Eligibility
If you are a California resident with low or no income, you may be eligible for CalFresh. This includes individuals in the following situations:
- Homeless individuals
- Students, in higher education, who meet eligibility requirements
- Individuals receiving SSI/SSP
- Most legal immigrants
A CalFresh household includes anyone living together who regularly purchases and prepares meals together. The CalFresh benefit amount is dependent on household size, income, and expenses. Most households must have a total gross monthly income less than or equal to 200% of the federal poverty level, to be potentially eligible for CalFresh.
| Household Size | Maximum Gross Income | Maximum Benefit Amount |
| 1 | $2,430 | $291 |
| 2 | $3,288 | $535 |
| 3 | $4,144 | $766 |
| 4 | $5,000 | $973 |
| 5 | $5,858 | $1,155 |
| 6 | $6,714 | $1,386 |
| 7 | $7,570 | $1,532 |
| 8 | $8,428 | $1,751 |
| Each Additional Member | +$858 | +$219 |
(CalFresh benefit table effective 10/1/2023 - 9/30/2024)
Expedited Service CalFresh (ES)
Immediate food assistance may be available for certain eligible applicants. ES must be processed within three (3) calendar days of your CalFresh application date.
You may be eligible for ES if you meet one of the following requirements:
- Your household's monthly gross income (before taxes) is less than $150 and liquid resources are $100 or less.
- Your household's combined monthly gross income and liquid resources are less than the combined monthly rent / mortgage and utility expenses.
- You are a migrant or seasonal worker with $100 or less in liquid resources
All CalFresh applications are automatically screened for ES.
Elderly and/or Disabled Member Medical Expenses
Individuals who are elderly (60 years or older) or disabled and incur over $35.00 and up to $155.00 in verified medical expenses, are eligible for a standard medical deduction. For verified medical expenses over $155.00, individuals are eligible to deduct actual medical expenses.
Eligible medical expenses include, but are not limited to:
- Costs of medical and dental care, including co-payments.
- Prescribed medication and medical supplies.
- Medicare premiums or Medi-Cal Share of Cost (SOC).
- Transportation costs for medical treatment or services.
For a complete list of qualifying expenses, see our Medical Deductions Flyer.
Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs)
Applicants who are ABAWD (Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents) are time limited to three full months of benefits unless the individual meets one of the following criteria:
- Satisfies the ABAWD work requirement (work or complete “work activities” for an average of 20 hours a week, or a total of 80 hours a month), or
- Lives in a county or area with an ABAWD time limit waiver, or
- Has an exemption from the ABAWD time limit.
Alameda County is under an ABAWD waiver and ABAWDs are not currently subject to the time limit.
For more information on the ABAWD work requirement click here
CalFresh for Immigrants and Refugees
If you are an immigrant or refugee, you may be eligible to receive CalFresh if you:
- Have valid Legal Permanent Resident *(LPR) status, or
- Have refugee status, parolee, or asylum, or
- Have or are applying for a U-Visa or T-Visa, or
- Are a conditional entrant, or
- Have an Iraqi or Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV), or
- Are a Cuban or Haitian entrant.
All children born in the United States (U.S.) can get CalFresh food benefits if they qualify, no matter where their parents were born or their parents’ immigration status. Information given to SSA is confidential and only used to determine eligibility for benefits.
For more information on immigration resources and public benefits, click here.
If you have any questions, visit an SSA office or call us at (510) 263-2420 or 1-888-999-4772 (toll free).