On October 17th, 358 CalFresh households in Nevada County automatically received replacement CalFresh benefits on their EBT cards for the month of October 2017. The USDA - Food and Nutrition Services, along with the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), approved Nevada County Department of Social Services (DSS) request for a mass replacement of benefits for the households residing in the following zip codes hardest hit by the recent fires: 95946 (Penn Valley) and 95975 (Rough and Ready). CalFresh households who were out of power 4 or more hours are eligible to this replacement benefit. CDSS worked directly with the Pacific, Gas, and Electric Company (PG&E) to identify eligibility for this program, then worked with the local DSS office in order to expedite a mass replacement of food benefits. There were 634 individuals residing in Penn Valley, and 184 individuals in Rough and Ready, who received these additional CalFresh benefits. These households received an additional 60% of their original food allotment for the month.
Although the mass replacement of CalFresh benefits was only issued to the recipient households residing in the two identified Penn Valley and Rough and Ready zip code areas, other CalFresh recipients who experienced food loss as a result of power outages are also eligible to have their benefits replaced. These households can come into the Department of Social Services offices and fill out a form attesting to their food loss until November 8, 2017.
Additional assistance is also available to CalWORKs recipients effected by the recent fires. CalWORKs recipients may be entitled to receive a one-time special need payment to repair or replace clothing or household equipment; to provide assistance for damages to the home; or to pay for interim shelter when the assistance unit’s home was destroyed or made uninhabitable or inaccessible due to special circumstances (e.g. Fire, Flood, or Earthquake). To access these services please contact the Department of Social Services.
To find out more about your eligibility to these benefits contact or come into one of our local offices at 988 McCourtney Rd, Grass Valley, or 950 Maidu Avenue, Nevada City.
For questions regarding mass replacement or special needs payments, please contact Sara Connor, Program Manager, at Sara.Connor@co.nevada.ca.us.
