CalFresh 2025 inflation adjustment missing? Still receiving only $150 for family of 4

The October adjustment doesn't happen automatically for everyone. If your income or household expenses recently changed, you might need to submit updated info. We went from $175 to $210 for our family of 3, but only after I reported our rent increase on the SAR7 last month. Call ur county office and ask specifically about the "COLA adjustment" (cost of living adjustment). They might need updated expense info.

The 2025 CalFresh inflation adjustment (officially called the Cost of Living Adjustment or COLA) should have been applied automatically to all active cases on October 1st. The increase this year was approximately 12-15% for most households. With a family of 4, you should definitely be receiving more than $150 - that amount seems unusually low even before the adjustment. There are a few possible explanations: 1. Your household has significant income that reduces your benefit amount 2. There might be a processing delay in your county's system 3. There could be an error in your case classification I would recommend calling your county office immediately to inquire about both the COLA adjustment and why your overall benefit amount is so low for a family of 4. Make sure all your deductions are properly counted (rent/mortgage, utilities, childcare expenses, and medical expenses for elderly/disabled members if applicable).

THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME!!! I only get $215 for me and my two kids and there was NO increase this month! Called the customer service number and sat on hold for 45 MINUTES before getting disconnected. This system is completely broken. They announced this big increase all over the news but then don't actually give it to people who need it most. I bet they're hoping we just don't notice or give up trying to get what we deserve. So frustrating!!!

There's actually been some confusion about the 2025 COLA for CalFresh. Not all counties implemented it on exactly October 1st - some are rolling it out throughout the month. Also, the adjustment amount varies based on your specific situation and isn't the same percentage for everyone. One important thing to check: did you complete your Semi-Annual Report (SAR7) or annual recertification recently? If there were any issues with those, your benefits might be on hold. Also, sometimes when they process the adjustment, they review your case and might find other issues. $150 for a family of 4 does sound quite low though. The maximum for a family of 4 with no income in 2025 is around $1020, so you're getting significantly less than the maximum. Definitely worth calling about!

ive been on calfresh for 3 years and every october they adjust the amounts. but my worker told me that the system does it in batches so not everyone gets the increase on the same day. some people might not see it until mid-october depending on your case number. its super annoying how they do it but i would wait another week before panicking. also $150 for a family of 4 seems really low, are you sure thats calfresh and not some other benefit?

I'm wondering if there might be an issue with how your income is being calculated. With a household of 4, gross monthly income of $2900, rent of $1850, and utilities of $230, you should qualify for more than $150 in CalFresh benefits. Here's why: 1. Your shelter costs (rent + utilities) are over 50% of your net income, which should qualify you for the excess shelter deduction 2. Each working adult in the household qualifies for a 20% earned income deduction 3. Each household gets a standard deduction (about $215 for a family of 4) After all these deductions, your net income for CalFresh calculation would likely be much lower, resulting in higher benefits. When you call your county office, specifically ask them to review these deductions on your case. Also make sure they have the correct household size and that all income is being reported accurately.

maybe u got the emrgency allotment confused with the COLA? the emergency extra benefits ended in 2023 but some people still think theyre getting them. the COLA is just a small adjustment for inflation not a big increase like the pandemic benefits were

Update: I called this morning after gathering all our expense info. Turns out there were TWO issues: 1) They had my husband's income entered incorrectly - they had him earning $600 more per month than he actually does! 2) They didn't have our updated rent amount. After fixing both issues, our benefits are going up to $380 per month plus the COLA adjustment which will make it about $425! That's a HUGE difference from $150. The worker said the changes should show up in the next issuance. Thank you all for encouraging me to call and for explaining what to ask about!

This is such great news! I'm so glad you called and got everything straightened out. Going from $150 to $425 is life-changing for a family of 4. Your story is a perfect example of why it's so important to advocate for yourself and not just accept what you're given. Income reporting errors happen way too often in the system, and many people probably don't even realize their benefits are calculated wrong. Thanks for sharing the update - it will definitely help other families who might be in similar situations know that it's worth making that call even when it seems overwhelming!