Will CalFresh 3.0 emergency allotment cards be loaded again or was it only twice?

Thanks for the response! Ugh, that's what I was afraid of. Did your cousin mention if they're planning any other emergency allotments later this year?

Thank you for the detailed info! That's disappointing but at least now I know. I'll definitely look into getting reassessed - my rent just went up $200/month and I'm paying more for childcare now too. Do you know if I need to wait until my recertification in August or can I report these expense changes now?

You don't need to wait until recertification. You can report these expense changes right away using the SAR 7 Update Report form or by contacting your county office. Increased housing and childcare costs are considered deductions that can potentially increase your benefit amount. Just make sure to provide documentation of these increased expenses when you report them.

RIGHT?! and then they wonder why everyone's always calling the county office desperate for help. the whole system is a mess

Thanks for the tip! I've been trying to call the county office all week with no luck. I'll check out that service if I can't get through tomorrow. Did they explain why the emergency benefits were only for two months?

The worker explained it was a one-time funding allocation from the state budget surplus specifically designated for March and April. She said there's no current legislation to extend it, but mentioned they're aware of how much the extra benefits helped families. Apparently they got a lot of calls about it.

Thanks for confirming and for the food bank suggestion. That's a good idea - do you have to show proof of income or anything to use the food banks?

Most food banks I've been to don't require income verification! The one I go to just asks for your name and how many people are in your household. Some might ask for ID to verify you live in their service area, but they're generally pretty accessible. Also check if your farmers market accepts EBT - the one near me does Market Match where they double the first $10 spent on produce.

This is incredibly helpful - thank you! I didn't realize I could report expense increases outside of recertification. I'm going to gather my new rent agreement and childcare receipts and submit them this week. Do you happen to know what the current gross monthly income limit is for a family of 4? Just want to make sure we're still eligible with my husband's recent raise.

For a household of 4 in 2025, the gross monthly income limit for CalFresh is approximately $3,950. Your IRT (Income Reporting Threshold) would be 150% of that figure, so around $5,925. As long as your household's total gross monthly income stays below the income limit, you should remain eligible, though the benefit amount may adjust based on the exact income. When reporting your husband's raise, make sure to provide documentation like a pay stub or employer letter to verify the new income amount.

Great question - CalFresh benefits (including emergency allotments) do NOT count as income or resources for Medi-Cal eligibility. The emergency allotments were considered the same type of benefit as regular CalFresh, just supplemental. You don't need to report them as income for your Medi-Cal redetermination.