CalFresh income limits for family of 3 in Kern County 2025 - urgent help needed

The income limits for CalFresh are actually the same across all California counties, including Kern. For 2025, the gross monthly income limit for a household of 3 is $3,479. Your combined income of $3,200 is under that limit, so you should still qualify! But remember you'll need to report both incomes on your application or SAR7. Good luck!

Just to add some more detailed info - there are actually two income tests for CalFresh: gross income (before deductions) and net income (after deductions). For a household of 3 in 2025: Gross monthly income limit: $3,479 Net monthly income limit: $2,684 But here's the good news - when they calculate your net income, they take deductions for things like: - 20% deduction from earned income - Standard deduction of $198 for household of 1-3 - Excess shelter costs (rent/utilities that exceed half your income after other deductions) - Childcare expenses necessary for work So your actual qualifying income could be higher than you think! Make sure to provide all these details when you apply.

i live in kern county and just got approved last week. they will ask for proof of residency for everyone in the household and income verification for both workers. they wanted my pay stubs for the last 30 days. also they might ask for rent agreement to verify your household size changed.

Just a heads up - make sure you report this household change ASAP on your SAR7 or by calling your county worker. If you're already getting CalFresh and your household size increases but you delay reporting it, you could miss out on higher benefits you're entitled to. When your household size goes from 2 to 3, your benefit amount should increase even with the additional income. Don't wait for your next regular reporting period if that's months away!

I've been on CalFresh in Kern County for years, and let me tell you trying to get through to the county office is IMPOSSIBLE. I spent THREE DAYS trying to report a change last month and kept getting disconnected or stuck on hold for hours. I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that holds your place in line and calls you back when a worker is available. Saved me so much frustration! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Totally worth checking out if you need to actually talk to someone about your specific situation.

Be carful about reporting ur sister moving in!! My cousin did this and they counted her income but she wasnt buying or preparing food with them and they ended up getting LESS benefits!! Make sure ur sister is actually sharing food with u guys or they might count her income but not count her as part of ur household size for benefits calculation and ull end up with less food stamps!!

im confused about something - does the income limit change if someone in the household is disabled or elderly? my mom might move in with us next year and she's on SSI

Thank you all so much for the helpful information! I just submitted our application online through BenefitsCal. I included all the info about my sister moving in and our current income situation. Hopefully it all goes smoothly! I'll update when I hear back about our eligibility.

Best of luck with your application! Just wanted to add that if you need any documents translated or have language barriers during the process, Kern County is required to provide interpretation services for free. Also, don't be discouraged if they ask for additional verification - it's pretty standard. They might want proof that your sister actually lives with you now (like a utility bill with her name, or a statement from you both confirming she's moved in). The whole process can take up to 30 days, but often it's faster. Keep us posted on how it goes!