CF 285 at a glance
What it is: Application for CalFresh benefits: a food assistance program to help with the cost of buying food for a household.
Where and when to file: Give the application to the County in person, by mail, by fax, or online. The day the County receives your signed application starts the time to give you an answer on whether you can get benefits.
Who signs: Sign as the applicant, adult household member, authorized representative or guardian, and enter the date.
What to bring and attach to CF 285
To avoid delays, bring proof of the following with you to your interview.
Keep your interview even if you do not have the proof.
Identification (Driver's License, State ID card, passport).
Where you live (a rental agreement, current bill with your address listed).
Social Security Numbers (see the note about certain noncitizens).
Money in the bank for all the people in your household (recent bank statements).
Earned income of everyone in your household for the past 30 days (recent pay stubs, a work statement from an employer).
Unearned income (Unemployment benefits, SSI, Social Security, Veteran's benefits, child support, worker's compensation, school grants or loans, rental income, etc.).
Lawful immigration status ONLY for noncitizens applying for benefits (an Alien Registration Card, visa).
Certain noncitizens applying for immigration status based on domestic violence, crime prosecution or trafficking may not need this proof. They also may not need a Social Security Number.
A filled-in CF 285 example: Maria applies for CalFresh
How to fill out CF 285, box by box
Your name, address and Social Security number
You must at least give the County your name, address, and signature (question 1 on page 1) to begin the application process.
Social Security number (if you have one and are applying for benefits).
Everyone applying for CalFresh benefits needs to provide a SSN, if they have one, or proof that they have applied for a SSN (such as a letter from the Social Security Office).
Mailing address, if different from the home address.
Contact authorization
Please give the county the best contact information to reach you.
By providing your contact information, you are authorizing the county to contact you by phone, email or text, or to leave a phone message regarding your application.
Are you homeless?
Please let the County know right away if you are homeless so they can help you figure out an address to use to accept your application and get notices from the County regarding your case.
Interpreter at no cost
The County will provide an interpreter at no cost to you.
Optional questions
Do you or anyone in your household have a disability (optional question)?
Do you or anyone in your household need an accommodation due to a disability (optional question)?
Has there been a history of domestic violence/abuse (optional question)?
Medi-Cal answers
If you answer yes the County will use your answers to find out if you can get Medi-Cal.
Gross income and cash on hand
To help the County see if you can get benefits in three days, please answer questions 1, 6 through 8, 11, and 16, and give the County proof of your identify (if you have it) with the application.
Is your household's monthly gross income less than $150 and cash on hand, or in checking and savings accounts is $100 or less? (checked October 22, 2026)
Is your household's combined monthly gross income and cash on hand or in checking and savings accounts less than the combined cost of rent/mortgage and utilities?
Is your household a migrant/seasonal farm worker household with liquid resources not exceeding $100 and either your income stopped or you will not get more than $25 in the next 10 days? (checked October 22, 2026)
Signature of applicant
Sign as the applicant, adult household member, authorized representative or guardian, and enter the date.
By signing this application under penalty of perjury (making false statements), you understand that your answers to the questions are true and complete to the best of your knowledge.
By signing, you understand that giving false or misleading statements or misrepresenting, hiding or withholding facts to establish eligibility for CalFresh is fraud.
More rules for CF 285
If you have a disability or need help with this application, let the County know and someone will help you.
Fill out the whole application form, if you can.
You must have an interview with the County to discuss your application.
If you did not fill out all of the application, you can finish it during your interview.
You will need to give proof of your income, expenses, and other circumstances to see if you are eligible.
Please use black or blue ink because it is easy to read and copies best.
Please print your answers.
If you need more space to answer a question(s), use page 10 “Additional Writing Space” section and attach additional sheets of paper if needed to provide the information.
Please be sure to identify which question you are writing about in the extra space or on the additional sheets of paper.
Other situations
A household member is a noncitizen who is not applying
You do not have to give immigration information, Social Security numbers, or documents for any noncitizen family member(s) who are not applying for CalFresh benefits.
The County will need to know their income and resource information to correctly determine your household's benefits.
A household member is self-employed
If self-employed fill out question 8a.
Self-employed household members may deduct actual self-employment expenses or take a standard 40% deduction off of self-employment income.
If you choose actual expenses, you will need to give the County proof of the expenses.
Common questions about CF 285
Is there a deadline?
It may take up to 30 days to process your application. You may be able to get benefits within 3 calendar days, if you meet one of the Expedited Service criteria.
Where do I file it?
Give the application to the County in person, by mail, by fax, or online.
When is this form not the right one?
Use this application if you are applying for CalFresh benefits only.
Sources
[1] Form CF 285 (8/21), Application for CalFresh Benefits, California Department of Social Services (the Official source link on this page).