City Year LA Orientation Guide May. 2015 | Page 30
City Year cannot guarantee that you will be awarded any amount in Cal Fresh benefits. DPSS is the
government agency that will be reviewing your application for these federal benefits, which are ultimately
administered by the state.
How do you recommend I apply? City Year is very fortunate to partner with DPSS (LA County
Department of Public and Social Services) in hosting a food stamp application workshop at our office on
July 29 and 30, prior to the start of the service year. In this workshop, you will have the opportunity to
interview with a DPSS caseworker who will review
your completed application and supporting documents,
comprising the final step in the application process.
We highly recommend applying through this workshop
as we handle the coordination of the interview process
with a DPSS caseworker, which can take much longer
if you were to apply on your own.
How do I sign up for a City Year coordinated food stamp workshop? We will be taking
reservations for appointment times to meet with a DPSS caseworker at the workshop. A link to sign up and
more details will be sent out via email June or July. In addition, we will provide you with the Cal Fresh
application that you will need to complete prior to your scheduled interview. You are responsible for acquiring
all of your necessary supporting documents (see next section) and bringing these items with you to your
interview.
If you have already opened and submitted a Cal Fresh application online or have already applied in
person and are awaiting your benefits, you will NOT be able to apply through the City Year coordinated
workshop. Even if you have received notice from Cal Fresh instructing you to schedule an appointment for an
interview, you still cannot set up an interview with our caseworkers. This is because you have already opened
a case for yourself within the Cal Fresh system and cannot have multiple cases open at the same time
Why should I apply during the CY workshop and not on my own? Please be advised
that we strongly discourage you from applying for Cal Fresh benefits on your own, unless you are unable to
be present during the City Year/DPSS workshop in late July.
1. Navigating DPSS is complicated. Each year, we provide the opportunity for AmeriCorps
members to apply at our own workshop through our partnership with the Department of Public and
Social Services because we understand how difficult it is to apply for food stamps.
2. We provide guidance. Through this workshop, we are able to provide more guidance to
AmeriCorps members in the application process and save you from waiting in line for hours, and
thereby maximizing your time in service.
3. It’s quicker. The appointment is quicker and the turnaround time may be shorter. Though this is
not a guarantee.
When will I hear back about my application? If you are awarded Cal Fresh benefits, your EBT
card will be issued within 30 days of the date of your application.
30 | C o r p s M e m b e r O r i e n t a t i o n & R e s o u r c e G u i d e
Return to Navigation