In California, SNAP is called CalFresh. You apply online at BenefitsCal.com, by phone at 1-877-847-3663, or at your county social services office. Most households qualify with gross income up to 200% of the poverty line, about $5,500 a month for a family of four from October 1, 2026, and there is no asset test for most households. Benefits come on the Golden State Advantage EBT card.
California is also one of the few states where SSI recipients can get CalFresh (since 2019), where people 60+, disabled or homeless can use benefits at restaurants, and where CalFresh cards now have a chip.
CalFresh at a glance
| California | |
|---|---|
| Program name | CalFresh |
| Run by | California Department of Social Services, through county offices |
| Apply online | BenefitsCal.com |
| Phone | CalFresh line 1-877-847-3663 |
| Gross income limit (most households) | 200% of poverty |
| Asset test | None for most households |
| Vehicles | Not counted |
| EBT card | Golden State Advantage (chip and tap) |
| EBT customer service | 1-877-328-9677 |
| Deposit days | 1st to 10th, by last digit of case number |
| Reporting | SAR 7 every 6 months, renewal once a year for most |
| People on CalFresh | 5,111,720 (June 2026) |
CalFresh income limits
California uses “Modified Categorical Eligibility,” its version of broad-based categorical eligibility, so most households are tested at 200% of poverty instead of the federal 130%.
| Household size | Oct 2025 to Sept 2026 (official) | From Oct 1, 2026 (estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,610 | $2,660 |
| 2 | $3,526 | $3,608 |
| 3 | $4,442 | $4,554 |
| 4 | $5,360 | $5,500 |
| 5 | $6,276 | $6,448 |
| 6 | $7,192 | $7,394 |
| 7 | $8,110 | $8,340 |
| 8 | $9,026 | $9,288 |
| Each extra person | +$918 | +$948 |
The October 2026 column is our calculation: twice USDA’s new 100% poverty figures, the same method behind California’s current table. California hadn’t published its new table when we checked in September 2026, so use the county’s figure if it differs.
Passing the gross test is only step one. Your benefit depends on net income after deductions; see SNAP benefit amounts. The maximum for a family of four is $1,023 a month from October 2026.
How to apply for CalFresh
- Online: BenefitsCal.com. You can file with just your name, address and signature and finish the rest later; the date you file starts your benefits.
- Phone: 1-877-847-3663.
- In person, mail or fax: at your county social services office. Find it on CDSS’s county office list.
- Interview: the county calls you, usually by phone. See SNAP interview tips.
- Decision: within 30 days. If you have very little money, CalFresh can issue benefits within 3 days under expedited service, faster than the federal 7-day rule. See expedited SNAP.
For a case already filed, your county line can be faster. For example, Los Angeles County DPSS takes CalFresh calls at (866) 613-3777, and San Diego County’s Access Customer Service Center is at 1-866-262-9881.
Documents to have ready
You don’t need every paper to file. Apply first, then add proof when the county asks. San Diego County lists these usual proofs:
| What they check | Examples that work |
|---|---|
| Identity | Driver’s license or DMV ID, work or school ID, voter card, birth certificate |
| California address | Lease, rent or mortgage receipt, utility bill, pay stub with address |
| Immigration status (if not a citizen) | Green card, I-94 or other USCIS papers |
| Job income | Recent pay stubs or a letter from your employer |
| Other income | Award letters for Social Security, unemployment or disability |
| Medical costs (60+ or disabled) | Pharmacy receipts, doctor or hospital bills, insurance premiums |
For expedited service, San Diego County says ID is enough at first. Upload papers in BenefitsCal to keep a record.
California rules that are different
SSI recipients qualify. Since June 1, 2019, people who get SSI/SSP can receive CalFresh, and their SSI check doesn’t go down. See SNAP and SSI.
Immigrants: federal cuts and a state program. Under the 2025 federal law, refugees, asylees, parolees and people granted withholding of deportation lose CalFresh, applied in California from April 1, 2026 (at renewal for current recipients). About 72,000 people are affected, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office. California’s own program, the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP), covers some immigrants who can’t get CalFresh, and an expansion to people 55 and older regardless of immigration status is planned for October 2027. Read SNAP for immigrants and get legal advice before deciding.
Restaurant Meals Program. CalFresh households where everyone is 60+, disabled or homeless can buy hot meals at approved restaurants. California has run it statewide since 2021. See the Restaurant Meals Program.
No soda or candy restriction. California has not asked USDA for a food restriction waiver. See the states list.
SUN Bucks. California took part in Summer EBT in 2026, with $120 per school-age child and more than 3.5 million children enrolled automatically. See Summer EBT.
Keeping CalFresh: the SAR 7 and your yearly renewal
Most CalFresh cases have two deadlines:
- SAR 7 report, every 6 months. It’s due by the 5th of the submit month, and it’s late after the 11th. Report changes in income, who lives with you and expenses. You can mail it or send it in BenefitsCal.
- Renewal (recertification), once a year. The county mails a renewal packet before your period ends. You may have a phone interview, or you can renew through BenefitsCal.
Some households get longer periods. Santa Clara County’s CalFresh handbook says households where every adult is 60+ or disabled can be certified for up to 24 months, and households in the Elderly Simplified Application Project (everyone 60+ or disabled, no earnings) get 36 months.
If your SAR 7 is late, send it anyway and call the county. See SNAP recertification.
How to report changes in California
Between reports, you only have to report a few things within 10 days:
- Income above your Income Reporting Threshold (IRT). The county tells you your IRT in writing; for CalFresh it’s tied to 130% of poverty for your household size.
