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!

Just wanted to add some additional context that might be helpful! I work in social services (not with CalFresh directly, but adjacent programs) and from what I've seen in our inter-agency communications, California has been pretty proactive about maintaining their ABAWD waivers specifically because they recognize the ongoing economic challenges many residents face. The state typically announces any major policy changes well in advance, and I haven't seen any official notifications about the ABAWD waiver being terminated early. That said, @LunarEclipse and @Mila Walker are absolutely right - your local CalFresh office will have the most up-to-date information for your specific county. You might also want to ask about any upcoming changes when you call, just so you're prepared for what might happen after January 2026. Some counties are already starting to plan for the transition, so they may have helpful information about what to expect. Best of luck with your recertification process!

Hi Bucky! I just went through my own recertification a few months ago and had the same concerns about the ABAWD requirements. What I found really helpful was calling the CalFresh customer service line (1-877-847-3663) in addition to my local office - they were able to walk me through exactly what documentation I needed and confirmed that the waiver was still active for my situation. One tip: when you call, have your case number ready and ask specifically about ABAWD requirements for your county. Some counties have slightly different processes even under the same state waiver. Also, if you do end up needing to report work activities later on, they can explain what qualifies (it's not just traditional employment - things like job training, volunteering, and even some educational programs can count). The community here has given great advice about getting official confirmation directly from DSS. I've found the eligibility workers are generally very patient about explaining these complex policies, especially when you're upfront about wanting to make sure you understand the requirements correctly. Good luck with your recertification - you've got this!

Hi Bucky! I'm also navigating CalFresh as a newcomer to California and really appreciate you asking this question - it's something I've been wondering about too. From what I've gathered from the responses here and my own research, it sounds like the ABAWD waiver is still active through January 2026, but I definitely agree with everyone's advice about calling for official confirmation. When I was first applying for CalFresh a few months ago, I was surprised by how much helpful information the eligibility workers had about current policies and changes. One thing that's been really helpful for me as someone new to the system is keeping notes from these conversations, especially about policy details that might affect future recertifications. That way I have a record of what I was told and when. Thanks for starting this discussion - the community here is so knowledgeable and supportive! I'm learning so much from everyone's experiences and expertise. Wishing you all the best with your recertification process!

Hi Bucky! I'm also in California and had similar concerns about ABAWD requirements when I was preparing for my recertification earlier this year. Based on everything I've researched and heard from my local CalFresh office, the statewide ABAWD waiver is still active and should remain in place through January 2026 as originally scheduled. The recent federal changes to SNAP work requirements didn't override existing state waivers. However, I'd definitely recommend calling your local CalFresh office before your recertification appointment - not just to confirm the waiver status, but also to ask what documentation you might need to bring. When I called, they were really helpful in explaining exactly what to expect during the process. Also, it might be worth asking about any advance notice they'll provide before the waiver expires in 2026, so you can prepare for potential changes down the road. Most counties seem to be pretty good about communicating policy updates to recipients. The responses in this thread have been so helpful and thorough - this community really knows their stuff! Hope your recertification goes smoothly!

Hi Bucky! As someone who's also navigating the CalFresh system in California, I really appreciate you asking this question. The responses from everyone here have been incredibly helpful and informative. From what I'm gathering from the community's shared knowledge, it sounds like California's ABAWD waiver is still in place through January 2026, which is great news for your upcoming recertification. But I absolutely agree with everyone's advice about calling your local CalFresh office to get official confirmation - especially since policies can sometimes vary slightly by county. One thing I've learned from being part of this community is how valuable it is to ask specific questions when you call. Based on the great suggestions here, you might want to ask not only about current ABAWD requirements, but also what documentation you'll need for recertification and whether they provide advance notice about future policy changes. As someone still learning to navigate these systems, I'm really grateful for communities like this where people share their experiences and knowledge so generously. It makes such a difference to have this kind of support when dealing with important benefits questions. Wishing you the best with your recertification process - sounds like you're being really proactive by asking these questions ahead of time!

Hi Bucky! As someone who recently moved to California and started receiving CalFresh benefits, I've been following this thread with great interest - your question is one I've had myself! From everything I've read here and my own experience calling my local office a few weeks ago, it does seem like California's ABAWD waiver is still active through January 2026. When I spoke with an eligibility worker about my own situation, they confirmed the waiver was in place and mentioned that California has been committed to maintaining it given the ongoing economic challenges many people face. What I found really helpful during my call was being specific about my concerns, similar to what you're asking here. The worker was able to walk me through exactly what my current requirements were and what documentation I'd need for future recertifications. Everyone's advice about getting official confirmation directly from your local CalFresh office is spot-on. I was initially nervous about calling, but the staff were really patient and knowledgeable. Having your case number ready definitely helps speed up the process too. This community has been such an incredible resource for someone new to navigating these systems - the collective knowledge and willingness to help is amazing. Best of luck with your recertification next month!