Can homeowners qualify for CalFresh? Just bought a house but struggling to feed family of 6

yes u can totally get calfresh even if u own a house! owning a home doesnt automatically make u not eligible its all about income and household size. my sister owns her condo and still gets benefits for her and her kids

Homeownership is NOT a disqualifier for CalFresh eligibility. CalFresh is primarily based on your household income and size, not assets like homes or vehicles. For a family of 6 in 2025, the gross monthly income limit is approximately $5,425 and net income limit around $4,175. What matters most is: - Your current household income - Number of people in your household - Monthly expenses (mortgage, utilities, childcare) In fact, you can deduct certain housing costs including your mortgage payment and property taxes when calculating your net income, which might actually help you qualify for more benefits. Don't hesitate to apply - with 4 children, you could be eligible for significant assistance.

When I bought my house last year I was SURE I wouldn't qualify anymore, but I was wrong!! They actually take your housing costs into account when figuring out your benefit amount. For a family of 6 you might get a pretty decent amount of food assistance. Just make sure you report ALL your income and expenses accurately on the application. And be prepared to provide proof of everything - they asked me for mortgage statements, utility bills, paystubs, etc.

congrats on the house! thats huge! but yeah food is crazy expensive now especially with 4 kids, i get it. apply for sure, worst they can say is no right?

It's a common misconception that homeowners don't qualify for CalFresh. The program doesn't have an asset test, so owning a home doesn't disqualify you. What matters is your income relative to your household size and expenses. For a family of 6, you could receive up to $1,450/month in CalFresh benefits in 2025 if you qualify for the maximum amount. Make sure to report: • All earned and unearned income • Your mortgage payment and property taxes • Utility costs (ask about the Standard Utility Allowance) • Any childcare expenses • Medical expenses for elderly or disabled household members All these deductions help increase your potential benefit amount. Apply through BenefitsCal.com or your local county office.

I don't know why people think owning a house means ur rich lol. We own our home and still struggle every month!! The mortgage is KILLING US. CalFresh has been a huge help for our family. Just make sure you send in all your documents quickly so it doesn't delay your application.

I work for a community resource center and help people apply for benefits all the time. I can confirm that homeownership is NOT a factor in CalFresh eligibility. However, be prepared for potential delays in the application process. The county offices are severely understaffed right now and many of my clients are experiencing long wait times. If you need to speak with a worker about your application status or have urgent questions, I recommend using Claimyr.com to get through to a live person faster. They have a service that helps you bypass the hold queues. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Might save you hours of frustration, especially if you're trying to get benefits started quickly for your family.

FAIR WARNING - make sure you keep ALL your approval paperwork and benefit statements!!! When I got CalFresh after buying my house, they miscalculated my benefits 6 months in and tried to say I owed them $900 in overpayments. Had to fight with them for weeks to prove I reported everything correctly. The system is a mess sometimes.

doesnt ur mortgage payment count as a deduction or something? my cousin said that actually helped her get more benefits bc housing is so expensive now

UPDATE: I submitted our application online yesterday through BenefitsCal and just got a call for an interview scheduled next week! The worker I spoke with confirmed that owning our home isn't an issue at all. She actually seemed surprised I was worried about that. Thanks everyone for the encouragement and advice. Will update again after the interview!

So glad to see you got the interview scheduled! Just want to add that having all your kids' information ready is super important too - birth certificates, social security cards, school enrollment records, etc. They need to verify everyone in your household. Also, if any of your kids get free lunch at school, mention that during the interview as it can sometimes help with the application process. You're doing great advocating for your family - homeownership should never be a barrier to getting the food assistance you need!

Just wanted to chime in as another homeowner who successfully got CalFresh! We bought our house right before the pandemic and our income took a huge hit. I was also convinced we wouldn't qualify because of the mortgage, but thankfully I was wrong. The key thing that helped us was being super organized with all our paperwork from day one. I created a folder with copies of everything - mortgage statements, property tax bills, utility bills, pay stubs, bank statements, kids' documents, everything. Made the whole process so much smoother. Also don't forget to ask about the Utility Standard Allowance during your interview - it's usually higher than your actual utility costs and can boost your benefits. Wishing your family the best of luck! Having that food security makes such a difference when you're trying to get back on your feet after a major purchase like a house.

Just wanted to add that you should also ask about the CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program (RMP) if you qualify! Some counties in California allow certain CalFresh recipients to use their benefits at participating restaurants. This can be really helpful when you're juggling mortgage payments and don't always have time to cook from scratch with 4 kids. Not all counties participate and there are specific eligibility requirements, but it's worth asking about during your interview. Also, once you get approved, look into local food banks and pantries in your area - they often have fresh produce and can help stretch your CalFresh benefits even further. Many don't require proof of income if you're already receiving government assistance. Hope your interview goes smoothly!

