Help Desk
- Oct 17, 2022
- 4 min read

Food Assistance: CalFresh Eligibility Guidelines for 2022

CalFresh Eligibility Guide (2022):

CalFresh is a benefits assistance program that helps limited-income individuals and families buy the food they need in order to stay healthy. If you want to apply for California Food Stamps or CalFresh, you have to make sure you qualify and are eligible.

Sources: Kwame Kuadey Apply for CA Food Stamps, CalFresh Benefits

Last updated on 9/15/22.

There are strict eligibility requirements that you must follow to apply for Food Assistance.

In this article, we will discuss the CalFresh Eligibility guidelines for 2022 and what you need to qualify.

Monthly benefits are provided on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card that works just like a bank debit card to buy food at most grocery stores and markets (including some Farmers Markets).

Before we get into CalFresh eligibility guidelines, first, we will explain what CalFresh is about and who is eligible to apply.

Next, we will explain each of the eligibility guidelines in detail, including the income limit, which is the most important criteria.

Also, we will walk you through how much you are likely to receive if you are approved for CalFresh.

Finally, we will answer the most frequently asked questions, including how long the process takes.

This post will cover:

What is CalFresh?
Who is Eligible for CalFresh?
CalFresh Eligibility Guidelines
CalFresh Income Limits – 2022
How Much in CalFresh will I Get?
How do I apply for CalFresh Benefits?
CalFresh Eligibility FAQs

What is CalFresh?

The CalFresh Program is California’s version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP and formerly known as Food Stamps.

CalFresh assists low-income individuals and households to purchase nutritional food.

Eligibility for CalFresh, as well as the benefit amount, is based on your household’s size and income level.

A household can be one person, a group of people, a family, or any combination of people that buy and prepare food together.

Children living with their parents are considered part of the same household until age 22.

Furthermore, many legal non-citizens are eligible for CalFresh benefits.

Also, even if you can’t get CalFresh benefits for yourself, other members of your household may be eligible.

Who is Eligible for CalFresh?

Here are the categories of people who live in the state of California that are eligible for CalFresh:

Any California household or individual (including homeless) with low or no income
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients
CalWORKS or CAAP applicants can apply for CalFresh as part of their application process for those services
Students of higher education who meet eligibility requirements
Legal permanent residents and qualified immigrants

CalFresh Eligibility Guidelines for 2022

Here’s what you need to apply for CalFresh:

Proof of Identity

Applicants must provide proof of their identity to show that they are the person they claim to be.

Identity may be verified through a variety of documents, including but not limited to,

Department of Motor Vehicles ID or driver’s license
Work or school ID
Voter registration card
Birth certificate

Social Security Numbers

Individuals, including children, applying for CalFresh benefits, must either provide a Social Security number or proof they have applied for a Social Security Number.

Household members that are not eligible for CalFresh do not have to provide or apply for a Social Security Number.

Residency

The applicant must live in the state of California and must apply in their county of residence.

Persons without a permanent residence or a fixed mailing address can get CalFresh as long as they can prove residency in a county.

Work Rules

There are special rules for able-bodied adults without dependent children.

If you are an able-bodied adult without dependents and are between the ages of 18 and 50, here’s what you need to know:

You must register for work or be working at least 20 hours per week or an average of 80 hours per month to receive CalFresh benefits.

Citizenship Status

U. S. citizens and many non-citizens are eligible for CalFresh.

Furthermore, even if some members of the household are not eligible, those who are may be able to get CalFresh benefits.

Eligibility for Aged and Disabled Households

There are special rules for households with seniors and people who are disabled.

If you are age 60 or over, or you are receiving Social Security Disability or Medi-Cal due to a disability, or a full VA pension here’s what you need to know.

You may be eligible with income over the regular limits if you pay very high rent and utilities and/or have medical expenses over $35 per month.

However, this must be computed on a case-by-case basis.

Asset Limits

Your household assets must fall below certain limits.

Households without a member who is elderly or has a disability must have assets of $2,250 or less.

However, households with an elderly or has a disabled person must have assets of $3,500 or less.

Income and Deductions

To be eligible for CalFresh, your monthly gross income (before payroll deductions) must be the same or below the amount listed in the chart for your household size.

CalFresh counts most types of income to determine if a household is eligible.

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.

For CalFresh purposes, gross monthly income means a household’s total income before excluding allowable deductions.

Also, deductions are expenses that are subtracted from the household’s monthly gross income to arrive at the net monthly income.

CalFresh Income Limits – 2022