UPDATE: USDA to restore CalFresh food benefits used by 92,000 Stanislaus residents
Here’s the latest on CalFresh food benefits for low-income families in Stanislaus County.
In an update Friday morning, Gov. Gavin Newsom said some CalFresh recipients have received funds as a result of a federal judge’s order. There are 5.5 million state residents in the CalFresh food program, which is California’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP.
Later Friday, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service informed state agencies it was making funds available for full SNAP benefits for November. County officials were checking to see if funds were going to local residents.
The ongoing federal government shutdown, which began Oct. 1, placed a hold on November allotments for families through the nation’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Rulings by federal judges on Oct. 31 said partial funding of SNAP must continue. The Trump administration said it would draw the money from a USDA contingency fund.
Christine Huber, director of the Stanislaus County Community Services Agency, told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that the federal government is the source of funding for SNAP and the states distribute the benefits to eligible households. The benefit funds are loaded onto EBT cards for families, seniors, disabled people, veterans and low-income college students to purchase groceries.
Huber said distributing partial benefits would require updated programming of state systems. It still wasn’t certain Friday when CalFresh participants will see the November funds in their cards. The Community Services Agency has promised to share updates with the public.
“Following the regular process of providing CalFresh benefits, benefits are now beginning to be available on recipients’ cards so that families can again access the food they need,” the California Department of Social Services said on its website.
The Community Services Agency advised people to keep using the remaining balance on EBT cards to purchase food. The county has 92,000 CalFresh recipients and the average monthly benefit is less than $200 per person.
Affected residents have been encouraged to reach out to religious institutions and charities or call the 211 information line operated by United Way, to locate food pantries. At www.schsa.org, Stanislaus County maintains a list of available food resources, updated as of July.
The county advised CalFresh recipients to keep their information up to date by turning in semiannual reports and annual renewals on time. That will ensure they remain eligible and receive regular benefits once the federal government is back in business.
This story was originally published November 6, 2025 at 2:00 PM.
