CalFresh resource limits - how much can I have in savings + car payments question

dont worry about ur bank account money!! calfresh doesnt count resources anymore for most ppl. they used to have a $2,250 limit but they got rid of that in CA like years ago. only thing that matters is income

The previous commenter is correct - CalFresh in California no longer has a resource test for most households. This means your bank account balance won't affect your eligibility. They only look at your income. The $2,250 resource limit ($3,750 for households with elderly or disabled members) was eliminated in California several years ago. As for your car payment, that's also not an issue for eligibility. Your car is considered a resource (which isn't counted anyway), and the payment is just part of your monthly expenses. However, if your car payment is very high compared to your income, they might question your overall financial situation during the interview. With your income at $1,900/month working part-time, you're likely within the gross income limit for a single-person household, which is approximately $2,750/month for 2025. During your interview, make sure to mention any housing costs, utilities, and childcare expenses if applicable, as these can increase your benefit amount through deductions.

When did you apply? Have they scheduled your phone interview yet? That's when they'll go over all these details with you. I had to wait almost 3 weeks for mine and was stressing the whole time about my finances too. They should make all this clearer on the application!!!

It took about 30 days total for me. The interview was the worst part because they kept calling from blocked numbers when I wasn't expecting it. I missed two calls before finally connecting. Once I got approved, I got my EBT card about a week later. Make sure you answer ANY call for the next few weeks, even unknown numbers!

One thing to keep in mind - they'll likely ask for verification documents during your interview. Have your ID, proof of income (pay stubs from the last 30 days), proof of address, and any bills ready. For your car payment, having your loan statement handy might be useful. Also, while your resources/savings don't count against eligibility, they DO still ask about them for verification purposes and to make sure you're not hiding income. That's why the application asks for bank info even though there's no resource test. With your income level, you'll likely qualify, but the exact benefit amount depends on your household size and expenses. A single person with your income would probably get around $150-200/month in benefits for 2025.

Thanks everyone for the helpful answers! Feeling much better about my application now. I'll make sure to have all my documents ready for the interview and answer any call that comes through. Still worried they might take a while to process everything, but at least I know my savings and car payment won't be an issue. Will update once I hear anything!

does anyone know if they backdated payments? like if it takes them 30 days to approve me will i get food money for that whole month or just from when they approve me??

Hey Sean! I'm new to this whole CalFresh thing too and was stressing about similar stuff. Reading through everyone's responses here has been super helpful. I just wanted to add that when I applied last month, they also asked about my rent and utility bills during the interview - apparently these can help increase your benefit amount through deductions. Since you're working part-time, make sure to mention all your housing costs! Also, totally agree with what others said about answering unknown calls - I almost missed my interview because I didn't recognize the number. Good luck with your application!