FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: (916) 657-2268
DATE: February 4, 2025
New Food Benefits Available For People In Los Angeles Impacted By Recent Fires
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: People impacted by the recent fires in Los Angeles may be eligible for new food benefits. A family of four with a monthly income up to $3,529 per month may be eligible to receive $975.
LOS ANGELES – As part of California’s ongoing wildfire response and recovery efforts, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that individuals and families directly impacted by the recent fires in Los Angeles County – living in the ZIP codes listed below – may be eligible to receive Disaster CalFresh (D-CalFresh) food benefits.
“California’s response and recovery efforts will continue to be guided by the needs of people throughout the impacted region.” Governor Gavin Newsom said. “My administration is focused on serving the individuals and families who need our help the most, which means creating new and expanded benefit programs. Starting February 10th, I encourage eligible people to apply for D-CalFresh benefits, which will allow more families to put more food on the table.”
A family of four with a monthly income up to $3,529 per month may be eligible to receive a one-time $975 food benefit through this program, which is available to those who lived or worked in a fire-impacted area within Los Angeles County on January 7, 2025. The Disaster CalFresh program is operated by phone and in-person. Please call 866-488- 8482 (M-F, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) to apply by phone or visit your local Los Angeles Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) office to apply in person.
“The California Health & Human Services Agency and its departments, in partnership with our federal, local, and other state partners, are committed to helping people impacted by these historic wildfires,” CalHHS Secretary Kim Johnson said.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved California’s request to provide Disaster CalFresh food benefits to enhance fire recovery efforts. The federally funded program is known nationally as the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or D-SNAP.
WHO CAN APPLY?
Individuals and families who lived or worked in a fire impacted area within Los Angeles County on January 7, 2025, may be eligible for Disaster CalFresh food benefits. Wildfire impacted areas include the following ZIP codes:
| Wildfire | Eligible ZIP Codes |
|
Eaton |
91104, 91206, 91103, 91016, 91010, 91001, 91214, 91101,
91107, 91006, 91208, 91020, 91105, 91011, 91024, 91008, 91007, 91042, and 91106 (total =19) |
| Hughes | 91334, 91350, 91355, 91384, 91390, 93015, 93040, 93225,
93243, 93532, 93536, and 00018 (total =12) |
| Hurst | 91342, 91344, 91321, 91326, 91381, and 91311 (total =6) |
|
Palisades |
90049, 91302, 91301, 90290, 90272, 90265, 90402, 90073,
90077, 90095, 90401, 90403, 90404, 91316, 91356, 91367, 91403, 91436, and 91340 (total = 19) |
| Other Due to Qualifying Power Outages | 91750, 93510 |
Additionally, at least one person in the household must not already be receiving regular CalFresh food benefits and must have experienced at least one of the following as a direct result of the severe wildfires:
- Money was spent because of the wildfires or related power outage,
- Money was lost from work because of the wildfires,
- Money was spent because of damage to a home or business, or
- Food loss
Individuals already participating in CalFresh and living in these ZIP codes do not need to apply for Disaster CalFresh benefits, but may be eligible to receive supplemental benefits, which bring the household up to the maximum benefit amount based on their household size.
HOW TO APPLY
Households may only apply for Disaster CalFresh between February 10-14, 2025, and February 18-19, 2025, by calling 866-488-8482 (M-F, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or visiting a Los Angeles DPSS office to apply in person. In most cases, benefits will be available within three days of the date of a qualifying interview.
Benefits will be provided via an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which is like a debit card that can be used to purchase food items at grocery stores and other authorized retailers. If applicants are approved, the county will tell them when and where to pick up their EBT card.
For more information about Disaster CalFresh for Los Angeles County, call 866-488- 8482 (M-F, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.), or find a local DPSS office here.
MORE FOOD SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE IMPACTED
California has also secured waivers to support people receiving CalFresh food benefits in the impacted region. People receiving CalFresh can use their benefits to purchase hot foods in Los Angeles and surrounding counties, as impacted individuals and families may not have access to food storage and/or cooking facilities. This waiver will be in effect through February 8, 2025.
Also, people receiving CalFresh who lost food due to the fires that was purchased with their benefits have an extended period of time to request replacement benefits. This waiver will be in effect through February 5, 2025. CalFresh recipients may contact the Los Angeles DPSS at (866) 613-3777 (M-F, 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.) to request replacement benefits.
California also released $1 million in emergency reserve funding that is providing emergency food boxes and potable water to people in need, in partnership with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. People can find a list of food distributions in their area here.
MORE FOOD OPTIONS FOR CACFP CLIENTS
California has also secured a waiver that will provide more food options for Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) clients in Los Angeles and Ventura counties impacted by the fires. A total of 6,667 CACFP facilities across the two counties that serve an enrolled population of more than 900,000 meal recipients have the option to opt in to the waiver, which was approved by the USDA. This waiver is in effect through February 28, 2025.
The CACFP provides reimbursements to eligible child care centers, adult day care centers, afterschool programs, emergency shelters, and day care home providers for nutritious meals and snacks that are served in care settings. The USDA administers this food program nationwide, providing funding to states.
The waiver provides CACFP operators the ability to provide non-congregate meal service, which lets families take meals off-site if it better suits their current circumstances. It also allows for a parent or guardian to pick meals up on behalf of the enrolled participant. CACFP operators may also opt to adjust meal services times to allow for a larger window for families to receive meals.
ADDITIONAL HELP
Californians can go to CA.gov/LAfires – a hub for information and resources from state, local and federal government.
Health care coverage: Covered California recently announced a special-enrollment period for residents of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. This special enrollment period will last until March 8, 2025. Resources are available through Los Angeles County and the State of California. Of the 1.3 million uninsured Californians who qualify for subsidies through Covered California or are eligible for Medi-Cal coverage, 356,000 of them reside in Southern California.
California has developed resource guides to help guide people through disasters and provide information on the different types of federal, state, and local services available in California:
- CalHHS Emergency Resource Guide (English and Spanish)
- Guide to Disaster Assistance for Immigrant Californians (Multiple languages)
- Emergency Preparedness Guide/Toolkit for Individuals with Disabilities (Multiple languages)
- Department of Aging Emergency Preparedness Guide (Multiple Languages)
- Department of Managed Health Care Health Plan Disaster Resource Guide
- Department of Health Care Services Disaster Assistance Q&A
- Find child care
Through the BenefitsCal portal, Californians can get and manage benefits online. This includes food assistance (CalFresh), cash aid (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids, commonly known as CalWORKs), General Assistance, (Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants), and affordable health insurance (Medi-Cal).
Individuals and business owners who sustained losses from wildfires in Los Angeles County can apply for disaster assistance:
- Online at gov
- By calling 800-621-3362
- By using the FEMA smart phone application
- Assistance is available in over 40 languages
If you use a relay service, such as video relay service, captioned telephone service, or others, give FEMA the number for that service.
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