Confused about CalFresh 'bank value' verification - will my savings disqualify me?

Bank' value refers to your current account balances in all accounts - checking, savings, money market, etc. CalFresh has resource limits, but'they re fairly generous in 2025. For most households, the resource limit is $4,750, so your $3,950 total is under that limit.'You ll need to submit recent bank statements for all accounts as verification. Make sure they show your name, account (numbers at least)partially , and current balances. If you use online banking, you can usually download PDF statements or take screenshots of your balance summarypage.

bank value just means how much $ you got. they wanna make sure ur not sitting on a pile of cash while asking for benefits lol. i got denied last year cuz i had a settlement from my car accident in my account when i applied. once i spent it down i reapplied and got approved

The term they SHOULD be using is 'resources' or 'assets' - not 'bank value' which is confusing lots of people! But yes, it means the total amount in ALL your accounts. Important to note: if you're elderly (60+) or disabled, the resource limit is even higher - $7,000 for a single person in 2025. Also, if you get CalWORKs or General Assistance, different rules apply - you might be 'categorically eligible' with no resource test at all. The whole system is RIDICULOUS and designed to confuse people!

I work as a benefits counselor, and this is a common question. The term 'bank value' isn't official CalFresh terminology - sounds like an individual eligibility worker's phrasing. They're requesting verification of your resources (bank accounts, cash on hand, etc.). For 2025, the standard resource limit is $4,750 for most households. Certain households have a higher limit ($7,000) if they include someone who is elderly (60+) or disabled. Some specific resources don't count toward the limit, like retirement accounts and educational savings accounts. From what you've described ($3,700 savings + $250 checking = $3,950), you're under the limit, so this shouldn't disqualify you. Just submit your most recent statements for both accounts by the deadline.

Trying to get through to the CalFresh office on the phone is a nightmare! I spent 3 hours on hold last month only to get disconnected, then another 2 hours the next day. I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that holds your place in line and calls you when a worker is available. Saved me hours of waiting and I got my verification questions answered. They have a demo video at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 if you want to see how it works. Might help if you need to call again about your application.

Dont worry about it too much I think there just making sure your not a millionaire trying to get benefits lol. I had about $4000 in my accounts when I applied this year and was fine. They just want to see your statements so they can verify you arent lying about your finances. Its annoying but part of the process...

make sure when u send ur bank statements u blackout any account #s except last 4 digits!! my friend had identity theft after sending full statements to the county!!! scary

Update: I just checked the latest CalFresh regulations, and as of March 2025, California actually increased the resource limits slightly. They're now $4,925 for most households and $7,250 for elderly/disabled households. So you have even more buffer than I initially mentioned.

Just went through this same process last month! The "bank value" terminology threw me off too - my worker explained it's basically all your liquid assets (checking, savings, etc.). One tip that helped me: when you submit your bank statements, make sure they're dated within the last 30 days or they might ask for newer ones. Also, if you use multiple banks, don't forget to include statements from ALL of them. The county workers are pretty thorough about cross-checking everything. Good luck with your application!

Just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same confusion! I was so stressed when I got that "bank value" verification request because I thought having ANY savings would disqualify me. Turns out I was way overthinking it. Like others have said, you're definitely under the limit with your $3,950 total. One thing that helped me was organizing all my bank statements in a folder before submitting - made sure I had recent statements from every account, even my tiny savings account with like $50 in it. The whole process is honestly more intimidating than it needs to be, but you've got this! The fact that you're asking questions and being proactive shows you're on the right track.

I went through this exact same thing a few months ago and totally understand the confusion! The "bank value" wording is so unclear - I wish they'd just say "total money in all your accounts" instead. Your $3,950 total is definitely under the limit, so you should be fine. Just make sure when you submit your statements that they clearly show your name and current balances. I made the mistake of sending an older statement first and had to resubmit with a more recent one. Also, don't stress too much about having savings - that emergency fund shows you're being responsible with your finances! The whole point of the resource limit is to make sure people aren't hiding huge amounts of money, not to punish folks for having a reasonable emergency cushion.

