About 22 percent increase is reported on payments for CalFresh recipients, a press release said.
This gives an extra $155 monthly maximum benefit to a family of four — based on their income — allotted for groceries. The increase comes for the first time after more than four decades.
Bay Area has been tackling the food insecurity concerns with CalFresh, which is also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP.
The agency said that the 22 percent increase will stay as assistance linked to the pandemic begins to dwindle for several people.
“People are finally getting a bit more help to put food on their tables,” according to Margareta Hodzic, Assistant Director of Employment and Benefits Services for the County of Santa Clara Social Services Agency. “This increase is even more important for our local residents because it’s very expensive to live here. When you have to use most of your limited income for rent, utilities, and transportation, there isn’t a whole lot left to feed your family.”
Grocery stores, farmers’ markets, and some retailers accept CalFresh Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards used by the recipients to access food needs, KRON4 reported.
The EBT card can also be used at selected restaurants, which are common food chains, to buy ready-to-eat meals, but is only exclusive for recipients that have disabilities, are homeless, or are aged 60 years and older.
