CalFresh benefits dropped from $290 to $23 after SSI income counted - did they calculate wrong?

When SSI recipients became eligible for CalFresh in 2019, they created special calculation rules. The reduction makes sense IF they're applying the correct deductions. Here's what might be happening: 1. They should be giving her a standard deduction ~$200 2. She should get a shelter deduction if her rent/utilities exceed 50% of her countable income 3. She may qualify for a medical expense deduction if she spends more than $35/month on uncovered medical costs Did she report ALL her expenses during recertification? Many people don't realize you can deduct things like Medicare premiums, prescription costs, transportation to medical appointments, etc. Have her request a breakdown of how they calculated her benefit amount.

the SSI thing is weird cuz my grandma gets SSI too but they give her like $175 in calfresh. maybe they counted your moms income wrong? they always make mistakes on the paperwork i swear

I went through something EXACTLY like this with my aunt last year. The county worker told us that when someone gets SSI, they subtract 30% of that income and then calculate the CalFresh benefit from what's left. But the key is making sure they apply all possible deductions! In our case, they completely overlooked her medical expenses, which made a $140 difference in monthly benefits. We had to submit a formal appeal with copies of all her medical bills, prescription receipts, and transportation costs to appointments. They eventually fixed it retroactively and gave her back pay. Definitely call and request a detailed breakdown of the calculation. Make sure to ask specifically about the medical expense deduction and excess shelter cost deduction.

Trying to reach someone at calfresh who can actually fix this is gonna be the hardest part tbh. I spent THREE DAYS last month trying to get through about my messed up benefits. Kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours!!!! So frustrating!!!!

Theres somthing called the "excess shelter deduction" that should help her if her rent+utilities is more than half her income. With SSI of $1450 and rent+utilities of over $1000 she definetly qualifies! Also make sure they counted her SSI correctly - sometimes they mix up SSI and SSDI which have different rules. Good luck!!!

When they recertified my CalFresh last year, they made a similar mistake. The caseworker forgot to apply my utility allowance (called the SUA). Once they fixed that, my benefits went up by $80! Make sure your mom's worker is applying all allowable deductions: - Standard deduction - Medical expense deduction (if over $35/month) - Shelter cost deduction - Standard Utility Allowance If the worker doesn't fix it, ask to speak with a supervisor. If that doesn't work, request a state hearing right away - there's a 90-day deadline from when she got the notice. While waiting for the hearing, she can also request an "expedited state hearing" if she's facing a food emergency.

My neighbor went thru this exact thing!!!!! The key is to be SUPER specific about her expenses. Absolutely everything counts - even over-the-counter medications if doctor recommended them. Also don't let them rush your mom off the phone. Ask them to walk through the ENTIRE calculation step by step and have them explain how they arrived at $23. They hate doing this but its your right to understand!!!!

wait i just remembered something, my caseworker said something about a "minimum benefit" for SSI recipients? like even if the calculation comes out really low they're supposed to give you at least a certain amount? maybe ask about that too

Just an update from my earlier comment - I checked my notes from my aunt's case. The exact deduction we claimed was called the "Excess Medical Deduction" and it applies when medical expenses exceed $35 per month. We had to provide documentation for: 1. Prescription costs (receipts) 2. Over-the-counter medications recommended by doctor (with a note) 3. Medicare premiums 4. Transportation to medical appointments ($0.58/mile in 2025 plus parking fees) 5. Medical equipment not covered by insurance Once we submitted all this, her benefit increased by about $140/month. Make sure your mom saves EVERY receipt related to her health needs.

UPDATE: Just wanted to thank everyone for their advice! We called the county (it took forever to get through) and specifically asked about the medical expense deduction and shelter deduction. Turns out they didn't apply EITHER one! The worker recalculated her benefits on the spot and she should be getting $237/month now, which is much more reasonable. They're also giving her retroactive benefits for the month she was underpaid. The worker admitted they've been overwhelmed and sometimes miss applying these deductions if people don't specifically mention them. So lesson learned - always mention every possible deduction and expense!

That's such great news! I'm so glad you were able to get this resolved and that your mom will be getting the benefits she deserves. $237 is a huge improvement from $23! It's really unfortunate that the county workers don't automatically apply all the deductions people qualify for - seems like they should be trained to ask about medical expenses and shelter costs as standard procedure. Your experience will definitely help other people going through similar situations. Thanks for sharing the update and I hope your mom is able to get the food she needs now!

This is exactly why I always tell people to document EVERYTHING when dealing with CalFresh! It's so frustrating that caseworkers don't automatically apply all the deductions people qualify for - it almost seems like they're hoping folks won't know to ask. Your mom's situation is unfortunately super common with SSI recipients. One thing I'd add for anyone else reading this - if you're having trouble getting through to the county office, try calling right when they open (usually 8am) or during lunch hours when call volume might be lower. Also, if you get a caseworker who seems rushed or dismissive, politely ask to speak with their supervisor. You have the right to understand exactly how your benefits were calculated. Really glad you got this sorted out for your mom! $237 vs $23 is life-changing, especially for someone on a fixed income with dietary restrictions. Hope this thread helps other people avoid the same runaround.

Wow, what a journey but I'm so relieved this worked out for your mom! This thread is incredibly valuable - I had no idea that caseworkers weren't automatically applying these deductions. It really seems like there should be a standardized checklist they go through for SSI recipients to make sure they're getting all the deductions they qualify for. The fact that she went from $23 to $237 just by mentioning medical expenses and shelter costs shows how broken the system can be. I'm bookmarking this thread because I know several elderly neighbors who might be in similar situations and not even realize they're missing out on benefits. Thank you for taking the time to update us with the resolution - it gives hope to others dealing with the same frustrating bureaucracy. Your persistence really made the difference here!

This is such an important success story! As someone new to this community, I'm amazed at how helpful everyone has been in walking you through the process. It's really eye-opening to see how a $23 benefit turned into $237 just by knowing which deductions to ask for. What strikes me most is that your mom shouldn't have had to fight for benefits she was already entitled to. The fact that caseworkers aren't automatically checking for medical expense and shelter deductions for SSI recipients seems like a serious systemic issue. How many other elderly folks are getting shortchanged simply because they don't know the magic words to say during recertification? I'm definitely saving this thread for future reference - the detailed breakdown of what counts as medical expenses (including transportation costs!) is incredibly valuable. Thank you for taking the time to share both the problem and the solution. Your persistence not only helped your mom but will likely help many other families who find this thread when facing similar issues. Really glad your mom will now be able to afford the food she needs with her dietary restrictions!