Getting final CalFresh deposit after income exceeded limit - will February benefits still come?

Thank you so much for clarifying! That's a huge relief. My regular deposit date is the 10th, so I'll keep an eye on it. Hopefully it comes through as normal.

Oh that's good to know! I'll make sure to use every penny before the cutoff date. Sorry you lost some of your benefits - that really sucks.

I got a substantial raise at my job - about 15% - so I think I really am over the limit now. But you make a good point about deductions... I do have pretty high rent ($2,300/month for a 1-bedroom) which I listed on my last SAR7. Maybe that wasn't taken into account properly? Worth looking into!

The previous commenter is absolutely right. Many people don't realize that CalFresh eligibility includes deductions that can substantially raise the qualifying income limit. The shelter deduction for high housing costs is especially important in 2025 with rent prices being what they are. Even with your raise, you might still qualify if your rent is properly accounted for. I highly recommend calling your county office to request a review of your discontinuance. Ask specifically about the shelter deduction and how it was calculated in your case. If you have trouble getting through on the county phone lines (which is common), you might want to try Claimyr (claimyr.com). They can help you get through to a live person at the CalFresh office without waiting on hold for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. I used them when I had an issue with my recertification and got through to my worker in minutes instead of spending all day trying to reach someone.

Thank you! That's a good perspective - I should be focusing on the positive of making more money. And that's helpful to know about reapplying if things change. My job can be somewhat seasonal so that might actually happen.

The letter definitely said "discontinued" and mentioned that my household no longer meets the income requirements. I haven't checked my BenefitsCal account though - that's a good idea! I'll log in and see if there's any additional information there. Thanks for the suggestion!

Yeah definitely check the online account. I initially thought I was being totally cut off too, but when I logged in I saw I was just getting a reduction. The letters can be super confusing sometimes!

While I understand your frustration, there is some good news for the original poster. The program does have a gradual phase-out by design. As income increases, benefits typically decrease gradually rather than cutting off immediately. This is why checking if they applied all proper deductions is so important. And to clarify for everyone: occasional income fluctuations shouldn't immediately disqualify someone. For CalFresh in 2025, they're supposed to be looking at consistent income patterns, not one-time increases. If you experience this again, request a review and specifically ask them to evaluate your average income over time.

That's a good point. I'll look up the current income limits and double-check my numbers. My household is just me, and I think I'm now making around $2,800/month gross. Not sure what the single-person limit is for 2025.

For a single-person household in 2025, the gross monthly income limit for CalFresh is approximately $2,430 (130% of the Federal Poverty Level). However, if you have substantial deductions like high rent, you might qualify under the Net Income Test even with a higher gross income. This is why discussing your specific situation with a county worker is so important. Based on the $2,800 gross income you mentioned and your $2,300 rent, you might still qualify under certain circumstances. Definitely worth following up on.