Will CalFresh still have COVID emergency allotments in 2025? Any updates?
Hi everyone, I've been hearing mixed things about the extra CalFresh benefits for COVID. My neighbor said they got approved again for this month, but I didn't see anything added to my EBT card yet. