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  • Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits Excluded from CalFresh Income Calculations

    On June 11, 2026, the Department of Social Services released ACL 26-42 on CalFresh Treatment of Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits. Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits are excluded from CalFresh (SNAP) income calculations. These benefits, reimbursing specific health-related items or services, do not count as household gains or benefits and cannot be used as medical expense deductions. County Welfare Departments (CWDs) must treat them as medical reimbursements, not income.


    Exclusion from Income for CalFresh Purposes

    • CWDs must exclude all MA supplemental benefits from income when determining CalFresh eligibility. These benefits are considered medical reimbursements and are not counted as income.
    • This exclusion is based on Section 5(d)(5) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and 7 CFR 273.9(c)(5), which state that reimbursements for past or future expenses are not income if they do not exceed actual expenses and do not represent a gain or benefit to the household.

    Definition and Examples of MA Supplemental Benefits

    • MA supplemental benefits are items or services related to the health of the enrollee and not covered under Medicare Part A, B, or D. Examples include food, transportation, utilities, or other items that improve or maintain the health or function of the enrollee.
      These benefits may be provided through spending cards limited to certain covered items or services, varying by insurer.

    Not Allowable as Medical Expense Deductions

    • Medical expenses reimbursed by MA supplemental benefits cannot be used as medical expense deductions for CalFresh. Households cannot use these reimbursed expenses to qualify for the Standard Medical Deduction.

    (A. Meyer)

  • CalFresh Implementation of HR1 Changes to Noncitizen Eligibility: Questions and Answers

    CDSS has issued additional policy clarification on the implementation of House of Representatives 1 (HR1) as it relates to the eligibility of noncitizens for CalFresh Benefits. The clarification is provided in a question and answer format. [ACIN 26-29]

    (K. Wardrip)

  • Use Of Income, Employment, and Work Hour Verification Tools: The Work Number And Truv

    As of June 8, 2026, CDSS is changing the workflow for verification of income, employment, and work hours in two ways. [ACL 26-37]

    First, CDSS uses a consumer credit report called The Work Number (TWN) to verify work and employment information for applicants and recipients of CalFresh and CalWORKs. Previously, eligibility workers only obtained a TWN verification if income or employment was reported by the household/assistance unit. Effective June 8, 2026, CDSS requires eligibility workers to obtain a TWN verification for every initial applicant and at any recertification or redetermination of benefits.

    Second, CDSS will now offer Truv as an option to applicants and recipients as a way to obtain verification of employment, income, and work hours. Participant consent to use of Truv is optional and participants can still use other verification methods. Truv allows individuals to consent to securely share real-time payroll and employment data directly from employers, payroll providers, and gig economy platforms. Individuals can utilize the Truv link provided by the county and complete the consent-based verification process by providing login credentials to relevant electronic sources.

    (K. Wardrip)

  • Non-Exempt Vehicle Limit Increase

    Effective July 1, 2026, the maximum value limit for non-exempt vehicles will increase for applicants/recipients of CalWORKs and three other programs. The new limit will be $33,626 (in equity value). Any equity value above that amount will count against the applicant/recipient’s maximum asset limit. This changes also applies to the Refugee Cash Assistance, Entrant Cash Assistance and Trafficking and Crime and Victims Assistance programs. [ACL 26-38]

    Applicants and recipients can self-certify their vehicles’ fair market value using the “Self-Certification Form for Motor Vehicles” (CW 80) form. The counties use this form to determine whether the value is exempt from the vehicle limit, the equity value of non-exempt vehicles and whether there is excess equity value that should count against the family’s total resource limit.

  • Child care eligibility and attendance changes

    The California Department of Health Services has released guidance regarding changes to child care eligibility and attendance.

    Effective January 1, 2026, medical and education appointments are considered excused absences from child care.  A child care contractor can claim attendance for days that the contractor is required to hold a space when the family is assumed to have abandoned care or is appealing disenrollment.

    The income threshold for CalWORKs Stage 3 child care is now 70% to 85% of area median income adjusted for family size.

    There is an exemption from family fees for abused, neglected, or exploited children who are receiving child protective services, or are at risk of being abused, neglected, or exploited and have a written referral from a legal, medical, or social services agency.  That exemption is extended to 24 months.  This exemption applies to General Child Care and Development, Migrant Child Care and Development (CMIG), Family Child Care Home Education Networks, California Alternative Payment Program, Migrant Alternative Payment Program, California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Stage 2, and California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Stage 3.  (CCB 26-02, January 22, 2026.)

  • Eligibility for Migrant Child Care Programs

    Effective January 1, 2026, the definition of “migrant agricultural worker family” for purposes of migrant child care programs at least one family member earns at least 40 percent of their total gross income from employment in fishing, agriculture, or agriculturally related work during the 12 months prior to applying.

    Parents must provide documentation of the family’s total countable income either by providing payroll records or a letter from the employer, or a release authorizing the contractor to contact the employer.  If the employer does not provided the requested documentation, or requesting the documentation would adversely affect the parent’s employment, the parent can provide other verification such as a client list with amounts paid, tax return, quarterly estimated tax return, or other records of income.  (CCB 26-03, February 24, 2026.)

