CalFresh eligibility for foster parents - can we qualify while receiving foster care payments?

This is actually a great question with a somewhat complicated answer. For CalFresh, you have two options on how to apply: 1. You can exclude the foster children from your CalFresh household. This means their income (foster care payments) won't count against your eligibility, but they also won't count toward your household size, and you can't use CalFresh benefits to buy food for them. 2. You can include the foster children in your CalFresh household. If you do this, you must count the foster care payments as income, but the children will increase your household size and you can use CalFresh to buy food for everyone. For most foster families, option #1 usually works better financially because foster care payments often put you over the income limits if counted. As for WIC - yes! Foster children under 5 automatically qualify for WIC regardless of your income. Your 4-year-old would definitely qualify, and WIC doesn't count foster care payments as income when determining your eligibility.

im a foster parent too and i get wic for my 3 yr old foster daughter. its been super helpful for milk and cereal and stuff. they dont count the foster payments at all for wic. but for calfresh we couldnt get it because me and my husbands income was already over the limit even without counting the foster payment. you should definitely apply for wic tho!!!

I work with resource families and can clarify a few things: 1. Foster care payments are legally NOT counted as income for the foster parent(s) for tax purposes. 2. For CalFresh, you have the OPTION to include or exclude foster children from your household. Most families find it beneficial to exclude them since the foster care payment is typically more than the additional CalFresh benefit you'd get from increasing household size. 3. WIC is completely separate from CalFresh. All foster children under 5 automatically qualify regardless of your income. Apply at your local WIC office (not the county CalFresh office). 4. For the 7-year-old, they may qualify for free school meals automatically as a foster child. I recommend applying for both programs separately and seeing what you qualify for. Your employment income is what determines your own CalFresh eligibility if you exclude the foster children.

I'll probably get downvoted for this but... I think the system is TOTALLY UNFAIR to foster parents! We're taking care of the state's children but they won't even help with food?? The foster care payment barely covers expenses as it is. My sister is a foster mom and she's constantly struggling because everything is so expensive now. The state expects us to care for these kids but doesn't provide enough support. It's ridiculous that you even have to ask this question!!

We have 3 foster kids and I just went through this whole process last month! Here's what I learned:: Firstly, definitely apply for WIC for your 4 year old! Super easy to qualify and helps a lot with basics. For CalFresh, we tried both scenarios on the application (including kids and excluding kids) and found that excluding them worked better for us. Our own income qualified for a small CalFresh amount, and then we use the foster care payment for the kids' food. One thing nobody told us: if your 7-year-old is in school, they automatically qualify for free school breakfast and lunch as a foster child! This helped us TONS with food costs. Just let the school know they're a foster child. Groceries are seriously crazy expensive now so I totally get why you're asking. No judgment here - we're all just trying to provide for these kiddos the best we can!

Thanks everyone for the really helpful responses! I'm going to apply for WIC right away for the 4-year-old, and I'll try applying for CalFresh just for myself (excluding the foster children) to see if I qualify based on just my income. I'll also talk to the school about the free meal program - I didn't realize that was automatic for foster kids! It's definitely a learning curve figuring out all these different programs. I appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and knowledge!

wic appoitment was pretty easy! just bring id and something showing you have custody of the kid. they gave us a card that works like debit at the store but only for certain foods. theres an app that tells you what you can buy its really helpful!

WHY ARE GROCERIES SO EXPENSIVE NOW??? I spend like twice what I did 2 years ago for the same stuff! Foster parent or not, everyone's struggling with food costs these days.

I want to add one important point: the rules about foster care payments and CalFresh eligibility have been updated several times in recent years, so sometimes even county eligibility workers give outdated information. If you're told something that contradicts what you've learned here, ask to speak with a supervisor or request a written policy reference. Also, your situation as a foster parent might change your eligibility for other programs like LIHEAP (utility assistance) or subsidized childcare, which can free up more of your budget for groceries. It's worth asking about these programs when you apply for CalFresh or WIC.

