Is California ABAWD waiver still in place? I know that a state-wide ABAWD waiver has been in place in California for years and was originally set to expire after January 2026. However, do the new "work requirement" laws mean the waiver is now gone? Or will it remain until 2026? I am recertifying next month and would like to know if I have to be reporting 20 hours a week of work. Thank you!

Hi Bucky! Great question - this is something a lot of people are wondering about right now. From what I understand, California's statewide ABAWD waiver is indeed still in effect and is set to continue through January 2026 as originally planned. The recent federal changes to work requirements primarily affected other SNAP policies but didn't immediately impact existing state waivers. However, I'd strongly recommend calling your local CalFresh office or checking the California Department of Social Services website for the most current information, especially since you're recertifying soon. They'll be able to give you definitive guidance on whether you need to report work hours during your recertification process. It's always better to get official confirmation directly from DSS rather than rely on community knowledge for something this important to your benefits. Good luck with your recertification!