Food stamps (SNAP) in
California.

Under a policy known as cash-out, people on SSI/SSP were not eligible for CalFresh in California. Assembly Bill 1811, the 2018-2019 human services budget trailer bill, reversed that policy.

Since June 1, 2019, people receiving or authorized to receive SSI/SSP have been eligible for CalFresh as long as they meet the other rules. If you were turned away years ago because of SSI, that reason no longer applies, so it is worth applying on BenefitsCal now.

SSI households can also use the Restaurant Meals Program if every member is 60 or older, disabled, homeless or a qualifying spouse, and the $150 standard medical deduction below applies to households with a member 60 or older or disabled.

The Elderly Simplified Application Project covers CalFresh households in which every member is 60 or older or disabled and nobody has earnings. It drops the recertification interview, skips proof for information that is not questionable, and certifies for up to 36 months with no SAR 7 report.

FNA approved ESAP again for October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2031, but with a catch. From March 1, 2027, the age floor rises from 60 to 65, so people 60 to 64 without a disability leave ESAP at recertifications due in March 2027 or later. Eligibility for people with a disability does not change.

Under the state's Minimum Nutrition Benefit pilot, an ESAP household of two or more that gets less than $60 a month in CalFresh or CFAP receives a state-funded top-up, so the two together reach at least $60. The pilot started December 1, 2025.

It was set to end November 30, 2026. On October 13, 2026, CDSS extended it until the money runs out, and participating households get a CF 378C notice before December 1, 2026. Because the pilot follows ESAP rules, the 2027 age change may end it for some households.

When a household member is 60 or older or disabled and verifies medical costs of $35.01 to $185 a month, CalFresh subtracts a flat $150 instead of the real amount. Costs above $185 can be counted in full, less $35, if you prove them. FNA has approved this method through September 30, 2029.

Missing medical receipts never get a case denied; you simply do not get the deduction. The county must help you collect the papers if you give permission, and a one-time bill can be averaged over 12 months.

CalFresh counts a fixed utility amount, not your bill. Paying heating or cooling apart from rent earns the $686 Standard Utility Allowance. Without that, two other utilities such as water, sewer, garbage or phone earn the $176 Limited Utility Allowance, and a phone alone earns $21. None is prorated.

Since November 1, 2025, a household with no member over 60 or disabled must have its own heating or cooling bill to claim the $686. Households with such a member still get the yearly $20.01 energy payment from the county, which unlocks the full allowance even when heat is in the rent.

Homeless households with shelter costs get a $205.66 shelter allowance, which already includes utilities, and the cap on the excess shelter deduction is $769 for households without an older or disabled member.

The federal time limit now reaches CalFresh adults 18 to 64. People who used to be excused and now must meet it include those 55 to 64, parents whose youngest child is 14 or older, veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and anyone who was in foster care on their 18th birthday.

You are excused if you are pregnant, care for a sick or disabled person for more than 30 days, get or applied for disability benefits such as SSI or veterans' disability, cannot work 80 hours for health reasons, or identify as an Indian, Urban Indian or California Indian. Half-time students are excused too.

Paid work, volunteering, job training, school or workfare count, alone or combined. From November 1, 2026 to October 31, 2027 the limit is waived in Colusa, Imperial, Kings, Merced, Monterey, Plumas and Tulare. Alpine County's waiver ended October 31, 2026.

H.R. 1 ended federal CalFresh eligibility for several groups starting April 1, 2026: refugees, asylees, most parolees (Cuban and Haitian entrants excepted), people granted withholding of removal, conditional entrants, trafficking victims and battered noncitizens.

It also covers Iraqi and Afghan special immigrant visa holders who are not permanent residents, and certain Afghan and Ukrainian parolees. Households already on CalFresh feel the change at their first recertification after April 1, 2026. Eligible members of the same household can still get CalFresh.

California's Summer EBT program, SUN Bucks, pays $120 for each eligible child to cover food while school is out. Most eligible children are enrolled automatically, and other families apply through their child's school.

Taking SUN Bucks does not affect a family's immigration status, and children can still get CalFresh and summer meals. Card questions go to the helpline at 1-877-328-9677, with live agents Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

You have 90 days from the county's action to request a State Hearing, and you must say why. The approval or denial notice explains how. Ask before the action takes effect and your CalFresh stays the same until the hearing or the end of your certification period, whichever comes first.

You may instead let the benefit change while you wait, which avoids repaying it if you lose. If the Administrative Law Judge rules for you, the county restores what was cut. For hearing rights or a legal aid referral, call 1-800-952-5253 (TDD 1-800-952-8349), and you can bring a friend.