2025 CalFresh and CalWORKs benefit amounts for family of 3 in California?
I got locked out of my BenefitsCal account and can't reset my password because my phone number changed. Does anyone have the 2025 chart showing how much a household of 3 gets for CalFresh and CalWORKs in California? My recertification is coming up next month and I need to figure out if it's worth the hassle if they're going to cut our benefits again. Last year they reduced us from $740 to $685 for CalFresh even though our rent went up. Any help appreciated!
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Wesley Hallow
im pretty sure the max for calfresh for 3 people is around $780 now, they increased it in january. not sure about calworks tho sorry
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Kennedy Morrison
•Thanks! Do you know if that's before or after they calculate your income? We make about $2700/month now.
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Justin Chang
For 2025, a household of 3 can receive a maximum of $786 in CalFresh benefits if you have no countable income after deductions. The calculation depends on your specific situation, but generally: 1. They subtract 30% of your net income (after allowable deductions) from the maximum benefit 2. Income limits are $3,250 gross monthly income for most households For CalWORKs, a family of 3 in Region 1 counties receives a maximum of $1,115, Region 2 is $1,063. But again, this is reduced based on income. If you're having trouble with your BenefitsCal account, you should call your county office to update your contact information. You can also ask them to mail you your benefit amounts directly.
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Kennedy Morrison
•This is super helpful, thank you! We're in LA County so I guess that's Region 1? Do you know what the income limit is for CalWORKs? We might be over it.
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Grace Thomas
I just went through recertification last month. For CalWORKs, the gross income limit for a family of 3 is around $2,797 per month. If you're making $2,700, you're right at the edge, depending on deductions. You should definitely update your contact info ASAP. When I got locked out of my account, it took 3 weeks to get it fixed, and I nearly missed my recertification deadline which would have meant reapplying from scratch. The county offices are absolutely swamped right now with the new system migration.
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Kennedy Morrison
•Oh wow, I didn't realize I was so close to the cutoff! Thanks for the heads up about the account. Did you have to go in person to fix yours?
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Hunter Brighton
They NEVER tell you when they change the income limits!! I lost my CalWORKs last year because I made $50 over and had NO IDEA until my benefits just stopped showing up. Had to call like 20 times to even figure out why. The whole system is designed to frustrate people into giving up. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING.
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Dylan Baskin
•This happened to me too! And then when I finally reached someone, they told me I should have reported the income change within 10 days even though it was just a tiny increase. Like how was I supposed to know that? The handbook they give you is 50+ pages of confusing government language.
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Lauren Wood
If you're having trouble getting through to update your contact info, I used this service called Claimyr recently that got me through to a live CalFresh worker in about 10 minutes instead of waiting on hold forever. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 and their website is claimyr.com. Totally worth it because I was able to fix my account issues and get my verification documents processed before my benefits got cut off. My caseworker even helped me calculate my exact benefit amount based on my specific situation, which was way more accurate than the general charts.
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Wesley Hallow
•does that actually work? i tried calling my county office like 5 times last month and they kept hanging up on me because of 'high call volume' 🙄
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Lauren Wood
•Yeah it really does. I was skeptical too but I was desperate after trying for 3 days. They basically call for you and then connect you once they reach a person. Saved me from having to start my whole application over.
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Ellie Lopez
just fyi the numbers everybody is giving are for people with NO income. They reduce your benefits based on income after deductions. So with $2700 income you'll get way less than the max amounts. might just be a few hundred for calfresh if your lucky. depends on your rent and if you have childcare expenses.
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Kennedy Morrison
•Yeah I figured we wouldn't get the max. Our rent is $2100 and childcare is about $600/month. Does that help with the calculation at all?
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Justin Chang
•Actually those expenses will help quite a bit. CalFresh allows deductions for excess shelter costs (rent that exceeds 50% of your income after other deductions) and childcare is a deductible expense when calculating your net income. With those deductions, you'll likely qualify for a higher benefit amount than you might expect. Make sure to provide documentation of both expenses during recertification.
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Dylan Baskin
Hi! I went through the same thing but I eventually got my account fixed by calling the general CalFresh hotline (not the county-specific one) at 1-877-847-3663. They connected me to someone who could help reset everything. For benefits, I'm a single mom with 2 kids and we get $720 in CalFresh and $960 in CalWORKs. Our household income is about $2100/month with part-time work. Hope that helps give you an idea!
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Kennedy Morrison
•That helps a lot actually! Thanks for sharing your specific numbers. I'll try that general hotline too.
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Wesley Hallow
is anyone else annoyed that they keep changing the benefit amounts but not telling anyone?? like why cant they just send a text or something
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Hunter Brighton
•SERIOUSLY!! And then they expect us to somehow magically know when we've crossed some income threshold we weren't even aware of. The whole system feels designed to trip people up.
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Justin Chang
•They actually do send notices when benefit amounts change, but they're often mixed in with other paperwork and easy to miss. You can opt for electronic notifications in your BenefitsCal account settings once you regain access. The annual COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) for CalFresh typically happens in October, while CalWORKs adjustments are usually implemented in July.
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Charlee Coleman
Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble with the phone lines, you can also try visiting your local county office in person. I know it's a hassle, but sometimes it's faster than waiting on hold. They can update your contact info on the spot and print out your current benefit amounts. Also, bring ALL your documentation - pay stubs, rent receipts, childcare costs, etc. With your income and those deductions for rent and childcare, you should still qualify for decent benefits. The caseworkers can run the calculations right there so you'll know exactly what to expect before your recertification appointment.
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Javier Gomez
•This is really good advice! I was dreading having to go in person but it sounds like it might actually be more efficient. Do you know if they can help with the password reset issue too, or would I still need to call for that part? I'm worried about missing my recertification deadline while trying to get all this sorted out.
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Mateo Rodriguez
•Yes, they can definitely help with the password reset when you go in person! I had the exact same issue - locked out account with old phone number - and the caseworker was able to update my contact info and reset my login credentials right there at the desk. They have access to override the system requirements that you can't do online or over the phone. Just make sure to bring a photo ID and maybe a utility bill or something with your current address. They got me back into my account within like 15 minutes, and I was able to complete my recertification paperwork the same day. Way better than the phone runaround!
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Oliver Schulz
I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! For what it's worth, I just completed my recertification last week and can confirm the 2025 amounts others mentioned are accurate. With your income of $2700 and those rent/childcare expenses, you should still qualify for both programs. The childcare deduction alone will help a lot with your net income calculation. One thing I learned - if you can't get your BenefitsCal account fixed before your recertification deadline, you can still complete the process by phone or in person. Don't let the account lockout stress you out too much. The county workers can access everything on their end and walk you through the renewal even if you can't log in yourself. Also, definitely mention that your rent went up when you recertify - that higher shelter cost deduction might actually increase your CalFresh benefits compared to last year, even with the same income. Good luck!
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