CalFresh benefits issued early due to government shutdown

January 17, 2019

SOLANO COUNTY – Thousands of Solano County residents have already received their February allotment of CalFresh food assistance benefits, funds which would normally have been released between February 1-10, due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.  The Solano County Department of Health and Social Services, Employment and Eligibility division, is working to let clients know about the change.

"We want our clients to know that these are not extra benefits," says Angela Shing, Deputy Director for Solano County's Employment and Eligibility division.  “These are regular benefits for the month of February and clients receiving them should plan on them lasting through the month of February.”

Because of the ongoing federal government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) – the federal agency that manages the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program known as CalFresh – has yet to receive an appropriation for benefits past January 20, 2019.

Earlier this week, the California Department of Social Services, the USDA and California Counties began issuing February CalFresh benefits early, before the January 20 deadline, ensuring their clients would receive the much-needed food assistance benefits. After January 20, 2019 applications for CalFresh will be funded with limited federal reserve funds as they remain available.

“We are continuing to actively monitor the budget situation with our state and federal partners,” Shing says, “and despite the federal shutdown, Solano County offices are open for new CalFresh enrollments and case management for existing customers without service disruptions.”

CalFresh benefit recipients with questions about the program can visit the County’s website at www.SolanoCounty.com/Depts/HSS/EES for more information.