What exactly is the CalFresh Employment & Training program? Different from work requirements?
I keep hearing about some work program through CalFresh but I'm confused if this is the same as work requirements or something different? My cousin mentioned getting job training through his CalFresh benefits but I thought CalFresh was just food stamps. Is this a new thing for 2025? My worker never mentioned anything about this when I applied last month. Do I have to enroll in this program to keep getting my benefits or is it optional? Anybody have experience with this program??
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Mateo Sanchez
You're probably hearing about the CalFresh Employment & Training program (E&T). It's different from the general work requirements. The E&T program is VOLUNTARY in most counties and offers free job training, education assistance, job search help, and sometimes even transportation reimbursement to CalFresh recipients who want to improve their employment situation. The regular CalFresh work requirements (called ABAWD rules - Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents) are mandatory for some people, but have lots of exemptions. The E&T program is totally separate and optional - a benefit rather than a requirement.
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Nia Wilson
•Oh that makes more sense! So it's like an extra benefit I can use if I want to but not something I HAVE to do? Is there a separate application for it or do I just ask my worker about it?
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Aisha Mahmood
I did the e&t program last year!!! it was actually pretty helpful. i got to take a free 8-week vocational course in medical admin that i couldnt afford otherwise. they even gave me a bus pass to get to the classes and helped with my resume. totally optional tho - half the people at orientation never showed up again lol. but if ur looking for work or better work its worth checking out.
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Ethan Clark
•Did they pay for childcare? I'm interested in something like this but can't afford to pay anyone to watch my kids while I would be in class.
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AstroAce
The CalFresh Employment and Training program has been around for years, it's not new for 2025. But each county runs it differently and not all counties have robust programs. Some counties barely promote it which is why your worker might not have mentioned it. You definitely don't lose benefits if you don't participate - it's an optional service. To find out what's available in your county, call your CalFresh office and specifically ask about the E&T program. Ask what providers they work with and what services are available.
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Nia Wilson
•Thanks for clarifying! I'll call and ask about it. Do you know if they offer like computer training? I'm trying to get better jobs but my computer skills are pretty basic.
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Ethan Clark
OMG cALfresh office is IMPOSSIBLE to get through to!!! i tried calling about this exact program last month and was on hold for 2 HOURS before i got disconnected... then tried again the next day and couldnt even get past the automated system!!! so frustrating!!! has anybody actually managed to talk to a real person lately?
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Yuki Kobayashi
•I had the same problem but I found this service called Claimyr that helped me get through to a CalFresh worker in about 20 minutes. They basically wait on hold for you and call you when a human picks up. Saved me hours of frustration! You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 or just go to claimyr.com. I used it to ask about the E&T program in my county and got all the info I needed without the typical 3+ hour wait time.
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Carmen Vega
I got a letter saying I HAD to do the work program or lose benefits?? But everyone here is saying its optional?? Im so confused!!!
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Mateo Sanchez
•You're probably getting the two things mixed up. The ABAWD work requirements (for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents) CAN be mandatory for some people between 18-49 with no kids or disabilities. That's different from the E&T program which is voluntary. If you got a letter saying you need to meet work requirements, that's about the ABAWD rules, not the E&T program. The rules say you need to work 80 hours per month, participate in a work program, or do community service. But there are LOTS of exemptions to these rules - having kids, being disabled, being a student, etc.
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Andre Rousseau
My sister just finished some kinda coding bootcamp through that CalFresh program last month and already got hired making $28/hr!! And it was totally FREE! She was on CalFresh after losing her restaurant job and now she's doing way better. Im thinking about applying for benefits just to get into that program lol
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AstroAce
•That's great for your sister, but just to be clear - you can't get CalFresh just to access the E&T program. You have to actually be income-eligible for the food benefits first. They verify your income, expenses, household size, etc. before approving benefits. The E&T program is an additional service for people who already qualify for and receive CalFresh.
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Nia Wilson
Thanks everybody for the info! I'm definitely going to ask about this program. Sounds like it could help me get better job skills without having to pay for classes. I'll try calling tomorrow and see what my county offers.
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Yuki Kobayashi
•Good luck! Just ask specifically for the "CalFresh Employment and Training program" when you call. And if you have trouble getting through (like most people do), try that Claimyr service I mentioned - it'll save you hours of hold time. Hope you find some good training options!
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Aisha Mahmood
@person who asked about childcare - some counties do cover childcare costs while ur in the program but not all. when i did it in alameda county they did offer childcare assistance but u had to request it specifically. best to ask ur county directly what they offer.
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Ethan Clark
•Thanks! I'll definitely ask about the childcare part specifically. That would make a huge difference for me.
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Geoff Richards
Just wanted to add that some counties also partner with community colleges for the E&T program! I'm in San Diego County and they connected me with Mesa College for a free certificate program in healthcare administration. The program covered tuition, books, AND gave me $25/month for transportation. It took 6 months but I got my certificate and landed a job at a medical clinic. Also wanted to mention - if you're already working part-time but want better skills for advancement, you can still participate in E&T. It's not just for unemployed people. They have evening and weekend options in some areas too.
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Micah Franklin
•Wow, that's really encouraging to hear! I didn't know they partnered with community colleges too. The healthcare administration certificate sounds like exactly the kind of thing I'd be interested in. Did you have to maintain your CalFresh benefits the whole time you were in the program, or could you keep participating even if your income went up a bit from part-time work? I'm working a few hours a week right now but barely making ends meet, so something like this could really help me get ahead.
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Mei Lin
•@Geoff Richards That s'awesome about the Mesa College partnership! To answer @Micah Franklin s question'- you generally need to maintain CalFresh eligibility while participating in E&T, but the good news is that many training programs actually help you stay eligible because they count as work activities. "Plus," if your income goes up slightly from part-time work, you might still qualify for CalFresh especially with (dependent deductions, housing costs, etc. . The)case workers usually work with you to keep benefits active during training since the whole point is helping you get better employment. I d definitely'ask about income limits when you apply - they want you to succeed, not lose benefits right when you re trying'to improve your situation!
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Christian Bierman
This thread has been super helpful! I'm a CalFresh recipient and had no idea about the E&T program until reading this. I've been struggling to find affordable training to get out of retail work. The fact that it covers books, transportation, and even childcare in some counties is amazing. One thing I want to add - I called my county office yesterday after reading these comments and the worker told me they also have partnerships with local unions for apprenticeship programs! Things like electrical, plumbing, and construction trades. She said these are really popular because they lead to good-paying jobs and the apprenticeships actually pay you while you learn. For anyone hesitant to call because of the wait times - I used that Claimyr service someone mentioned and it really worked. Got connected to a real person in about 15 minutes instead of the usual hours-long nightmare. Definitely worth the small fee to save your sanity! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. It's so helpful to hear from people who actually went through the program instead of just getting the official government website info.
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Anastasia Sokolov
•This is such valuable info, thanks for sharing! I'm new to CalFresh and honestly feel a bit overwhelmed by all the different programs and services available. The union apprenticeship partnerships sound incredible - I never would have thought to ask about trades through a food assistance program. Can I ask what county you're in? I'm wondering if this varies a lot by location. I'm in Riverside County and hoping they have similar partnerships. Also really glad to hear the Claimyr service actually works - I was skeptical about paying for something like that but if it saves hours of frustration it might be worth it. It's amazing how much support seems to be available that we just don't know about! Makes me wonder what other resources I'm missing out on.
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