The temporary increase to CalFresh (federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP) benefit amounts that were enacted at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic are set to expire after next month, Colusa County Health and Human Services officials said.
Recipients can expect to see their original CalFresh benefit return to normal in April. In Colusa County, approximately 1,430 households, approximately 12 percent of the county’s population, have received the added benefit after Congress authorized the emergency allotments in March 2020, to help families meet food needs during the pandemic, officials said.
CalFresh is a federally mandated, state-supervised, and county-operated government entitlement program that provides monthly food benefits to assist low-income households.
The return to regular benefits will amount to a $305,000 reduction in financial benefit to Colusa County residents and a $1.5 million reduction statewide, reported HHS Director Elizabeth Kelly.
“It’s about $90 for a single individual and up to $400 for a family per month,” Kelly said. “It’s a pretty big hit.”
Colusa County residents enrolled in the CalFresh program are encouraged to research additional resources and support available to them to offset this financial deficit. Local Food and Nutrition Resources include Women, Infants, and Children (WIC); Family Action Centers of Colusa County; Emergency Food Assistance Program; and the Ministerial Association of Colusa County.
Kelly said the state will also be redetermining eligibility for MediCal, effective April 1.
