CALFRESH
CalFresh provides qualifying students with up to $298 a month to buy healthy nutritious foods. It’s a federally mandated, state-supervised, and county-operated government entitlement program that provides monthly food benefits to qualified Highlanders. These benefits can be used at various local grocery and convenience stores, most farmers markets, Scotty's convenience store located at the Highlander Union Building (HUB), Market at Glen Mor, and now online.
Hey Highlanders!
Stop by the Basic Needs Center in Costo Hall 110 to meet with one of our CalFresh Interns with a personal device.
Our experienced interns can support you through every step of the CalFresh process, from answering general questions to helping with new applications, SAR-7 forms, and recertification reports. We’ll guide you through the process, assist with uploading required documents, and ensure all your questions are answered. Appointments typically take 45 to 60 minutes, depending on the support you need. Whether you’re applying for the first time or maintaining your current benefits, we’re here to help!
Stay up to date with new events & updates on Instagram @ucrbasicneeds and by subscribing to our newsletter!
Where we are located:
Basic Needs Center in Costo Hall 110! We have walk-ins available Monday-Friday, see below for the hours!
New Resource: Virtual County Office Hours 📢📢
We’re excited to announce that our Riverside County CalFresh Liaison will now be hosting virtual office hours once a month to directly support UCR students with their CalFresh cases. During a 45-minute appointment, the county worker can help answer case-related questions, process late SAR 7s, and assist with recertifications.
To access this resource, students must first meet with a CalFresh Intern during an appointment or walk-in hours. Our interns will review your situation and determine if a county office hour appointment is the best next step for your case.
Thinking about applying for CalFresh? Now’s the time!
📆 CalFresh Outreach Week | Feb 23rd–27th
Meet with our team, learn if you’re eligible, and get help every step of the way.
📍Multiple events all week
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CalFresh Outreach Week - click to view all details!
Monday 2/23
Tabling @ Bell Tower11:30am-1pm
Come by and grab some swag items while you learn more about CalFresh & eligbility! We'll be able to answer any questions you might have! 📍
Tuesday 2/24
CalFresh Enrollment Party w/Kessler Scholars 🎈🎈
HUB 269 2pm-4pm
Join us at our CalFresh Enrollment Party with Kessler Scholars! We'll have them present on what their program is all about!
The Kessler Scholar program is an approved LPIE (Local Program that Increases Employability) which means you meet a student exemption!food while supplies last
Wednesday 2/25
Boba & Benefits 🧋
Bell Tower 12pm-2pm
Curious if you qualify for CalFresh?
Join us for Boba & Benefits ! Stop by to get pre-screened, ask questions, and learn about your eligibility for CalFresh with help from our team. Plus, enjoy a boba on us! 🧋Food support starts here!
food while supplies last
Thursday 2/26
Fuel Your Studies! CalFresh Enrollment Party 🎈🎈
HUB 269 2pm-4pm
Join us at our CalFresh Enrollment Party to learn about eligibility and get help applying. Our team will be there to answer questions and guide you through the process. 💚
Don’t miss this chance to access food support!The Riverside county van and workers will be on site to print EBT cards & answer any case questions!
food while supplies last
Friday 2/27
Walk-ins @ Basic Needs Center in Costo Hall 110 📓Have questions about CalFresh or Basic Needs?
Join us during walk-in hours (10 AM–2 PM) at the Basic Needs Center! Our team is ready to help you check eligibility, answer questions, and connect you to support.
Upcoming Event📢📢
Monday 2/23
Tabling @ Bell Tower
11:30am-1pm
Tuesday 2/24
CalFresh Enrollment Party w/Kessler Scholars 🎈🎈
HUB 269 2pm-4pm
Wednesday 2/25
Boba & Benefits 🧋
Bell Tower 2pm-4pm
Thursday 2/26
Fuel Your Studies! CalFresh Enrollment Party 🎈🎈
HUB 269 2pm-4pm
Friday 2/27
Walk-ins @ Basic Needs Center in Costo Hall 110 📓
Ways to Apply
Visit a CalFresh Intern at the Basic Needs Center in Costo Hall 110 to learn more about CalFresh eligibility, get help with the CalFresh application and more! Our experienced interns will walk you through the application, help you upload the necessary documents, and answer any questions you might have. The entire application process takes around 45-60 minutes, depending on the documents needed to submit.
To make the application process smoother, we recommend students to make a BenefitsCal account prior to applying with an intern. You can make an account here.
*Disclaimer: CalFresh interns are not official county workers and cannot determine ultimate eligibility or monthly benefit amount*
There are two ways to apply with our dedicated CalFresh Interns:
- ONLINE via a 45min-1hr zoom call. Please make a virtual appointment here
- We have available appointments Monday-Friday, book yours today!
- Please note you will receive an email with the zoom link and it can also be found on the calendar invite.
- Students will need to be able to share their device screen so interns can best guide them through the application.
- Appointments will begin WK 2 10/06
2.IN PERSON during our scheduled walk-in hours at the BASIC NEEDS CENTER IN COSTO HALL 110
Winter Quarter 2025
Walk-ins will begin 01/06
Monday 10am-4pm
Tuesday 9am-4pm
Wednesday 10am-4pm
Thursday 9am-4pm
Friday 10am-2pm
Riverside County workers visit campus once a month to assist students with applying for CalFresh or answering any case specific questions. When available, they are also able to print EBT cards on site!