- For people under the work time limit, work hours dropping below 80 a month.
Other changes can wait for your SAR 7. Report in BenefitsCal, by phone to your county, or on paper. See SNAP reporting changes.
Work rules in California
The 2025 federal law expanded the 3-month time limit to adults 18 to 64 without a child under 14 at home. California began applying it in June 2026; the Legislative Analyst’s Office estimated about 665,500 people could lose CalFresh. If you’re covered, you need 80 hours a month of work, volunteering or training, or an exemption. See SNAP work requirements and SNAP Employment and Training.
California’s training program is CalFresh Employment and Training (CalFresh E&T). Counties aren’t required to offer it, so what’s available depends on where you live. Where it runs, it offers skills training, credentials and support services. Ask your county worker, since E&T hours can count toward the 80.
Example: does this family qualify?
A family of three in Fresno earns $4,000 a month gross from two jobs. That’s over the federal 130% limit ($2,960) but under California’s 200% limit (about $4,554 from October 2026), so they pass the gross test. After the 20% earnings deduction, the standard deduction and their rent, their net income decides whether they get a benefit and how much. Many families in this range get a partial benefit.
Example: how much CalFresh a family might get
A family of three with $2,400 a month in pay and $1,300 rent, using October 2026 federal figures:
- Earnings deduction: $2,400 minus 20% ($480) = $1,920
- Standard deduction: $1,920 minus $217 = $1,703
- Half of that is $851.50. Rent above that amount is the excess shelter cost: $1,300 minus $851.50 = $448.50 (under the $769 cap)
- Net income: $1,703 minus $448.50 = $1,254.50
- 30% of net income is $376.35, rounded up to $377
- Benefit: $808 maximum for three minus $377 = about $431 a month
This leaves out the utility allowance (added if you pay heating or cooling) and child care or child support costs. Those would raise the benefit.
What CalFresh can buy
CalFresh buys the same foods as SNAP anywhere: fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, dairy, bread, cereal, snacks, drinks without alcohol, and seeds or plants that grow food. California has no soda or candy ban.
You can’t buy alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, medicine, pet food, household supplies, or hot foods, with one exception: members of the Restaurant Meals Program can buy hot meals at approved restaurants. You can shop online at approved stores; see SNAP online purchasing.
At many farmers markets, Market Match gives you extra money for fruits and vegetables when you spend CalFresh. San Francisco’s human services agency describes a $15 match at many markets, with some offering more. Ask at the market’s info booth.
Other California programs that pair with CalFresh
- CalWORKs: California’s cash aid program for families with children (its version of TANF). See SNAP vs TANF.
- CFAP: state-funded food aid for some immigrants who can’t get CalFresh.
- WIC: extra foods for pregnant women, new moms and children under 5. You can get WIC and CalFresh at the same time; see WIC vs SNAP.
After you’re approved
- Your card: Golden State Advantage. Lock it and check your balance in the app; see how to check your EBT balance.
- Your deposit day: 1st to 10th by the last digit of your case number; see the EBT deposit schedule.
- Renewals: watch for your county’s notice; see SNAP recertification.
- CalFresh also qualifies you for California LifeLine and federal Lifeline phone discounts (federal Lifeline in California has run through the National Verifier since February 1, 2026); see Lifeline eligibility.
Why California’s costs are rising
From October 2026, states pay 75% of SNAP administrative costs instead of 50%. In California that’s split with counties and adds about $480 million a year for the state and $190 million for counties, per the LAO. California’s FY2025 payment error rate was about 10.9%, which could mean a 15% share of benefit costs starting in fiscal 2028. None of this changes your benefit today, but expect more document checks.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for CalFresh? Apply at BenefitsCal.com, call 1-877-847-3663, or go to your county social services office. A form with your name, address and signature is enough to start; the county then sets an interview and asks for proof.
How long does CalFresh take? Up to 30 days. If you have very little money, ask for expedited service, which can mean benefits within 3 days in California.
Can I get CalFresh if I’m on SSI? Yes. Since June 2019, SSI/SSP recipients in California can get CalFresh, and it doesn’t lower the SSI check.
What happens if I miss my SAR 7? Your benefits can stop at the end of the period. Turn it in as soon as you can and call your county the same day.
Can I get a free phone with CalFresh? CalFresh makes you eligible for Lifeline and California LifeLine. Some providers offer smartphones, but a free government iPhone is rare, and you’ll usually pay something for newer models. Our California LifeLine guide explains both sign-ups.
More states and topics: SNAP and EBT guides. Every state’s portal and phone: how to apply for SNAP.
Sources: CDSS: CalFresh, CDSS: CalFresh FAQs, CDSS: contacts, CDSS: Modified Categorical Eligibility fact sheet, San Diego County: CalFresh income limits, USDA: FY2027 cost-of-living adjustments, LA County DPSS: EBT, LA County DPSS: H.R. 1 noncitizen changes, LAO: Major H.R. 1 changes (April 2026), LAO: CFAP expansion, Governor of California: SUN Bucks 2026, CBPP: SNAP cost shifts and state error rates, USDA: SNAP persons by state (June 2026), San Diego County: documents needed to apply, LA County DPSS: CalFresh, LA County DPSS: Semi-Annual Reporting, CDSS: SAR overview, SF Human Services Agency: Keep CalFresh, Santa Clara County: CalFresh certification periods, CDSS: CalFresh Employment and Training, SF Human Services Agency: Market Match.