CalFresh estimate for family of 4 in San Diego with $2000 monthly income?
Can someone tell me roughly how much CalFresh benefits my family might qualify for? We're in San Diego county with 2 adults, a 2-year-old, and a 3-month-old baby. Our household income is around $2,000 per month (varies a little with my partner's hours). Just trying to figure out if applying is worth the hassle. Heard the amount depends on rent too? We pay $1,850 for a small 2-bedroom apartment. Thanks!
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Eva St. Cyr
With that income and family size, you'll likely qualify for a decent amount of CalFresh benefits! The maximum monthly allotment for a family of 4 in 2025 is around $1,050, but your actual amount will depend on your net income after deductions. Since your rent is $1,850, you'll get a good housing deduction. You also get deductions for childcare expenses if you have any. Plus having an infant under 1 year old can qualify you for additional deductions through the WIC program that complements CalFresh. Based on the numbers you provided, I'd estimate you could receive between $600-$800 monthly in CalFresh benefits. Definitely worth applying!
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
•Wow that would be a HUGE help for us! So apply thru BenefitsCal website or should I go to the county office in person?
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Kristian Bishop
I have almost your exact situation - 2 kids (3 & 1), similar income, and we get $750/month in San Diego. The application was annoying but SO WORTH IT. Apply online through BenefitsCal and be prepared to submit your ID, pay stubs, rent agreement, and utility bills. They're really picky about verifying income.
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
•Thanks for sharing! Did they process your application quickly? I've heard horror stories about waiting forever.
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Kaitlyn Otto
Don't listen to the exact numbers people are throwing at you - every case is different! I make $2100 with 2 kids in SD county and only got $430. Depends on your exact expenses, work deductions, childcare costs etc. But DEFINITELY apply - even $430 extra for food makes a huge difference for my family.
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Axel Far
•This is actually good advice - my sister and I have nearly identical situations but she gets $120 more than me somehow. The calculations are weird.
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Jasmine Hernandez
just an fyi they calculate based on NET income not gross so ur actual qualifying income might be lower than u think after taxes which means MORE benefits! but warning they take FOREVER to process applications lately ugh took me 28 days even tho legally supposed to be 30 max
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Luis Johnson
•To clarify this point: CalFresh does look at gross income first for eligibility, then calculates benefits based on net income after deductions. For a family of 4 in 2025, the gross monthly income limit is about $3,250, so OP is well within that limit at $2,000. And yes, processing times have been longer lately, especially in San Diego County. If you've submitted your application and it's been more than 2 weeks without hearing anything, I recommend using the Claimyr service (claimyr.com) to get through to a live worker. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. It saved me hours of hold time when I needed to check on my delayed application.
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Ellie Kim
I'd guess around $700 based on what you shared, but honestly everyone's situation varies. Make sure to include ALL your expenses when you apply - they look at rent, utilities, childcare, medical expenses. Also, since you have an infant, you should apply for WIC at the same time if you haven't already. The two programs work well together and WIC provides specific items for babies and young children.
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
•We do have WIC already! It helps but honestly those tiny jars of baby food add up so fast, and the milk and eggs for my toddler... groceries are just insane right now in San Diego.
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Axel Far
When u apply make sure ur utilities aren't included in rent!! If u pay even ONE utility separate (like electricity or internet) u can get the standard utility allowance which is a big deduction!!
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Eva St. Cyr
•This is excellent advice! The Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) for 2025 is about $520 in California, which means your benefit calculation will deduct that full amount from your income rather than just what you actually pay for utilities. It can significantly increase your monthly benefit amount.
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Kristian Bishop
Just wanted to add - make sure you're ready for the interview part. They'll call you (sometimes from a blocked/unknown number) after you submit your application. If you miss the call, it can delay your benefits by WEEKS. Keep your phone with you at all times after applying.
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Kaitlyn Otto
•They're required to schedule the interview with you in advance. If they didn't and just called randomly, you should file a complaint. I've gone through this three times and they always send me a letter or text with the interview date/time. But yes, absolutely answer that call when it comes!
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
Thank you everyone for the helpful info! Going to apply today through BenefitsCal. Sounds like we'll probably get around $600-750 which would be life-changing for our grocery budget honestly. Will make sure to document everything clearly and answer when they call for the interview!
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Eva St. Cyr
•Great decision! One last tip: after you're approved, you'll get a plastic EBT card that works like a debit card. Many farmers markets in San Diego County offer "Market Match" which doubles your CalFresh dollars (usually up to $10 per visit) when buying fresh fruits and vegetables. It's an amazing way to stretch your benefits and get healthy food.
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