Rumors about CalFresh benefits being cut in 2025 - will my family lose food assistance?

I heard something similar from my caseworker when I called last week! She mentioned 'budget adjustments' but wouldnt give me details. Said we'd all get letters if anything changes. Im scared too.

I work with a nonprofit that helps people with CalFresh applications, and I can provide some accurate information here. There are no confirmed across-the-board cuts to CalFresh benefits scheduled for 2025 in California at this time. What you might be hearing about are: 1. Normal benefit adjustments that happen annually based on the cost of living 2. Individual household changes when someone's circumstances change (income increase, household size change, etc.) 3. Rumors based on federal budget discussions that haven't been finalized If there were major programmatic changes coming, the California Department of Social Services would send official notices to all recipients well in advance. Your benefit amount is based on your household size, income, and allowable deductions. For a family of 4 with your current benefit level, you wouldn't see changes unless your household circumstances change or there's a major policy shift (which would require legislation). I'd recommend checking the BenefitsCal website or app for any official notifications rather than relying on rumors.

Nonprofit worker above is correct that there are no CONFIRMED cuts as of now, but there are budget negotiations happening that COULD affect SNAP/CalFresh. Nothing is finalized. Best approach is to: 1. Make sure your contact info is updated with the county 2. Submit your SAR7 and recertification ON TIME when due 3. Report any household changes accurately when required 4. Keep documentation of all your expenses, especially housing costs and childcare, as these are deductions that can help maintain your benefit level The food allergy situation with your child might also qualify for certain medical expense deductions if prescribed by a doctor. Worth asking your eligibility worker about this.

evry year they say cuts r coming & sometimes they do sometimes they dont. i been on calfresh 6 yrs and my bennies have gone up and down like crazy. best thing is call ur worker and ASK DIRECTLY instead of worry about rumors. but good luck getting thru lol took me 3 days last time b4 someone picked up!!

I went through something similar last year when there were rumors about cuts. What ended up happening was that some households saw changes because of the regular COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) calculations, but families with children were mostly protected. The biggest changes affected single adults without dependents. Make sure you're claiming all possible deductions on your CalFresh case: - Rent/mortgage and utilities (use the standard utility allowance if possible) - Childcare expenses while you job hunt - Child support payments if applicable - Medical expenses over $35 for disabled or elderly family members These deductions make a huge difference in your benefit calculation.

they ALWAYS tryna cut our benefits!!! my benefits got cut twice last year for no reason and i had to fight to get em back. they hope we dont notice or dont fight back. ALWAYS APPEAL if they cut you!!! you have 90 days to appeal and you can keep gettin benefits during the appeal!!!

To address some misinformation in this thread: CalFresh benefit amounts are calculated using a specific formula based on household size, income, and allowable deductions. There's not a secret agenda to randomly cut benefits. For a family of 4 in 2025, the maximum CalFresh benefit is approximately $1,125 per month. If you're receiving $825, that means your net income after deductions is factored in. The best source of information is always your county office - not rumors or secondhand information. If your income has decreased since you initially applied (such as from job loss), make sure to report that as it could increase your benefits.

im so stressed aobut this 2!! i rely on my EBT for my kids n if they cut it idk what ill do!! my friend said they might make work requirements stricter too for parents?? has anyone heard that??

on a totally diff note - have u tried the food banks?? they got way better stuff now than they used to. i go to the one by the methodist church and they give fresh produce n even meat sometimes. good backup plan if benefits ever get reduced.

I'm really glad I found this thread because I was starting to panic about the same rumors! My mother-in-law keeps sharing scary posts on Facebook about benefit cuts and it's been keeping me up at night. Reading through everyone's responses here has been so helpful - especially the clarification from the nonprofit workers about there being no confirmed cuts right now. I think I'm going to take the advice about calling my caseworker directly to get official information instead of worrying about social media rumors. And I definitely need to look into those medical deductions for my daughter's dietary restrictions - I had no idea that was even possible! Thank you all for sharing your experiences and knowledge. This community is such a lifesaver for getting real information instead of just panic-inducing rumors.