CalFresh and SNAP, it creates quite a burden on the stores to check each item seperately to see if it qualifies or not. Boy those rules are esoteric where some products qualify and something almost the same doesn’t.

If only the State of California would “streamline” their bloody tax returns. It takes me many times longer to do the State return than it takes me to do the Federal return. The State has taken political wrangling with the Federal government and inflicted it on the tax payer just as they have taken the administrative burden of the State and given it to the stores with these rules too.

Jane
Guest
Jane
4 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Calfresh and snap are the same. They are issued on a card, and it does not require separating items. Wic is the one that is in check form, that the cashier must ring up separate, and both parties must sign.
I got wic with my first child 20 years ago, only due to the formula he needed cost $20.00 a can. I only did it untill I could get him on solid food, due to the program being such a pain in the neck for me, a first time mom who had a high risk pregnancy and a premie. They had us go to the office monthly to learn how to write a check for our electric bills and other useless classes that we’re literally geared to first grade level. It was so bad that when I had my second child 13 years later, I didn’t even consider wic, even though while on maternity leave I lost my job due to the place shutting down.
I agree that something needs to be done to make the wic program better.

Wouldn't it be nice
Guest
Wouldn't it be nice
4 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Only taxable, non food items are excluded fron foodstamps. The scanner at the register does this automatically. It is no “burden” to the cashier. You are disingenuous at best and a liar otherwise☺

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago

I did realize that California did one their”meaningful name changes” after posting, now naming SNAP CalFresh but I can no longer edit posts so it was left. Of course it does not make me a liar nor disingenuous. which you seem to feel is an acceptable replacement for courtesy. There was a list under SNAP at one point whether CalFresh eliminated that, I don’t know. But WIC does have such a list- https://www.womeninfantschildrenoffice.com/california-wic-food-list-wf5.

TinaMarie L Silva
Guest
4 years ago

What about the disabled that are homeless and can’t store and cook food regularly?

Vtabor
Guest
4 years ago

Food can be purchased each day. You don’t have to buy a bunch and store it.

Tabitha Boyd
Guest
4 years ago

Renewal of food stamp card and still pay mypart of child support.
Tabitha Anne Boyd

Tiffany Hurst
Guest
4 years ago

Wow!!! I work my butt off at a full time job and a part time job and still can’t afford to live without the little bit of food stamps I do qualify for. I have medical issues that I don’t get SSI for but I feel others need it more than i do so i struggle to make ends meet and fall short constantly. Everyone needs help sometimes and shouldn’t be judged by those who don’t!!

Heather
Guest
Heather
4 years ago
Reply to  Tiffany Hurst

Well said tiffany!

Lisa
Guest
Lisa
4 years ago

I get 28 a month..eat on that complaining people mind your bizness and come visit me foolish talkers.whats your storyline exactly..

Yolanda Gomez
Guest
4 years ago

My name is Yolanda Gomez I need my food stamps

Leif Piland
Guest
Leif Piland
4 years ago

Everyone needs help. Food stamps have been the resource that have helped pull drug addicts out of the gutter. Ssi has helped a struggling widow keep her children living indoors. Hearing people talk down on others that find themselves needing a little help makes me sick. Walk in there shoes before you pass judgement

Vtabor
Guest
4 years ago

I’m disabled. I can’t find a job that will work with my disabilities. I’ve been undetermined since my disability in 2012. I haven’t been able to qualify for permanent disability because I didn’t have a steady residence and moved between a few different counties. If there’s an easy way to get disability, I don’t nt know what it is. Snap would literally be a lifesaver for many people. Ssi doesn’t pay much. They will base the benefit amount on what income the individual has. I’m glad for those who can work full time. I was once one of those people. Don’t disparage those less fortunate than you. One unfortunate turn of events and you could be in same boat.

Difficult to do by yourself
Guest
Difficult to do by yourself
4 years ago
Reply to  Vtabor

Hire a lawyer. Seriously. Sometimes it’s the only way to collect disability if you don’t fit one of the predetermined categories. SSI lawyers take a percentage of the initial award- not the monthly stipend. By law they are not allowed to collect unless you win the case.

Disability is a government supervised insurance policy. Plain and simple.

Check out Legal Services of Northern California. Do an internet search for them.

Nina
Guest
4 years ago

Never judge people that are on food stamps or SSI. I use to work full time job. Then one day my whole life turned upside down. We got custody of our two grandbabies which were 7 months and 18 months at the time. I was still working until I ended up in the hospital with a heart attack and died. My doctor took me off work. So I had no choice but to apply for foodstamps to help with food. I guess what I’m trying to say is u never know the situation and what is going on behind their close doors. But on the other hand I do understand why people are frustrated because there are people out there that are taking advantage of the system which blows it for others. Like families of 5 or 6 and they are all on SSI and broke by the 3rd of the month. And we all have to remember the ones that are frustrated are the ones paying taxes. I can totally understand.

Sharon
Guest
Sharon
4 years ago
Reply to  Nina

Nicely put, Nina. As always, the actions of a few cast a dark shadow over all. Indeed, there are liars and cheats from every walk of life and at EVERY INCOME LEVEL. Only someone who has yet to bite the dust and be in dire need of help would sink so low as to paint everyone with the same broad brush. But, just wait! As ye condemn so shall ye be condemned! Careful how you judge, people, for it will be returned to you TEN FOLD. Anyone who has lived long enough has seen this truth unveiled. Fact is, we will ALL be frail and needy one day, and NOT ONE of us will get out of this life alive!

Robin Sandi
Guest
Robin Sandi
4 years ago

This is going to help a lot of disabled people of all ages who are on SSI. FYI, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), is a federal program that provides monthly payments to people who have limited income and few resources.
SSI is for people who are 65 or older, as well as people of any age, including children, who are blind or who have disabilities.

SSI by county: https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/ssi_sc/2017/ca.html
2017 breakdown for Humboldt County:

Total: 6,073 on SSI
Blind and/or disabled: 339
Under 18: 5,734
18-64: 359
65 and older: 4,416

Liz
Guest
Liz
4 years ago

I just talked with someone who called to see if he could apply for CalFresh/Snap. He was told it has always been part of his check, no other benifit available for him. No CalFresh card for him.