The CalFresh food-assistance program in San Diego County could face delays in November if the current federal government shutdown continues past Oct. 23.
According to guidance from the California Department of Social Services, the county is notifying recipients that benefits deposited earlier this month are guaranteed — but new ones may not arrive if federal funding doesn’t resume, the county announced in a news release Oct. 21.
CalFresh, the state’s version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is entirely federally funded and managed locally by counties. In San Diego County alone, about 395,000 individuals in roughly 240,000 households depend on it, according to the county.
Recipients are being urged to monitor their EBT card balances and stay alert for updates via the county’s CalFresh website or the state’s BenefitsCal portal. For now, there’s no action required — benefits already issued remain valid — but local food resources are being flagged as options in case delays occur.
County officials say they will share new developments as they emerge, and community members in need of support can access food banks and pantries through the 211 San Diego helpline or interactive maps posted online.
The North Coast Current and OsideNews are publishing news items related to the federal government shutdown throughout its duration. Organizations can send information to news[at]northcoastcurrent.com.
This announcement was written using artificial intelligence, then edited and fact-checked against source material.
