California Food Assistance Program (CFAP)

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California Food Assistance Program for Eligible Immigrants

California Food Assistance Program is a state-funded food stamps program for permanent legal non-citizens residing in California.

To receive CFAP benefits, the applicants must be determined ineligible for federally funded food stamp benefits because of their immigration status.

California Food Assistance Program food stamps a.k.a. CFAP benefits are issued by the same local County Welfare Departments that provide CalFresh food stamp benefits.

Non-citizens who are eligible to California Food Assistance Program benefits indefinitely are non-citizens who:

• Have been legally residing in the United States as Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) non-citizen prior to August 22, 1996; or
• Are battered or abused or
• Are qualified non-citizens who are no longer federally eligible under the seven-year time-limited federal eligibility (all except Amerasians or conditional entrants); or
• Are otherwise eligible for the program but were sponsored into the United States on or after August 22, 1996, and one of the following verified situations apply:
  • The sponsor has died; or
  • The sponsor is disabled; or
  • The applicant, after entry into the United States, is a victim of abuse by the sponsor or the spouse of the sponsor if the spouse is living with the sponsor.

Check details of the eligibility requirements with your local County Welfare Department