Most households qualify for food stamps as long as the amount of the household's income and resources are within certain limits. 

Households are:

• An individual living alone.
• An individual living with others but who buys food and cooks meals separately.
• A group of individuals living together who buy food and cook meals together.
• Parents living with their children 21-years old or younger (married or unmarried, with their own children or not) must apply as one houshold. 
• Adult children (22-years or older) living with their parents can have a separate household as long as they buy and cook their meals apart from the parents.
• A woman or a woman with children living temporary woman's shelter.

Resources

• A household can have money and property up to $2,000.00 regardless of household size. 
• Households with at least one person who is disabled or age 60 or older is allowed $3,000.00
• For households who have a child under the age of 18, resources will not be counted. 

Resources Not Counted When Determining Eligibility

• House
• Vehicles
• Cash value of life insurance policies
• Cash value of certain pension funds
• Household goods and personal property
• Work-related tools and equipment

Income

To be eligible, your monthly gross income (before payroll deductions) must be the same or below the amount listed in the chart below for your household size.

Allowable Deductions

Applicant must be income eligible first before allowing any deductions.

• 20% of gross monthly earned income.
• Standard deduction of $141.00, $153.00, $179.00 or $205.00, depending on household size.
• The entire amount of out of pocket dependent care expenses are allowed as a deduction when necessary for the person to work, look for work, or prepare for work through training or schooling.
• If housing costs are more than 50% of income after all other allowable deductions are considered, an excess shelter deduction of up to $459.00 is allowed. Homeless households may qualify for a shelter cost deduction up to $143.00.
• Households are allowed a Standard Utility Allowance of $287 if heating or cooling bills are paid separately from rent or mortgage.

College Student

College students (ages 18 to 49) enrolled half-time or more must meet one of the following criteria on the date of the Food Stamp interview, among which are:

• Working at least 20 hours per week.
• Approved for state or federally funded work study for the current term.
• Be a primary care giver to  a child under age of 6 years old.
• Enrolled full-time and a single parent with responsibility for a dependent child under age 12 years old.
• Enrolled in the Cal Success Food Stamp Employment and Training program at Cabrillo College.
• Disabled

Other Public Assitance Recipients

If you are receiving CalWORKs or General Assistance, you may be eligible for Food Stamps.

Expedited Services

You may get Expedited Services if you are otherwise eligible, and:

• Your combined gross monthly income and liquid resources are less than your rent/mortgage and utilities; OR
• Your gross monthly income is less than $150.00, and your total household liquid resources are $100.00.

Proof of identification and the completion of the intake interview prior to receiving Expedited Services is required.  Expedited Service requires benefits be available to you by the 3rd calendar day following the date you submit a complete application.

Work Requirements

Homeless Services Center Food Stamp Employment and Training program participants are required to participate for three consecutive months in an approved work activity with an initial 30-day job search.

Other Requirements

State law requires some Food Stamp recipients to be fingerprinted. Your eligibility worker will tell you about this.

Eligibility for Aged & Disabled Households

If you are age 60 or over, or you are receiving Social Security Disability (not SSI/SSP), or Medi-Cal due to a disability, or a full VA pension: you may be eligible with income over the regular limits, if you pay very high rent and utilities and/or have medical expenses well over $35.00 per month. This must be computed on a case-by-case basis. 

How much Food Stamps will you get?

The size of your household and your monthly gross income will determine how much you get each month.  The less monthly income you have, the more Food Stamps you get.

*Add $150.00 for each additional person after 8.

How to transact Food Stamp benefits

Customers are issued a plastic card called an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Card that they use to make purchases from stores and farmer’s markets that accept Food Stamp benefits. The stores will have machines, called POS (point of sale) machines, through which the customers will swipe their EBT cards and enter their PIN number. The amount of the purchase will be automatically deducted from the Food Stamp EBT account.

Your Rights

Whether you are eligible or not, you have the right to be treated with dignity, respect, and courtesy when you apply for Food Stamps. HSD will not discriminate against anyone because of race, color, national origin, political affiliation, religion, age, sex, marital status, or condition of physical or mental disability.  If you believe that you have not been treated equally contact the County Civil Rights Coordinator at 831-454-4117.

Interview Language

Applicants may be interviewed in the following languages: English, Spanish,  and others if necessary. Hearing Impaired Services are also available.

State Hearing

If you feel there are unnecessary delays in processing your application, or if you feel that your worker did not understand the facts in determining your eligibility, you may write for a state hearing to:

• Fair Hearings Officer, P.O. Box 1320, Santa Cruz CA 95061
• Fair Hearing Officer - (831) 454 4117

Apply in person

Santa Cruz County Human Services Department

Employment & Benefit Services Division:

• 1020 Emeline Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
• 119 West Beach Street, Watsonville, CA 95076
• Application Centers are open Monday - Friday 8AM - 5PM
• Anyone can apply by mail.

If you cannot get to one the offices because you are disabled, someone who knows your circumstances, and is authorized by you, can apply and be interviewed for you. If you are disabled and cannot get someone to apply for you, you may be able to apply by mail. Contact the Benefits Call Center at 1-888-421-8080. 

These facts are not to be used as a substitute for state Food Stamp regulations.  The Santa Cruz Human Services Department has copies of the state regulations you may review.