CalFresh benefits dropped from $274 to $49 after emergency allotments ended - any way to increase regular benefits?

Unfortunately, those extra emergency allotments officially ended in February 2023, and there's been no federal replacement program created. Your regular benefit amount is calculated based on your income, expenses, and household size using a standard formula. However, there ARE ways you might be able to increase your regular benefit amount. Make sure you're claiming all possible deductions: 1. Medical expenses over $35/month if you're over 60 (which you are) 2. Actual housing costs including utilities 3. Any out-of-pocket healthcare costs including prescription medications, doctor visits, and even over-the-counter medications prescribed by a doctor Many seniors don't realize they can deduct medical expenses which can significantly increase benefits. Have you reported ALL your medical costs to your caseworker?

The whole system is RIGGED!! I lost my emergency benefits too and now get $23 A MONTH for a family of 2!! How is anyone supposed to survive?? Grocery prices are ASTRONOMICAL and meanwhile they cut our benefits like we're supposed to just magically find more money. Politicians don't care about regular people trying to survive. They give billions in corporate welfare but can't help seniors eat?? It's DISGUSTING!!

Hi there, I'm a community resource specialist and work with seniors on benefits issues. The $49 amount is likely calculated based on the standard formula, but there are several ways you might qualify for more: 1. Medical Expense Deduction: Since you're over 60, you can deduct medical expenses over $35/month. This includes prescriptions, doctor visits, Medicare premiums, transportation to medical appointments, and even medically recommended OTC items. This can significantly increase your benefit amount. 2. Standard Medical Deduction: California uses a Standard Medical Deduction of $120 if you have at least $35 in monthly medical expenses, which is easier than tracking every expense. 3. Utility Allowance: Make sure you're getting the correct utility allowance in your calculation. 4. Request recertification: Ask for a new review of your case with ALL these deductions properly documented. You'll need to contact your county office and request a reassessment with these deductions. Bring documentation of your medical expenses for the past 3 months.

have u applied 4 CSFP? Its the Commodity Supplemental Food Program 4 seniors 60+ it gives u a box of food every month. not a ton but helps. also food banks r giving more now cuz of the emergency benefits ending. google 2-1-1 for ur county to find ones near u

Try using Claimyr to get through to the CalFresh office. I was in the same situation (got reduced from $250 to $45) and needed to talk to a real person. I kept getting disconnected after waiting forever. Someone told me about Claimyr.com which gets you through to a worker without the wait - worked perfectly and I got a real person in 5 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Once I got through, they helped me report my medical expenses which increased my monthly amount by $76!

@skepticalme - yes it really does work! Think of it as doing the waiting for you. Don't know exactly how they do it but I got through in 5 minutes after trying for 3 days on my own. The worker I spoke with actually said lots of people are using it now because their call center is overwhelmed since the emergency allotments ended.

One other thing to consider - if your medical expenses are very high relative to your income, you might also qualify for the Medicare Savings Program which could cover your Medicare premiums, giving you a bit more money each month. And definitely use the medical expense deduction for CalFresh as others have mentioned - it's specifically designed for seniors in your situation.

UPDATE: I finally got through to a CalFresh worker yesterday! I used the Claimyr service someone recommended, and it worked perfectly - connected me to a live person in about 7 minutes. The worker was super helpful and had me submit my medical receipts and costs from the past 3 months. She said with my medical expenses, I'll likely qualify for around $130-150 per month instead of $49! The new amount should be reflected in next month's benefits. She also sent me information about senior food programs in my area. Thank you all for your help - I would never have known about the medical deduction without this community!

awsome! glad u got help! my grandma did the same thing n her benefits went up 2. its crazy they dont tell seniors about this when they apply!!

This is such great news to hear! Your story gives me hope that there are still ways to navigate these complex systems when you know what to ask for. It's really frustrating that caseworkers don't automatically inform seniors about medical expense deductions during the application process - it should be standard practice to explain all available deductions, especially for older adults who are more likely to have significant medical costs. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation, Rami's experience shows how important it is to advocate for yourself and seek out all the deductions you're entitled to. The difference between $49 and $130-150 per month is literally the difference between being able to afford basic nutrition or not. I'm curious - did the worker mention anything about whether you might be eligible for any other programs or if there are any upcoming changes to CalFresh that might affect seniors? Thanks for sharing your update and helping others in the community!

This whole thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who works with seniors in my community, I see this situation constantly - people getting their benefits slashed when emergency allotments ended, not knowing about medical deductions they're entitled to, and struggling to get through to overwhelmed county offices. Rami, I'm so glad you were able to get your benefits increased! Your experience highlights a huge gap in the system - caseworkers should be proactively helping seniors identify all available deductions during initial applications and recertifications, not waiting for people to stumble across this information online or through word of mouth. For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar situation, here are a few additional resources to consider: - Contact your local Area Agency on Aging - they often have benefits counselors who specialize in helping seniors navigate CalFresh, Medicare Savings Programs, and other assistance - Check if your county has a Senior Legal Aid program that can help advocate for proper benefit calculations - Document everything - keep copies of medical receipts, utility bills, and any correspondence with your caseworker The difference between $49 and $150 per month is life-changing when you're on a fixed income. Thanks for sharing your story and helping other community members learn about options they might not have known existed!