A New Era in Food Aid in the U.S.

Significant changes have taken effect in the CalFresh program used by millions of people for grocery shopping in California. As of October 1, a limited increase in monthly benefits will be made to counter rising food prices, while new work requirements and eligibility rules introduced at the federal level could cause some people to lose their benefits in the coming period.

Monthly benefits rose.

With the new cost‑of‑living adjustment, the maximum monthly benefit amounts that can be received under CalFresh were increased.

The maximum monthly benefit a single‑person household can receive rose from $298 to $306, while the upper limit for a four‑person family climbed from $994 to $1,023.

The regulation applies to the 48 contiguous states of the U.S., including California. It is noted that grocery prices in California have risen by 2.2% over the past year.

Significant changes in work requirements.

Along with the increase in aid amounts, the eligibility conditions for CalFresh are tightening.

Under the new federal regulation, the age limit for the work requirement for adults who have no dependent and who are part of the workforce has been raised from 54 to 64. Thus, a broader segment aged 18‑64 could be affected by the work requirements.

In addition, some households with children aged 14 or older or other dependents may lose the work requirement exemptions they previously enjoyed.

The new regulations also terminate the eligibility of certain individuals with previously eligible immigrant statuses for food assistance.

California's fiscal burden is rising.

The changes are expected to significantly affect not only CalFresh users but also California's budget.

As of October 1, states must cover 75% of the program's administrative costs. Previously, the federal government and the states shared these costs 50‑50.

According to estimates from the Food Research & Action Center, which works in the fight against hunger, states may need to create millions of dollars in additional resources to make up for the lost federal administrative support. It is noted that California could be one of the states most affected by fiscal changes.

The next critical date: October 2027

It is noted that one of California's main financial risks could emerge in 2027.

From October 2027 onward, states whose error rate in aid payments remains above 6% could face direct financial obligations. If the current error rate stays above the federal threshold, estimates suggest California's annual cost could exceed $1 billion.

How many people's aid will be cut?

It is still unclear how many people in California will lose CalFresh assistance due to the new work requirements and eligibility restrictions.

Similarly, there remains uncertainty about how the state administration will cover rising administrative costs and how local county offices will manage their heavier workload.

Although families in California will see a modest increase in monthly aid in the short term, new federal rules point to the possibility of far more comprehensive changes to the CalFresh program in the coming years.