California’s CalFresh program (California’s version of SNAP) is undergoing sweeping changes in 2025 that could significantly affect eligibility, benefit duration, exemptions, and more.
Many of these adjustments stem from recent federal legislation, especially the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) and related USDA guidance.
What Is Changing: Major Eligibility Overhaul
1. Expansion of Work Requirement Age Window (ABAWD)
- Under OBBB, the age range subject to the ABAWD (Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents) work/time-limit rule expands from 18–54 to 18–64.
- Those aged
- remain exempt from general work mandates, but still may be subject to other SNAP rules.
2. Limiting Dependent-Child Exemptions
- The prior exemption for caregivers of children under age 18 is now reduced: only those responsible for children under age 14 qualify. Caregivers of teens 14–17 may fall under work rules unless another exemption applies.
3. Rollback of Certain Exemptions Introduced in 2023
- The FRA (Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023) introduced temporary exemptions for veterans, homeless individuals, and former foster youth (age ≤ 24). OBBB removes those protections.
- As a result, these groups will again be subject to the 3-month/36-month rule unless other exemptions apply.
4. New Tribal & Native Exemptions
- OBBB adds new exemptions under the ABAWD rule for:
- • “An Indian” (as per Indian Health Care Improvement Act definitions)
- • “Urban Indian”
- • “A California Indian”
- Beneficiaries must verify tribal or Native status to qualify.
5. Waiver & Delay in California
- California obtained USDA’s approval for a statewide waiver of the ABAWD time limit from February 1, 2025 through January 31, 2026. During that period, even those who would otherwise be subject to work/time rules are not required to meet work obligations.
- After January 31, 2026, the stricter rules begin unless a further extension or waiver is granted.
6. Stricter Documentation & Work Reporting
- Households subject to work rules must document 80 hours/month of qualifying work, training, or community service to maintain benefits beyond 3 months.
- Additional paperwork and verification burdens will apply, making recertification and compliance more challenging.
7. Non-Citizen & Large-Household Limits
- Asylum seekers, refugees, and some non-citizen status holders may lose eligibility or face stricter barriers.
- For households larger than 9 or even 18 members, caps or adjustments may reduce benefit eligibility or amounts.
8. Income & Resource Limits
- Eligibility still depends on gross monthly income ≤ 200% of the Federal Poverty Level for household size.
- Example table of income limits (gross) for mid-2025 to 2026:
Household SizeMaximum Gross Monthly Income…