Did the extra $95 CalFresh emergency allotment end? What's the max benefit in 2025 for single person?

The COVID emergency allotments that gave everyone at least an extra $95 (or up to the maximum benefit for your household size) ended back in March 2023. That program has been over for nearly 2 years now, which is probably why your benefit amount seems lower than you remember. For 2025, the maximum monthly CalFresh benefit for a single-person household is $292. But remember, that's the MAXIMUM - what you actually get depends on your income, rent/utilities, and any deductions you qualify for. The average single person usually gets somewhere between $175-$250 depending on their specific situation.

i think ur mixing it up with the extra money from the pandemic. that $95 thing stopped ages ago. im in sb county too and its been gone for a long time

When I got recertified last month, the worker told me all the pandemic emergency benefits are LONG gone. The $95 minimum extra benefit ended in spring 2023. What you're getting now is just the regular calculated amount based on your income and expenses. If you think your benefit amount is wrong, double check that they have your correct rent amount and utility expenses in the system. Those make a BIG difference in how much you get. Last year I moved and my rent went up by $300 but I forgot to report it. When I finally updated my address and rent amount, my CalFresh increased by $45/month!

The maximum CalFresh allotment for a one-person household in 2025 is $292 per month. The emergency allotments that provided the extra $95 (or brought everyone up to the maximum) ended in February/March 2023 when the federal public health emergency declaration ended. Your benefit amount is calculated based on: 1. Your gross income 2. Certain deductions (like rent/utilities) 3. The expectation that you spend 30% of your net income on food If you believe your benefit amount is incorrect, you should check that your county has the right information about your expenses. If you're having trouble reaching someone at San Bernardino County to review your case, you might want to try Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a service that helps you get through to a live CalFresh worker without waiting on hold for hours. I used them when I had an issue with my verification documents and they got me connected to a worker in under 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

THE PANDEMIC EBT EXTRA IS GONE GONE GONE!!!! I was so mad when they took it away! My family of 4 lost almost $350/month when those emergency allotments ended in 2023. And with food prices still going up every month it feels like my regular benefits cover less and less. I don't know how they expect people to survive on these amounts. My kids are always hungry the last week of the month.

When I called SB County last month about my own recertification, they explained that benefits fluctuate based on COLA adjustments each year. The 2025 maximum for a single person is $292, but most people get less based on income. One thing to check: did you report all your allowable deductions? Many people don't realize you can deduct certain medical expenses if you're elderly or disabled, and child support payments if you're legally required to pay them. Those can make a big difference in your final benefit amount.

just fyi those covid extra benefits ended like 2 years ago. im also single in sb county and get $201. been around that amount since the extras ended. its barely enough for food these days with how expensive everything is getting tbh

One more thing to note - if your income changes at all (even by a small amount), make sure to report it if it puts you over the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) listed on your approval notice. For a single person, I believe the current IRT is around $1,700/month, but check your specific notice to be sure. If your income goes up and you don't report it when required, you could end up with an overissuance that you'd have to pay back. On the flip side, if your income goes down, reporting it promptly could increase your benefits.