Just wanted to add a practical tip from my experience as a foster parent of 3 years - when you apply for CalFresh excluding the foster kids, make sure to keep your pay stubs and any documentation showing ONLY your employment income. The county workers sometimes get confused about what income to count when foster care is involved. Also, if you're struggling with grocery costs right now, check if your local food banks have any restrictions about foster families. Most don't, and it can really help bridge the gap while you're waiting for benefit approvals. Some food banks even have special programs for families with young children. The learning curve is steep but you're doing great asking these questions! The kids are lucky to have someone who cares enough to figure out all these programs to make sure they're well-fed.

Just wanted to chime in as someone who's been navigating benefits for a while - the advice here about WIC and CalFresh is spot on! One thing I'd add is to apply for both programs as soon as possible because there can be waiting periods, especially for CalFresh. Also, since you mentioned groceries being expensive, you might want to look into local farmers markets that accept WIC or CalFresh benefits. Many have double-value programs where your benefits go twice as far for fresh produce. And some stores like Walmart and Target have pickup services that can help you stick to your benefit amounts without impulse purchases. The foster care system can be overwhelming with all the different programs available, but you're asking all the right questions! Your kids are going to be well taken care of.

I'm still pretty new to navigating all these benefit programs myself, but I wanted to share something I just learned that might help! For finding farmers markets with double-value programs, you can check the USDA's SNAP Retailer Locator website - it shows which markets accept CalFresh/SNAP benefits. Many markets that accept SNAP also participate in programs like Market Match or Double Up Food Bucks where your benefits get doubled for fresh produce purchases. Also, I've heard from other community members that some areas have "Fresh Connect" programs specifically designed to help families access fresh produce at reduced costs. Your local WIC office might have information about these programs too since they often work together. The fact that you're thinking ahead about all these resources shows you're really prioritizing good nutrition for your foster kids. It's clear you care a lot about providing for them well!

As someone who's still learning about all these programs, I wanted to add that you might also want to look into your local 211 service (just dial 2-1-1). They can connect you with food resources in your area and help you navigate which programs you qualify for as a foster parent. I've heard they're really helpful for getting a comprehensive overview of what's available locally. Also, since you mentioned the 7-year-old, don't forget about summer meal programs when school's out! Many community centers, libraries, and parks offer free meals for kids during summer break, and foster children usually qualify automatically. You're doing such an important thing by taking in these kids, and it's totally understandable that you want to make sure you can provide well for them. The community here has given such great advice - definitely try the WIC and CalFresh applications, and don't hesitate to ask questions along the way!

I'm still learning about all these programs myself, but I wanted to share something that might help with the grocery costs while you're getting these benefits sorted out. I've heard from other community members that some areas have "mobile food pantries" that visit different neighborhoods on rotating schedules - these can be really helpful for families with young kids since you don't have to travel to a fixed location. Also, if you're comfortable with it, you might want to connect with other foster families in your area. I've noticed that experienced foster parents often share resources and tips about navigating all these different programs. Your local foster parent association or support group might have members who've already figured out the best combination of benefits for your county. It sounds like you're really thinking through all the options to make sure these kids are well-fed, which is so important. The advice here about WIC and excluding the foster kids from CalFresh seems really solid based on what everyone's shared!

I'm also pretty new to navigating benefit programs, but I wanted to add something that might be helpful while you're getting everything set up. I recently learned that many counties have online pre-screening tools for CalFresh and other benefits - you can get a quick estimate of what you might qualify for before doing the full application. It might help you figure out whether to include or exclude the foster kids from your CalFresh application based on your specific income situation. Also, since you mentioned being new to the foster system, your caseworker or the agency you're working with might have additional resources they haven't mentioned yet. Sometimes they have partnerships with local food banks or know about emergency assistance programs specifically for foster families. You're asking all the right questions and it's clear you really care about providing well for these kids. The combination of WIC for the 4-year-old, potentially CalFresh for yourself, and free school meals for the 7-year-old should definitely help with the grocery costs!