I'm so glad you posted this question because I'm literally going through the exact same thing right now! Got that same confusing "bank value" email last week and have been stressing about it ever since. Reading everyone's responses here has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea the resource limit was that high ($4,925 now apparently!). I only have about $2,800 total between my checking and savings, so sounds like I'm in the clear too. It's frustrating how they use such unclear terminology when people are already anxious about the whole process. Thanks for asking what we were all wondering! Going to submit my bank statements today.

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now and this whole thread has been a lifesaver! Just got my "bank value" verification request yesterday and was panicking because I thought any savings would automatically disqualify me. I've got about $4,200 total between my accounts and was seriously considering spending some of it down before submitting my paperwork. So relieved to learn that's not necessary! The fact that they use such vague terminology like "bank value" instead of just saying "total account balances" or "resources" is really frustrating when people are already stressed about the application process. Thank you StarStrider for asking this question and thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - you've saved me a lot of unnecessary worry!

As someone who just went through this whole process a couple months ago, I totally feel your confusion! That "bank value" terminology is so misleading - I spent hours googling what it meant before finally calling the office. What they're really asking for is just proof of how much money you have in ALL your accounts combined (checking, savings, etc.). Your $3,950 total is definitely safe - you're well under the current limit. One thing I learned the hard way: make sure you submit statements from EVERY account you have, even if it's just a small savings account with like $20 in it. They cross-reference everything and will ask for missing accounts if they find them. Also, try to get the most recent statements possible (within the last 2 weeks if you can) to avoid having to resubmit. The whole system is designed to be confusing but you're asking the right questions and being proactive, which puts you ahead of the game!

This whole thread has been so reassuring to read! I'm in almost the exact same boat - just got that confusing "bank value" verification email and immediately started panicking about my savings account. I've got about $3,200 between checking and savings, so it sounds like I'm definitely under the limit too. What really gets me is how they make it seem so scary with that formal language when really they just want to know you're not sitting on tens of thousands of dollars. I've been working overtime shifts for months to build up that emergency fund and was genuinely worried they'd punish me for being financially responsible. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - you've turned what felt like a major crisis back into just another paperwork hurdle!

I just want to say thank you to everyone who responded to this thread! You all literally saved me from a complete meltdown over what turned out to be pretty straightforward paperwork. I submitted my bank statements from both accounts yesterday and already heard back that they received everything - now just waiting for final approval. It's honestly wild how much clearer everything became once people explained it in plain English instead of that confusing "bank value" terminology. Really grateful for this community and how willing everyone is to share their experiences to help others navigate this maze of a system!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually a CalFresh recipient who went through this same "bank value" confusion about 6 months ago. What really helped me was creating a simple checklist: 1) Get statements from ALL accounts (even that old savings account you forgot about), 2) Make sure they're recent (within 30 days), 3) Double-check your name and account info are clearly visible, and 4) Add up your total to confirm you're under the limit before submitting. The stress around this verification is so real, but once you understand they're just checking you don't have like $50K sitting around, it becomes much more manageable. Your emergency fund is exactly what it should be - a safety net, not something to feel guilty about!

I'm a newcomer here but this thread is exactly what I needed to see! I literally just got that same "bank value" verification email this morning and was about to have a panic attack thinking my $2,900 in savings would disqualify me. Reading through everyone's experiences has been such a relief - it's clear that the terminology they use is intentionally confusing when it should be straightforward. I've been saving that money for over two years working part-time while going to school, and the thought of having to spend it down just to get food assistance was devastating. Thank you StarStrider for asking this question and thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences. You've literally saved me hours of stress and worry! Going to gather up my bank statements now and get them submitted ASAP.

Just wanted to add my perspective as someone who recently went through this exact same process! I got that same confusing "bank value" verification request about 3 months ago and it sent me into a total spiral. Like many others here, I thought having ANY savings would automatically disqualify me. I had about $4,100 total between my checking and savings accounts and was seriously considering spending some of it down before submitting my paperwork. Thankfully, a friend told me to research the actual limits first, and I discovered I was well under the threshold. The whole experience really highlighted how poorly these verification requests are worded - using terms like "bank value" instead of just saying "total account balances" or "resources" creates so much unnecessary anxiety for people who are already stressed about the application process. It's especially frustrating because having an emergency fund should be viewed as responsible financial planning, not something that makes you feel guilty about applying for benefits you legitimately need. Really glad this thread exists to help clarify things for others going through the same confusion!