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CalFresh Program Rules and Penalties
You are committing a crime if you give false or wrong information, or do not give all the information on purpose to try to get CalFresh benefits that you are not eligible to receive, or to help someone else get benefits that they are not eligible to receive. You must pay back any benefits you get that you were not eligible to receive.
| I understand that if I... | I may... |
|---|---|
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Commit an intentional program violation by doing any of the following: - hide information or make false statements - use electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards that belong to someone else or let someone else use my card - use CalFresh benefits to buy alcohol or tobacco - trade, sell, or give away CalFresh benefits or EBT cards |
- lose CalFresh benefits for 12 months for the first offense and be required to repay all CalFresh benefits overpaid to me - lose CalFresh benefits for 24 months for the second offense and be required to repay all CalFresh benefits overpaid to me - lose CalFresh benefits permanently for the third offense and be required to repay all CalFresh benefits overpaid to me - be fined up to $250,000, imprisoned up to 20 years, or both |
| trade CalFresh benefits for controlled substances, such as drugs | - lose CalFresh benefits for 24 months for the first offense - lose CalFresh benefits permanently for the second offense. |
| give false information about who I am and where I live so I can get extra CalFresh benefits | lose CalFresh benefits for 10 years for each offense |
| have been convicted of trading or selling CalFresh benefits worth more than $500, or trading CalFresh benefits for firearms, ammunition, or explosives | lose CalFresh benefits permanently |
- You can apply for and get CalFresh benefits for people who are eligible, even if your family includes others who are not eligible. For example, immigrant parents may apply for CalFresh benefits for their U.S. citizen or qualified immigrant children, even though the parents may not be eligible.
- Getting food benefits will not affect you or your family’s immigration status. Immigration information is private and confidential.
- The immigration status of noncitizens who are eligible and apply for benefits will be checked with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Federal law says the USCIS cannot use the information for anything else except cases of fraud.
You do not have to give immigration information, Social Security numbers, or documents for any noncitizen family member(s) who are not applying for CalFresh benefits. The County will need to know their income and resource information to correctly determine your household’s benefits. The County will not contact USCIS about the people who don’t apply for CalFresh benefits.
Everyone applying for CalFresh benefits needs to provide a SSN, if they have one, or proof that they have applied for a SSN (such as a letter from the Social Security Office). The County may deny CalFresh benefits for you or any member of your household who does not give us a SSN. Some people do not have to give SSN’s to get help such as, victims of domestic abuse, crime prosecution witnesses, and trafficking victims.
This means you got more CalFresh benefits than you should have. You will have to pay it back even if the County made an error or if it wasn’t on purpose. Your benefits may be lowered or stopped. Your SSN may be used to collect the amount of benefits owed, through the courts, other collection agencies, or federal government collection action.
Every household that gets CalFresh benefits must report certain changes. Your County will tell you what changes to report,how to report them, and when to report them. Failure to report the changes may result in your CalFresh benefits being lowered or stopped. You can also report if things happen that may increase your benefits, such as getting less income.
You have the right to a State hearing if you do not agree with any action taken regarding your application or your ongoing benefits. You can request a State hearing within 90 days of the County’s action and you must tell why you want a hearing. The approval or denial notice you receive from the County will have information on how to request a State hearing. If you ask for a hearing before the action happens, you may be able to keep your CalFresh benefits the same until a decision is made.
It is the State and County’s policy that all people be treated equally, and with respect and dignity. In accordance with federal law and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, political beliefs, or disabilities is strictly prohibited.
To file a complaint of discrimination, either contact your County’s Civil Rights Coordinator, or write to or call the USDA or California Department of Social Services (CDSS):
| USDA Address | CDSS Address |
|---|---|
| USDA, Director Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W Whitten Building 1400 Independence Ave. S.W. Washington D.C. 20250-9410 1-202-720-5964 (voice and TDD) |
CDSS Civil Rights Bureau P.O. BOX 944243, M.S. 8-16-70 Sacramento, CA 94244-2430 1-866-741-6241 (Toll Free) |
USDA is an equal opportunity employer.
You are giving personal information in the application. The County uses the information to see if you are eligible for benefits. If you do not give the information, the County may deny your application. You have a right to review, change, or correct any information that you gave to the County. The County will not show your information or give it to others unless you give them permission or federal and State law allows them to do so. The County will verify this information through computer matching programs, including the Income and Earnings Verification System (IEVS). This information will be used to monitor compliance with program regulations and for program management. The County may share this information with other federal and State agencies for official examination, law enforcement officials for the purpose of arresting persons fleeing to avoid the law, and private claims collection agencies for claims collection action. The County may verify immigration status of household members applying for benefits by contacting the USCIS. Information the County gets from these agencies may affect your eligibility and level of benefits.
Your case may be selected for additional review to ensure that your eligibility was correctly figured. You must cooperate fully with the County, State, or federal personnel in any investigation or review, including a quality control review. Failure to cooperate in these reviews could result in loss of your benefits.
The County may assign you to a work program. They will tell you if it is voluntary or if you must do the work program. If you have a mandatory work activity and you do not do it, your benefits may be lowered or stopped. You may not be eligible for CalFresh if you have recently quit a job.
Any benefit taken from your account before you, another household member, or your authorized representative report the EBT card or PIN has been lost or stolen will not be replaced.
Any use of your EBT card by you, a household member, your authorized representative, or anyone you voluntarily give your EBT card and PIN to will be considered approved by you and any benefits taken from your account will not be replaced.
If you do not report that another person you do not want to spend your benefits has your PIN and you do not get your PIN changed, any benefits used will not be replaced.