Has CalFresh ended COVID emergency allotments or are we still getting them March 2025?
I got kinda confused after talking to my neighbor yesterday. She mentioned something about the emergency CalFresh allotments ending, but I thought we were still getting the extra amount this March 26th? I've been counting on that extra money to stock up my pantry. Does anyone know for sure if we're still getting the maximum benefit amount this month? I've been receiving the extra amount for so long now that my budget really depends on it. My caseworker hasn't called me about any changes yet.
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Sofia Morales
I'm sorry to tell you this, but the COVID emergency allotments for CalFresh ended back in 2023. March 2023 was the last month California distributed those extra payments. We're in 2025 now, and benefits have been at the normal levels (based on your household size and income) for about 2 years. Your neighbor might be confusing you with outdated information, or maybe misremembering when they ended.
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Dylan Mitchell
ā¢WHAT??? Are you serious?? Then why haven't they told me this before?? I've been getting the same amount every month for years. Maybe mine is already the regular amount? How do I know if I'm getting the right benefit amount now?
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Dmitry Popov
ya the emergency stuff ended long time ago. my benefits went down like $200 when they stopped. sucked big time espcially with food prices going up and up
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Ava Garcia
ā¢same here! groceries are nearly DOUBLE what they were b4 covid and yet they took away the extra help. makes NO sense when inflation is worse than ever!! š
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StarSailor}
The previous replies are correct. The COVID emergency allotments for CalFresh ended in February 2023, with the last payment issued in March 2023. All households now receive their regular benefit amount based on household size, income, and deductions. If you're confused about why your benefit amount hasn't changed, it could be that: 1. Your regular calculated benefit was already at or near the maximum amount 2. Your circumstances changed (income decreased or household size increased) around the same time, offsetting the reduction 3. There might be a misunderstanding about which program is providing your benefits You can check your current benefit calculation by logging into BenefitsCal.com or by calling your county office. They can explain exactly how your benefit is calculated and whether you're receiving the correct amount.
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Dylan Mitchell
ā¢Thank you for explaining! I'm going to check my BenefitsCal account tonight. I think maybe option #1 might be my situation because I'm a single parent with 3 kids and only work part-time. Is there any way to get an increase now that food prices are so much higher?
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Miguel Silva
I went through this same confusion last year! Called my county office EIGHT times trying to understand why my benefits suddenly dropped by $250. Kept getting disconnected or put on hold forever. So frustrating. Finally got through using Claimyr.com which helped me skip the hold time and actually talk to a worker. They have a demo video here if you want to see how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 The worker explained that the emergency allotments were federally funded and ended when the federal emergency declaration ended. Totally sucked, but at least I understood what happened.
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Dylan Mitchell
ā¢Thanks for the tip! I might try that service if I can't get through. I've had the same experience with endless hold times or just getting disconnected after waiting forever.
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Zainab Ismail
OMG this is sooooo confusing!!! I thought CalWorks and CalFresh were the same thing and now I'm totally lost about what benefits I'm even getting!!! šµāš« Can someone explain the difference? Is CalWorks also affected by this emergency thing ending?
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StarSailor}
ā¢CalWorks and CalFresh are two separate programs: ā¢ CalFresh (formerly Food Stamps) helps with food costs only and is loaded onto an EBT card for food purchases ā¢ CalWorks provides cash aid for families with children and can be used for housing, clothing, and other needs They have different eligibility requirements and benefit calculations, though many families qualify for both. The COVID emergency allotments only affected CalFresh, not CalWorks. If you're unsure which benefits you receive, you can check your BenefitsCal account or call your county office.
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Connor O'Neill
I think there's a lot of misinformation going around about this. One of my family members swore we were getting extra pandemic benefits again in April 2025, but when I called to verify, the county worker said absolutely not. The emergency allotments are DONE and not coming back unless Congress passes new legislation. What DID change recently was the regular COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) that happens every October. Benefits went up slightly (about 3%) to account for inflation, but nowhere near what the emergency allotments were. Maybe that's what your neighbor was thinking of?
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Dylan Mitchell
ā¢That might be it! Maybe she confused the regular October adjustment with the emergency benefits. Thanks for clearing that up!
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Dmitry Popov
anybody know if theres a way to get more calfresh? i got 3 kids and $640 a month doesnt even last 3 weeks with how expensive everything is now
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Sofia Morales
ā¢Make sure you're reporting all eligible deductions when you submit your SAR7 or recertification. These include: - Child care costs - Medical expenses over $35/month for elderly or disabled household members - Child support payments - Excess housing costs Also, if anyone in your household is enrolled in a qualifying education/training program, ask about the Student EFC (Educational Food Credit). And always report any decrease in income right away - don't wait for your SAR7 if your income goes down.
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Ava Garcia
I still CANNOT believe they ended these benefits when inflation is this bad! My grocery bill has nearly DOUBLED since 2020 but my benefits went back to the pre-pandemic amount!! The government doesn't care if people go hungry!! Does anyone know if there's a petition or something we can sign to bring back the emergency allotments??
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Connor O'Neill
ā¢I understand your frustration, but the emergency allotments were always meant to be temporary during the public health emergency. The regular CalFresh program is still in place and benefits did receive a cost of living adjustment last October. Rather than looking for petitions about emergency allotments (which were tied specifically to the COVID emergency declaration), you might want to contact your representatives about supporting legislation to increase regular SNAP benefit calculations to better reflect current food costs. The USDA's Thrifty Food Plan, which determines benefit amounts, was updated in 2021 but many argue it still doesn't adequately account for today's food prices.
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