Can I still get CalFresh rental assistance if I'm getting LIHEAP utility help?

CalFresh dosnt pay rent lol. Its for FOOD only. Thats why its called CalFRESH. Your thinking of CalWORKs maybe?

There's some confusion here that I can clear up. CalFresh (food stamps) doesn't directly pay for rent, but your rent and utility costs are used in calculating your benefit amount. When you get LIHEAP assistance, it doesn't count as income, so it won't reduce your CalFresh benefits. What your caseworker probably meant was that CalFresh uses a "standard utility allowance" in their benefit calculations. When you pay for utilities separately from rent, they factor this into your total shelter costs, which can increase your CalFresh benefit amount. Even though you're getting LIHEAP, you're still responsible for utilities, so you should still qualify for the utility allowance in your CalFresh calculation. Your CalFresh amount shouldn't decrease because of LIHEAP.

I went through this EXACT same thing last year!!! The welfare office is TERRIBLE at explaining this stuff!! It's so frustrating! Yes, LIHEAP helps with utilities and CalFresh is for food - BUT they are connected in the calculations. When I got LIHEAP, I panicked too, but my CalFresh actually stayed the same amount. They still counted my utility costs in my CalFresh calculation even though I got help paying the actual bill. But you should DEF apply for CalWORKS if you need rent help. That's the program that can actually help with housing costs. The application is a pain but worth it!!

To add a bit more clarity: CalFresh uses the Shelter Deduction which includes both rent and utilities when calculating your benefits. The maximum shelter deduction for 2025 is $713 for most households. When you receive LIHEAP, you automatically qualify for what's called the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) in your CalFresh calculations, which is currently $463 in California. This is actually beneficial because they count this standard amount even if your actual utility costs are lower. So in summary: 1. LIHEAP doesn't count as income 2. Getting LIHEAP automatically qualifies you for the SUA in your CalFresh calculation 3. This often results in maximum food benefits For your rent concerns, look into these programs: - CalWORKs (if you have children and meet other requirements) - Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) - Emergency Rental Assistance Program You should report the LIHEAP on your next SAR7, but mark it as "non-reportable" income.

Been there!!! Calling the county is a nightmare when u need answers about this stuff. I spent 3 days trying to get through to someone about a similar question last month. You might wanna try using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to skip the phone wait times - they call and wait on hold for you then connect you when a real person answers. Saved me hours! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Anyway, for your actual question - my experience was that LIHEAP didn't affect my CalFresh at all. They still counted my utilities in the calculation even though I got help paying them.

I think everyones missing the bigger issue here - $2350 for rent in Oakland with 2 kids?? Thats WAY too much on CalFresh income levels! You need to be looking at subsidized housing ASAP. The waitlists are long but at least get on them now. Oakland Housing Authority sometimes opens Section 8 waitlist applications. That would help WAY more than worrying about how LIHEAP affects your CalFresh.

my sister gets both and they dont effect eachother

One important clarification I want to add: you mentioned your caseworker talked about "utility allowance calculations." This refers to the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) I mentioned earlier. Receiving LIHEAP actually HELPS your CalFresh calculation because: 1) It automatically qualifies you for the full SUA ($463) in your benefit calculation 2) This often maximizes your shelter deduction 3) A higher shelter deduction typically means more CalFresh benefits So if anything, LIHEAP might indirectly help your CalFresh benefits, not hurt them. The most important thing is to accurately report your rent and dependent care costs on your application and SAR7 forms, as these have the biggest impact on your benefit amount.

Just wanted to add that you should definitely keep all your LIHEAP paperwork! When you do your next SAR7 or recertification, make sure to bring documentation showing the LIHEAP assistance was for utilities specifically. Sometimes county workers get confused and might try to count it as income if they don't understand what it is. Also, since you're in Oakland, you might want to check out the Alameda County Community Food Bank - they have additional food assistance programs that can help stretch your CalFresh benefits further. They also sometimes have info about other local rental assistance programs that might have shorter wait times than Section 8. Hang in there! It sounds like you're doing everything right by getting all the help you can for your family.