By SDCN Staff
San Diego, CA–The federal government shutdown will delay the distribution of CalFresh benefits, regardless of whether Congress reaches a budget deal this week, county officials announced Tuesday.
The duration of the delay remains uncertain and will depend on when the federal government reopens and how quickly funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known in California as CalFresh, can be restored.
Current CalFresh recipients with remaining balances on their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards will still be able to use their benefits beginning Nov. 1. However, new funds for November have been halted as the program’s funding is entirely dependent on the federal budget.
“Because the federal government failed to pass a budget, shutting down operations nationwide, CalFresh benefits will not be reloaded on Nov. 1,” said Board of Supervisors Chair Terra Lawson-Remer. “Governor Newsom has deployed the National Guard and directed additional funding to food banks to help families keep food on the table.”
The County of San Diego and the State of California are coordinating efforts to support affected families. Residents in need of assistance are encouraged to call 2-1-1 or visit 211sandiego.org for information on available food resources.
CalFresh beneficiaries can check their balance by calling the number on the back of their EBT card or by visiting the County’s CalFresh or BenefitsCal websites for updates. The County’s Self-Sufficiency Services Access Customer Service Call Center will be open Saturday, Nov. 1, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at (866) 262-9881 to provide information and support.
Roughly 395,000 individuals in nearly 240,000 San Diego County households rely on CalFresh to help buy groceries. Eligibility for the program is based on income — for example, a family of four must earn less than $5,360 per month to qualify.
While CalFresh funding remains on hold, CalWORKs benefits for November 2025 are not affected.
Residents can also locate nearby food banks and pantries through the Feeding San Diego and San Diego Food Bank interactive maps available online.
