Do they count my child's SSI income for CalFresh eligibility? Confused about household rules

Good news! SSI income is NOT counted when determining CalFresh eligibility. This is one of the most important exclusions in the CalFresh program. Prior to 2019, SSI recipients couldn't even get CalFresh at all, but now they can, and their SSI income is completely excluded from the household income calculation. So your son's $1,050 monthly SSI won't count against your eligibility. They'll only look at your work income of $1,800/month, which should be well under the limit for a household of two. Make sure to mention any deductions you might have too (rent, utilities, childcare).

I went thru this exact same thing!!!! My daughter gets SSI and I was SOOO confused about the whole income thing. The worker asked me 50 million questions about her SSI payment and then told me it doesn't even count?! Like why ask then?? The system is so frustrating but yeah they DON'T count it for CalFresh. We got approved for $435/month in CalFresh for me and my two kids (my older daughter gets the SSI). They only counted my income from my job.

SSI doesnt count but they still want to see it on paper. bring the award letter anyway. they like to have all documentation even if it doesnt count toward ur benefits

Just to add a bit more detail to what others have said: The reason they ask about SSI income even though it doesn't count is because they need to verify your household composition and total financial situation. This helps determine if you're a separate household for benefit calculation purposes. They also need to verify that it is indeed SSI (not SSDI which is treated differently). Make sure to bring documentation of all income sources to your interview, even those that don't count like SSI. And definitely mention any deductible expenses like rent, utilities, and childcare costs, as these can increase your benefit amount significantly.

Be careful about household reporting! While SSI doesn't count as income, you still have to list your son as part of your household on the application. I made that mistake thinking I should exclude him since his income didn't count, and they flagged my application for potential fraud!!! I had to go through this whole stressful verification process. Just be 100% clear that he lives with you, receives SSI, but understand that his SSI payment won't count against your CalFresh eligibility.

have u tried calling the county? i waited for 3 hours on hold last time i called about my benefits. they NEVER pick up and it's so frustrating!!!

I had the same issue trying to reach someone about my son's SSI not being counted correctly on my CalFresh application. After wasting hours on hold, I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person at the county office in about 15 minutes. They called and navigated the phone tree, then waited on hold for me and called me when they had someone on the line. Really saved me a ton of stress. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

Just to clarify one more important point: While SSI income is excluded from CalFresh eligibility calculations, it's different for CalWORKs (cash aid). If you're applying for CalWORKs too, they DO count SSI in a complicated way - the SSI recipient is excluded from the CalWORKs household, but their income can still affect the grant. It's confusing because the rules are different for each program. For CalFresh only, you're in good shape - your son's SSI won't be counted at all.

make sure when u do ur interview u ask for expedited benefits if ur really struggling. they can give u calfresh in 3 days if u qualify! just say ur in urgent need

Update: Had my interview today! The worker confirmed that my son's SSI doesn't count for CalFresh eligibility. We were approved on the spot for $425/month in benefits! She said the card should arrive in 7-10 days. Thanks everyone for your help and advice. Such a relief to know we'll have this extra help for groceries.

Congratulations on getting approved! That's such great news and what a relief that must be. Your update will definitely help other parents in similar situations who are worried about SSI affecting their CalFresh eligibility. $425/month will make a real difference for your family's grocery budget. Thanks for sharing your experience - it's so helpful when people follow up with their results!