What's the CalFresh income limit for a household of 2 in Calexico for 2025?
Hi everyone, my partner and I live in Calexico and we're thinking about applying for CalFresh but not sure if we qualify with our income. I've been trying to find the exact income limits for 2025 for a household of 2 but keep getting different info online. Some websites show numbers from previous years, and others don't specify if it's gross or net income that matters. We both work part-time jobs (I'm in retail, partner does gig delivery) with variable hours so our monthly income fluctuates. Can anyone tell me what's the maximum monthly income allowed for a household of 2 to still qualify for CalFresh in California? Also, does living in Calexico (Imperial County) make any difference compared to other parts of CA? Thanks in advance!
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Emily Sanjay
For 2025, the gross monthly income limit for CalFresh for a household of 2 in California is $3,052. This applies to Calexico too - the income limits are the same across all California counties. The net income limit (after deductions) is $2,348. Most households need to meet both limits unless someone is elderly or disabled, then only the net income test applies. Since you mention variable income, they'll typically look at your average monthly income. Make sure to report all income sources when you apply!
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Sebastian Scott
•Thank you so much for the specific numbers! That really helps. We're actually right around that gross income limit depending on the month. Sometimes we make less, sometimes a bit more. Does CalFresh look at each individual month or do they average it? And what kinds of deductions do they consider to get from gross to net?
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Jordan Walker
be careful with the online info cuz alot of it is outdated! i applied last year and got denied cuz i was looking at 2023 income limits which were way lower. also they counted my side hustle even tho i didnt think they would lol
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Sebastian Scott
•Oh no, that sucks! Yeah I've noticed a lot of the search results show different years. Did you end up qualifying eventually? And did they ask for proof of ALL income including cash gigs?
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Jordan Walker
•yea they want proof of EVERYTHING even my venmo payments lol. i did qualify when i reapplied 3 months later when my hours got cut. they do monthly income calculations so if ur income drops you can apply again right away
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Natalie Adams
The income limits for CalFresh change every year on October 1st. So make sure you're looking at the 2025 numbers (after Oct 1, 2024). Also, there are a bunch of deductions they apply before comparing to the net income limit: - 20% of earned income - Standard deduction ($193 for household of 1-2) - Excess shelter costs over 50% of your income after other deductions - Dependent care costs if applicable With these deductions, you might qualify even if your gross income is close to the limit. My family's gross income was just under the limit but we qualified for $387/month after deductions.
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Elijah O'Reilly
•tHIS! 👆 the deductions make a HUGE difference. we were $150 over the gross limit but still qualified bcos of our rent being so high in san diego. worth applying even if ur slighty over the limit. the online calculator on benefitscal.com can help estimate.
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Amara Torres
Does anyone know if Calexico has different rules since its near the border? My cousin lives there and said something about special eligibility rules?
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Olivia Van-Cleve
•There are no special eligibility rules for Calexico or border regions for CalFresh. The income limits and eligibility requirements are standardized across California. However, your cousin might be referring to verification requirements - border counties sometimes have additional verification procedures, but the actual eligibility criteria remain the same. Citizenship/immigration status requirements are also the same throughout California.
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Mason Kaczka
When I tried calling Imperial County to check on income limits, I literally couldn't get through for DAYS! Finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) and they got me connected to a real person in 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. The worker confirmed 2025 limits and answered my specific questions about deductions. Worth it if you're getting frustrated with the phone system.
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Sebastian Scott
•Thanks for the tip! Imperial County's phone system is terrible, I tried calling last week and kept getting disconnected. Will check this out if I need to reach someone directly. I'm going to try applying online first through BenefitsCal.
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Natalie Adams
•I used this service too when I needed to add my newborn to my case and was dealing with crazy wait times. Got through to a worker who actually knew what they were talking about in about 20 minutes.
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Elijah O'Reilly
the limits r actually diffrent depending on if ur household is regular or if it has elderly/disabled ppl!! my mom is on SSI and we only had 2 meet the net income test not gross when we applied
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Emily Sanjay
•You're absolutely right! Households with elderly (60+) or disabled members only need to meet the net income test, not the gross income test. This is an important distinction that can make a big difference in eligibility. Additionally, households with elderly/disabled members may qualify for medical expense deductions if they spend more than $35 monthly on out-of-pocket medical costs.
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Sebastian Scott
Thanks everyone for all the helpful info! I'm going to apply through BenefitsCal this weekend and include all our income details and expenses. Based on what you've all shared, I think we might qualify with our deductions even though our gross is sometimes right at the limit. I'll make sure to include our full rent ($1,350/month) and utilities to get the shelter deduction. Wish me luck!
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Natalie Adams
•Good luck! One more tip - take pictures of all your documentation before uploading. My application got stuck in processing because they claimed they couldn't open one of my files, but I had the backup to resubmit. Let us know how it goes!
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Amara Torres
•apply in person if u can!!! online system kept freezing for me but the lady at the office helped me finish in 1 visit
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Omar Hassan
•@Sebastian Scott Hope the application goes smoothly! With your rent being $1,350 that should definitely help with the shelter deduction calculation. Just remember they calculate it as anything over 50% of your income after the standard deduction and 20% earned income deduction. So if your monthly income varies, try to apply during a lower income month if possible - you can always report changes later if your income goes up significantly.
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