Who is Eligible?
Current CFAP Eligibility Requirements
In order to be eligible to CFAP, noncitizens must currently be ineligible for CalFresh benefits solely due to their immigration status under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996.
Some examples of CFAP Eligible individuals are non-citizens who are:
- Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) who have not met the five (5) year United States (U.S.) residency requirement or 40 qualifying work quarters criteria;
- Parolees.
- Conditional entrants; or
- Are battered or abused.
Eligibility Details
To learn more and apply, please visit How to Apply for CalFresh or BenefitsCal.
The new federal Public Charge Rule took effect September 18, 2026, changing how the federal government considers the use of certain public benefits when making public charge determinations. The rule does not apply to everyone, and its impact will depend on an individual’s circumstances. Californians should use trusted resources to understand whether and how the rule may apply to them and be cautious of misinformation and scams.
For more information, please visit the following:
- California Department of Social Services (CDSS):
- Qualified Immigration Legal Service Providers. Or copy and paste this URL in your browser: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/benefits-services/more-services/immigration-services/immigration-services-contractors/public-charge-contact-list
- California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS):