San Diego City Wire

San Diego County CalFresh recipients can temporarily use their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards to buy hot and prepared food due to the California wildfires. This change is in effect until February 8, 2025, following a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration.

Typically, CalFresh EBT cards are restricted to purchasing shelf-stable foods. However, this temporary modification allows recipients to buy hot and prepared meals at any authorized EBT retailer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service approved this change for San Diego County. The agency permits such adjustments when circumstances like power outages or home damage prevent residents from buying and preparing food.

The Food Nutrition Service has informed all authorized EBT retailers in San Diego County about the waiver and encourages them to notify customers of the change.

For more information on authorized EBT retailers, visit fns.usda.gov.