Homeownership definitely doesn't disqualify you from CalFresh! I'm a single mom who bought a small house two years ago and I still receive benefits for me and my two kids. The caseworker explained that they look at your monthly income versus expenses, not what assets you own. Your mortgage payment actually works in your favor because it counts as a housing cost deduction. With 4 kids, you should definitely apply - the benefit amounts for larger families can be really substantial. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about needing help either. You bought a house to provide stability for your family, and there's nothing wrong with getting food assistance while you adjust to the new expenses. Good luck with everything!

As someone who works in social services, I want to emphasize that homeownership is actually protected under CalFresh rules - your primary residence is considered an exempt resource regardless of its value. What really matters for your family of 6 is meeting the income guidelines and properly documenting your expenses. Make sure to bring documentation of ALL your housing costs to the interview - mortgage payment, property taxes, homeowner's insurance, and any PMI you might be paying. These all count toward your shelter deduction. Also, with 4 school-age children, you may want to ask about other programs you might qualify for simultaneously like WIC if you have younger kids, or reduced-cost school meals if your older ones don't already have them. The eligibility often overlaps and can provide additional food security for your family during this transition period.

Congratulations on your first home! That's such a huge accomplishment, especially with 4 kids. I just want to echo what everyone else has said - homeownership absolutely does NOT disqualify you from CalFresh. I was in a very similar situation when we bought our house 3 years ago. Family of 5, completely house poor after closing, and worried we wouldn't qualify for help because we "owned property." Turns out the caseworker told me that's one of the most common misconceptions she hears. Your mortgage payment actually helps you qualify for MORE benefits because it's a major expense they factor in. With your family size, you could potentially get substantial assistance. Don't hesitate to apply - your kids need food security and that's what the program is designed for. You're being a great parent by exploring all available resources to take care of your family during this adjustment period!

You're definitely making the right choice by applying! I've been a homeowner and CalFresh recipient for over a year now and it's been a lifesaver. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - when you go to your interview, bring your most recent property tax assessment too if you have it. Some caseworkers ask for it, others don't, but having it ready can speed things up. Also, if you're currently between paychecks or your income varies month to month (like if you or your husband do any freelance or seasonal work), make sure to explain that clearly. They can work with fluctuating income situations. The fact that you're already getting your interview scheduled so quickly is a great sign! Most counties are really backed up right now so that tells me they're prioritizing families with children. You've got this - providing food security for your kids while you get settled in your new home is exactly what this program is designed for. Your family deserves this support!

Just wanted to add my experience as another homeowner who successfully got CalFresh! We bought our house 18 months ago and I was terrified to apply because I thought owning property would automatically disqualify us. Turns out I was completely wrong - the caseworker actually laughed (nicely) when I mentioned my concern and said that's probably the #1 myth she hears. What really helped us was calculating our debt-to-income ratio beforehand so I could clearly explain our financial situation during the interview. Even though we "own" a house, between the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, and utilities, we're spending over 60% of our income just on housing costs. Add in groceries for 3 kids and we were really struggling. The benefits have been such a relief and allowed us to actually enjoy our new home instead of constantly stressing about food costs. Don't let anyone make you feel like you don't deserve help just because you managed to buy a house - homeownership doesn't equal financial stability, especially in today's market!

I'm so glad you posted this question because I was literally in the exact same boat last year! We bought our first house and I was convinced we wouldn't qualify for CalFresh anymore. Turns out homeownership has ZERO impact on eligibility - it's all about income and household size. What actually helped us was that our mortgage payment counted as a housing expense deduction, which meant we qualified for MORE benefits than when we were renting! For a family of 6, you could potentially get a really substantial amount of assistance. The application process was easier than I expected too - just make sure you have all your mortgage documents, utility bills, and income verification ready. Don't let anyone make you feel bad about needing help either. Buying a house is a huge financial commitment and using available resources to feed your kids while you adjust is just smart parenting. You've got this!

I just wanted to add one more thing that might be helpful - when you go to your interview, don't be surprised if they ask about any equity you might have in the house. I was worried about this too, but the caseworker explained that home equity doesn't count against you for CalFresh eligibility. They're really only looking at your monthly cash flow - income vs expenses. With 4 kids and a new mortgage, you're exactly the kind of family this program is designed to help! Also, if you haven't already, you might want to check if your county has online document upload options. Some let you submit paperwork digitally before your interview which can speed things up. Wishing you and your family all the best - you're taking all the right steps to make sure your kids are fed while you get established in your new home!