Contra Costa County began issuing benefits to CalFresh recipients for February today — more than two weeks early — due to the federal government shutdown.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly called Food Stamps and currently called CalFresh in California, has advised that states release February benefits early using available funding, according to the Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD).