Basic Needs

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 (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 or at least one of the following is true:
  • Has US Citizenship
  • Is a lawful permanent residents (LPRs) or applying for a renewal for an LPR, including Amerasian immigrants (sponsorship could limit eligibility)
  • Has refugee status
  • Has asylee status
  • Has an active or pending U or T Visa
  • Is an applicant for VAWA (Violence Against Women Act) Relief
  • Has Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)- would need to have their case reviewed for any documentation and see the status of their application for LPR.
  • Deportation withheld in certain circumstances 
  • Is a Cuban/Haitian entrant as defined in 501(e)
  • Is an adult or minor who is a survivor of a severe form of human trafficking, or their spouse/parents/children
  • Certain spouses and children who are survivors of interpersonal violence
  • Is an Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant on certain Visa types 
  • Be a veteran of the United States military, or a member of the United States military, or a spouse or child of a person in the military or a veteran; 
  • Be a member of a Hmong or Laotian tribe that fought with the United States military during the Vietnam War, who is lawfully residing in the United States;
  • On August 22, 1996, have been 65 years or older and lawfully residing in the United States (i.e., born before August 22, 1931);
  • Be an American Indian with certain rights to cross the border between the United States and Canada or Mexico limited to certain Visa Codes; 
  • Be a non-citizen national (born in American Samoa or Swain’s Island)

Gross Monthly Income Eligibility 

* 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)
• 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 
• 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
       

What is an LPIE?

• 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.*