CalFresh Households Can Receive Replacement Benefits for Food Destroyed in the Fire

Impacted county residents have until Oct. 5 to report food loss.

NEWS RELEASE

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. —CalFresh customers whose food was lost or destroyed in the recent Fairview fire near Hemet have until October 5 to report the loss resulting from this disaster and receive replacement benefits.

Riverside County was granted permission to extend the normal reporting period from 10 to 30 days in disaster-impacted zip codes (92543 and 92544). The additional time allows CalFresh households in the affected communities a chance to assess their losses and recover as much as possible. County officials say there are 11,786 households that would qualify for CalFresh replacement benefits.

“Our hearts go out to all those who have suffered losses in this devastating fire,” said Allison Gonzalez, assistant director of Riverside County’s Department of Public Social Services (DPSS). “We would like our customers to recover their losses as quickly as possible. We also want to let them know that we are here to help.”

To report food loss directly resulting from the Fairview fire, CalFresh customers may call 1-877-410-8827. They may also report in-person at their nearest DPSS office, online at BenefitsCal.com, by fax, or by mail.

Reports made by October 5 for the Fairview fire are considered timely.

CalFresh is the state’s largest food program that issues monthly electronic benefits that can be used to buy groceries at many stores, farmers markets, and online through certain retailers such as Amazon and Walmart.

Impacted county residents in need of food assistance and not already receiving CalFresh benefits are encouraged to apply for CalFresh by calling 1-877-410-8827 or going online at BenefitsCal.com.