What can Riverside County workers do that CalFresh Interns can't?
- Troubleshoot any issues you might be having with your CalFresh case
- Process any late SAR7 & recertification reports if completed correctly
- Print EBT cards!
Nearest County Office:
Riverside County Department of Social Services
5961 Mission Blvd, Riverside, CA 92509
Monday - Friday
8am - 5pm
(877) 410-8827
If you don't require any assistance, you can also apply on your own!
If you have any questions post applying, you can still connect with our CalFresh interns via appointment or during our walk-in hours.
Don't know where to get the documents for your CalFresh application?
There is a guide that can help you with that! https://tinyurl.com/UCRCalFreshDocGuide
CalFresh Eligibility
As a general guide, to apply as a student, you MUST meet ALL these requirements:
- Be 18-49 years old
- Enrolled at least half time in an accredited school
- Meet the Income Threshold
- Have a meal plan of 11 meals or less a week (including meal plans from another source, such as a co-op, sorority/fraternity house, or meal plan)
- Be a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident
Gross Monthly Income Eligibility
| Household Size | Max Gross Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $2,610 |
| 2 | $3,526 |
| 3 | $4,442 |
| 4 | $5,360 |
| 5 | $6,276 |
* We can help students determine if they meet the income requirements through a conversation as the income requirements are complicated. Many forms of income are exempt (for example income from work study jobs does not count as income making it easier for students with work study jobs to be eligible), and there are lots of ways to reduce your eligible income (for example there is a reduction for utilities you pay, some childcare expenses, etc.)
As well as at least ONE of the following student exemptions:
- Receive TANF funded Cal Grant A or B (email CSAC for verification document or submit the CalFresh Notification email)
- Working a minimum of 20 hours per week in employment (or 80 hours on average per month)
- Participate in a Work Study job or be approved for Work Study and be actively seeking a Work Study job
- Can provide a doctor's note stating you are unable to work 20hrs or more per week due to a mental or physical disability
- Be enrolled in SDRC and can provide documentation
- Has a dependent under 12 years old
- Do not plan to be enrolled next term (and currently under full-time status as a student)
- Participate in at least one Local Program that Increases Employability (LPIE).
- These include, but are not limited to, many majors and academic programs on campus you may already be enrolled in.
- List can be found in next section
- List can be found in next section
- These include, but are not limited to, many majors and academic programs on campus you may already be enrolled in.
Documents Needed
- Proof of enrollment (class schedule)
- Proof of income (paystubs)
- Proof of financial aid (can be found on R'Web --> Financial Aid)
- Legal identification (driver’s license, CA ID card, passport)
- Proof of rent paid
- This could be a copy of your lease, a rent receipt.
Don't know where to get these documents?
There is a guide that can help you with that! https://tinyurl.com/UCRCalFreshDocGuide
*CalFresh approval is not determined at the time of application, nor can it be determined by the CalFresh Interns.*
Click on the photo or here.
Local Programs that Increase Employability (LPIE)
What is an LPIE?
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Local Programs that Increase Employability (LPIE) are programs that can exempt students from certain eligibility requirements for CalFresh. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) maintains a list of approved LPIEs that is updated monthly and can be found on the CalFresh Resource Center Policy Page. Different campuses may have different approved LPIEs for different programs or major.
- Participate in a Employment & Training Program (Employed through UC Riverside)
See if your academic or professional program is an approved LPIE here
*This list includes undergraduate, graduate, and more degrees. Our team is actively working on adding more to this list on a monthly basis.*
Off Campus Food Resources
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Market Match
Market Match is another way to utilize your CalFresh dollars. Go to the market’s information booth and ask how to receive Market Match. A market staff person will swipe your CalFresh EBT card for the amount of your choice and you will receive tokens or paper vouchers to spend on any CalFresh-eligible food items at the market. Market Match provides matching funds so that customers can buy even more fruits and vegetables. For example, a customer who spends $10 of CalFresh benefits at the farmers’ market receives an additional $10 to spend on fresh produce for a total of $20 to spend at the market.
Near UCR:
Downtown Farmers' Market Riverside
- Saturday Year Round
- 8:00am - 1:00pm
- 3527 Main St
Riverside, CA 92501 - Market Match offered year round, up to $15 per visit.
County of Riverside Certified Farmers' Market
- Wednesday Year Round
- 8:30am - 1:30pm
- 4080 Lemon St
Riverside, CA 92501 - Market Match offered year round, up to $15 per visit.
Visit https://ecologycenter.org/fmfinder/ to find the nearest farmer's market near you!
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Riverside Access Sites
Riverside County Food Access Sites-A site that helps you locate the closest locations providing food and meals. We highly recommend you call any location prior to going to ensure they are currently operating:
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Other County Locators
- Food Pantries with Feeding America in Riverside and San Bernardino County
- Inland Empire Food Resources (Note: Call ahead to confirm hours before going to any of these resources)
- FIND Food Bank- Food banks in the desert regions (e.g., 29 Palms, Palm Springs, etc.)
- Orange County Food Pantry Locator
- Los Angeles County Food Pantry Locator
- San Bernardino County School Meals
- Riverside Unified School District Meal Locations
Note: For real-time updates and announcements in your area, I HIGHLY recommend you follow your county on social media! For example, Riverside county has the City of Riverside, CA - City Government Facebook page which posts information about upcoming food giveaways, food pantries, etc.
CF Maintaining Benefits by BasicNeedsDeparment