  • Implementation of HOPE Trust Accounts

    The State of California has created HOPE Trust Accounts for eligible children in foster care.  Eligible participants are either: 1) A child who enters foster care before age 18, has been in foster care for 18 months, and reunification services have been terminated; 2) A child who enters foster care before age 18 and reunification services have been terminated; or 3) A child under age 18 when their parent or guardian died during the COVID disaster because of COVID and the household income qualified the child for MediCal.

    Each HOPE Trust Account will get a one-time $3,000 deposit.  The account holder can access the account at age 18, but must be withdrawn prior to their 27th birthday.

    All eligible children will have access to financial planning and related services through age 30.

    If the child reunifies with their parent or legal guardian, or the child is adopted or places in legal guardianship, the child remains eligible for their HOPE Trust Account.

    Funds deposited and investment returns from a HOPE Trust Account are not income or assets for any means tested program.

    After the initial withdrawal of HOPE funds, the distribution of funds is a lump sum, and the remaining balance is an asset.  (ACIN I-19-26, May 1, 2026.)  Note that after the initial withdrawal of HOPE funds, the distribution of funds is a lump sum, and the remaining balance is an asset. [Id.]

  • Expansion of waiver for CalFresh denials for missing verification

    California has a federal waiver which allows counties to deny a CalFresh application before the 30th day after the application is filed when the applicant does not provide requested verification within 10 days of the request.  See ACL 24-30, summarized here.

    Effective June 1, 2026, in addition to the 47 counties initially covered by the waiver, five additional counties, Alpine, San Benito, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, and Sierra, are covered by the waiver and can deny a CalFresh application before the 30th day after the application is filed when the applicant does not provide requested verification within 10 days of the request.  (ACL 26-33, May 20, 2026.)

     

  • Benefits eligibility when public interest parole expires

    The California Department of Social Services has released guidance regarding benefits eligibility for public interest parolees when their parole status expires or is terminated.

    Individuals paroled into the United States are eligible for CalWORKs.  If an individual’s parole status expires or is terminated, and they are not in another qualifying noncitizen status, they are not eligible for CalWORKs.  Change in immigration status is not a mandatory mid-period report.  People who lose their parole status will be redetermined at their next semi-annual report or annual redetermination.  Counties must complete a SAVE search before discontinuing benefits to ensure that they are not eligible under a different immigration status.

    Parolees are no longer eligible for CalFresh unless they are Cuban-Haitian Entrants.  Parolees who have not met the five-year waiting period or are exempt from the five year waiting period are eligible for the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP). A parolee may be eligible for CalFresh, or for CFAP after five years if they adjust their status to a status that is eligible for CalFresh or CFAP after five years.

    The only parolees who are eligible for Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) or Entrant Cash Assistance (ECA) are Cuban-Haitian Entrants who are paroled, Afghan Humanitarian Parolees, and Ukrainian Humanitarian Parolees.  Continuing eligibility for RCA/ECA is redetermined at the next semi-annual report.

    Note that effective May 5, 2025, RCA/ECA eligibility is limited to four months.  For cases where there is not a required semi-annual report because of the four-month limit on benefits, the county should only discontinue benefits before the four months have been used if there is a voluntary report of RCA/ECA benefits.

    Note that for purposes of these benefits programs, Cuban-Haitian refers to benefits eligibility, rather an immigration status.  For purposes of benefits eligibility, a Cuban-Haitian Entrant is:

    (1) any individual granted parole status as a Cuban/Haitian Entrant (Status Pending) or granted any other special status subsequently established under the immigration laws for nationals of Cuba or Haiti, regardless of the status of the individual at the time assistance or services are provided; and

    “(2) any other national of Cuba or Haiti-

    “(A) who-

    “(i) was paroled into the United States and has not acquired any other status under the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.];

    “(ii) is the subject of removal proceedings under the Immigration and Nationality Act; or

    “(iii) has an application for asylum pending with the Immigration and Naturalization Service; and

    “(B) with respect to whom a final, nonappealable, and legally enforceable order of removal has not been entered.” (Refugee Education and Assistance Act of 1980 § 501(e).)

    Cuban-Haitian Entrant parolees whose parole expires or is terminated may lose parole-based employment authorization, but may remain eligible for employment services.  Counties should review those cases to ensure that Cuban-Haitian Entrant parolees whose parole expires or is terminated are enrolled in appropriate activities. (ACIN I-15-26, April 24, 2026.)

  • Revised CalFresh work rules oral script

    The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has released an updated version of the CalWORKs work rules oral script.  The updated version removes the CalFresh Employment and Training section, and reflects changes to the CalFresh time limit and work rules because of HR 1.

    The county must verbally inform at least one member of the CalFresh household or authorized representative of the work rules using the CDSS script or a similar script written by the county.  If a household member becomes a mandatory work registrant during the certification period, the county must make a good faith effort to reach the household and give a verbal explanation of the work rules.  A minimum of two attempts to contact the household is considered a good faith effort.  (ACL 26-26, April 10, 2026.)