CalFresh, also called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), provides food assistance to low-income individuals and families. This program, previously known as the Food Stamp Program, offers electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards that can be used to purchase food at selected grocery stores, supermarkets, farmers markets and authorized restaurants. Eligibility for CalFresh benefits is determined based on factors such as income, household size, and expenses.
Your Golden State EBT card works exactly the same as a regular debit or credit card: go to your favorite retailer or store (that accepts EBT cards), get all your SNAP-compatible groceries and products, go to the cashier and pay for them using your CalFresh card as any other regular credit or debit card. But, wait! There are some extra benefits and discounts you could get. Let’s talk about that a little bit further.
Extra Cash You Could Get With Exclusive CalFresh Discounts
In the Bay Area, there are a lot of amazing museums with fun activities for the family to enjoy during the weekends. However, sometimes the cost of admission can be an obstacle, such as at the San Francisco Academy of Sciences, where two adult and two children’s tickets add up to almost $140.
But don’t worry! There is a way to get free tickets or with incredible discounts with your CalFresh benefits. All you need to do is show your EBT card, along with a valid California ID, at the door of many museums. This is made possible by the national Museums for All program, which gives people who receive SNAP benefits the opportunity to access hundreds of museums for free or with discounts.
In the Bay Area, this initiative includes museums such as the Exploratorium in San Francisco and the Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland. So take this opportunity to explore and enjoy the culture and fun without worrying about the entrance fee.
Some museums, such as the San Jose Museum of Art or the African Diaspora Museum in San Francisco, allow you to enter for free, and you can also take other guests with you! Even if a museum does not offer free admission, it is possible to get a pretty good discounted rate. For example, at the Chabot Space & Science Center, you will only have to pay $1 for each ticket by showing your EBT card. It’s a great way to enjoy culture and fun without spending a lot.
Furthermore, if you’re a food stamps beneficiary, and are enrolled in the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program, you have the opportunity to receive significant discounts on your electricity and natural gas bills. Specifically, you can get a 30 to 35 percent discount on the electricity bill and a 20 percent discount on the natural gas bill.
| Phone Numbers and Websites for Energy Assistance Programs | ||
| Utility | Emergency Payment | Website |
| PG&E | 866-743-2273 | CARE |
| Edison | 866-675-6623 | CARE |
| SDG&E | 800-411-7343 | CARE |
| SoCalGas | 800-427-2200 | CARE |
| Alpine Nat’l Gas | 209-772-3006 | PROGRAMS |
| Bear Valley Elect | 800-808-2837 | CARE |
| PacifiCorp | 888-221-7070 | Financial Assistance |
| Liberty Utilities | 800-782-2506 | CARE |
| Southwest Gas | 877-860-6020 | Special Programs |
| West Coast Gas | 916-364-4100 | CARE |
Find the income guidelines in the official California’s CARE/FERA program website.
50% Discount for EBT Users on Metrolink Tickets or Passes
Metrolink, the regional public transportation system that operates passenger rail services in and around the Los Angeles metropolitan area, is committed to providing safe and affordable transportation for all passengers.
Under this premise, Metrolink offers discounted fares every day, thus ensuring that public transport is accessible to everyone.
To promote fairness in public transportation, the company has implemented the Mobility-4-All program, which offers eligible customers a 50% discount on any Metrolink ticket or pass when they present a valid California Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card.
Eligible passengers receive a 50% discount on all Metrolink tickets and passes. Please note that these tickets can only be purchased at the ticket vending machines located at the Metrolink stations.
In addition, Metrolink tickets allow free transfers at participating transit agency services in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura Counties.
Mobility-4-All is a pilot program that will be in effect until the funds allocated for this purpose are depleted. We are committed to providing accessible and equitable transportation options for all our passengers.