Separate EBT/CalFresh program for seniors? Need income limits for 65+ applicants

YES! There's actually something called the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP) for CalFresh that makes it easier for seniors 60+ to apply and stay on benefits. The income limits are the same as regular CalFresh, but there are special deductions for seniors that can help them qualify: 1. Medical expense deduction for out-of-pocket costs over $35/month 2. Standard deduction of $193 for 1-3 person households 3. Shelter cost deduction (like her rent increase) With her income at $1,650, she might qualify after these deductions. Also, savings don't count against her as CalFresh has eliminated the asset test for most households in California. She would apply the normal way through BenefitsCal.com but would get these special considerations automatically.

That's incredibly helpful! I didn't know about those deductions. She spends at least $200/month on medications alone, plus doctor visit copays. Do you know if she needs to provide proof of all these expenses or just list them somewhere on the application?

my mom got on calfresh last yr and shes 72. they gave her $281 a month which is the maximum for a single person i think. she only gets social security. the county worker said seniors dont have to do SAR7 reports anymore wich is nice cuz theres less paperwork 4 her. dunno if thats true for everyone tho

This is TRUE!! My aunt on CalFresh is 68 and she told me seniors on ESAP only need to recertify every 36 months instead of every year! And they don't have to do the SAR7 reporting every 6 months. Makes it MUCH easier for older folks who struggle with all that paperwork.

To add some clarification - your mom likely qualifies for what's called the

I went through exactly this with my dad last year. Those medical deductions are CRUCIAL. Make sure she saves ALL receipts - even for over the counter meds, vitamins if prescribed, medical transportation (gas/bus fare to appointments), and health insurance premiums. We didn't know about all these at first and got way less benefits until we resubmitted with complete expenses.

DONT GET YOUR HOPES UP TOO MUCH. My husband and I are both over 65 and we only get $23 A MONTH on our EBT card. Barely buys a gallon of milk and some eggs these days. The system is BROKEN if they think seniors can survive on this!!! And the application was NOT simple at all for us.

I'm sorry you've had this experience. The minimum benefit amount is typically small if household income is close to the limit. However, many seniors don't claim all their eligible deductions. Did you submit ALL medical expenses? Including Medicare premiums, prescription costs, over-the-counter medications prescribed by a doctor, medical transportation costs, etc? Sometimes getting a county worker to review these details can increase benefits substantially.

Hey, I help my elderly neighbors with their benefits paperwork, and you should definitely have your mom apply. One thing nobody mentioned is that seniors can apply by phone too which might be easier for her. BUT getting through to the county call center is a nightmare these days - I spent 3 hours on hold last week! I started using this service called Claimyr that gets you through to a real CalFresh worker without the hold time. Saved me hours! Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Also make sure your mom knows she can use her EBT at many farmers markets for double the value - there's a program called Market Match where she'd get $10 extra for every $10 of EBT she spends on fresh produce.

Thank you for the tip! Mom has arthritis in her hands so typing on the computer is hard for her. Phone would be much better, but she gets frustrated with long holds. I'll check out that service. And I had no idea about the farmers market doubling - that would be amazing for her as she loves fresh vegetables but has been buying mostly canned lately to save money.

wait isnt calfresh difrent from ebt?? i thought ebt was cash aid and calfresh is food stamps? my neighbor gets both

Common confusion! EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) is just the card/system used to deliver benefits. It can have CalFresh (food benefits), CalWORKs (cash aid), or both loaded on it. So CalFresh benefits are delivered via EBT card, but they're not the same thing. Your neighbor likely receives both CalFresh for food and CalWORKs for cash assistance, both accessed through the same EBT card.

Has your mom applied for CalFresh before? If she was denied in the past when she was on SSI, she should definitely try again. Before 2019, SSI recipients couldn't get CalFresh in California, but that changed with the

She hasn't applied before. She's always been really proud and resistant to asking for help, but her medication costs have gone way up this year. I'm trying to convince her it's a program she paid into all those years she was working. Thank you for the info about SSI recipients now being eligible!

Thank you all for the incredible advice! I'm going to help mom apply this weekend. I'll make sure we gather all her medical expense receipts and documentation. Sounds like she has a good chance of qualifying with the special deductions. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to explain all this!

Good luck! Let us know how it goes. One more tip - during her phone interview, make sure she mentions she's a senior right away so they'll apply all the appropriate rules. And if she gets confused, she can authorize you to speak on her behalf by filling out the

Just wanted to add that your mom might also qualify for additional utility discounts through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) if she gets approved for CalFresh! Many seniors don't know about this connection. When she applies for CalFresh, ask about other programs she might be eligible for - sometimes getting one benefit opens doors to others that can really help stretch that fixed income. Also, if she has a smartphone, the FreshEBT app is really helpful for checking her balance and finding stores that accept EBT. My grandmother loves it because she doesn't have to call the 800 number anymore to check her balance.