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:\n\n1. Medical expense deduction for out-of-pocket costs over $35/month\n2. Standard deduction of $193 for 1-3 person households\n3. Shelter cost deduction (like her rent increase)\n\nWith 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!\n\nI 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\n\nAlso 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.

Just wanted to mention that there's also something called the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Aged, Blind and Disabled Cash-Out Policy that changed in California - seniors on SSI can now get CalFresh too! Also, if your mom has any difficulty getting to appointments or interviews, many counties now offer home visits for elderly or disabled applicants who can't travel easily. And one thing that really helped my neighbor was keeping a simple monthly log of all medical expenses - even small things like bandages or heating pads add up and count toward that medical deduction. The county workers really appreciate when everything is organized and documented clearly. Your mom is lucky to have you advocating for her - so many seniors miss out on benefits they've earned simply because the system can be overwhelming to navigate alone.

As someone who works with seniors on benefits applications, I wanted to add that your mom should also look into the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) if she gets approved for CalFresh. It's a separate program that gives eligible seniors additional vouchers specifically for fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs at farmers markets. In California, it provides about $40 in vouchers per year, which isn't huge but every bit helps! Also, many senior centers partner with food banks and have monthly food distributions - even if she gets CalFresh, these can supplement her groceries significantly. The combination of CalFresh + SFMNP + local food assistance can really stretch that fixed income. One more thing - if she's on Medicare, make sure to include her Medicare premiums as a medical expense when calculating deductions. Many people forget this but it's usually one of the largest monthly medical expenses seniors have.

I just went through this process with my grandmother last month and wanted to share a few practical tips that really helped us! First, when you gather those medical receipts, don't forget about things like medical alert devices, prescription eyeglasses, hearing aid batteries, and even taxi rides to medical appointments - they all count toward the medical deduction. Second, if your mom has any difficulty with the interview process, you can request a Spanish-language interpreter if needed, or ask for the interview to be conducted at a slower pace. The county workers are usually very patient with seniors. Also, once she's approved, many grocery stores have senior discount days that can be combined with EBT - our local Safeway does 10% off on Tuesdays for 55+. Finally, if she ever has issues with her EBT card not working at a store, most places can do a manual entry with the card number, which saved us a trip when the card reader was broken. Your mom is so fortunate to have you helping her navigate this - it really does make all the difference!

I work as a benefits counselor and wanted to add one more resource that might help your mom - the California Department of Aging has Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) throughout the state that provide free benefits counseling specifically for seniors. They can help walk through the entire CalFresh application process and make sure she's getting all the deductions and programs she's eligible for. You can find your local AAA by calling 1-800-510-2020. They also have HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program) counselors who can review her Medicare costs to make sure she's on the most cost-effective plan, which could lower those medical expenses everyone's been talking about. Many of these counselors will even come to her home or meet at a senior center if transportation is an issue. It's a completely free service and they're experts at maximizing benefits for seniors on fixed incomes. Given everything you've shared about your mom's situation, I think she'd be an excellent candidate for their help!

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who helped my 71-year-old father navigate this process last year. One thing that really surprised us was that even though his income seemed "too high" at first glance, the medical deductions made all the difference. He spends about $300/month on medications alone, plus his Medicare Part B premium ($174.70/month in 2024), and regular doctor copays. Once we calculated all his eligible medical expenses, he easily qualified for CalFresh benefits. The key thing I learned is to be really thorough with documentation. We went back through 3 months of his bank statements and medical receipts to make sure we didn't miss anything. Also, don't forget about dental expenses, vision costs, and even mileage to medical appointments (you can deduct $0.22 per mile for medical travel in 2024). One more tip - if your mom has any chronic conditions that require special dietary needs, ask about therapeutic diet allowances during the application process. Some seniors with diabetes or heart conditions can get additional deductions for prescribed special foods. The whole process took about 6 weeks from application to getting the EBT card, but it was absolutely worth it. Dad now gets $194/month which has made a huge difference in his grocery budget. Good luck with your mom's application - sounds like she has a great advocate in you!

Reading through all these responses has been so educational! I work part-time at a senior center and see so many folks like your mom who could really benefit from CalFresh but don't know about all these special provisions for seniors. A few things I'd add from what I've observed helping our members: 1. The County can expedite CalFresh applications for seniors in emergency situations - if your mom is choosing between medications and food, mention this during the application process. 2. Many seniors don't realize that vitamins and supplements COUNT as medical expenses if they're recommended by a doctor, even if not formally "prescribed." My neighbor's doctor told her to take Vitamin D and calcium - those monthly costs add up! 3. If your mom banks online, most banks can generate a year-end summary of medical payments which makes gathering documentation much easier than going through individual receipts. 4. Once she's approved, sign up for text alerts about her EBT balance - saves the hassle of calling or trying to remember how much is left on the card. The fact that you're advocating for her makes such a huge difference. I've seen so many seniors miss out simply because they don't have someone to help navigate the system. Your mom is lucky to have you! Definitely call that Area Agency on Aging number - they're absolute lifesavers for situations exactly like this.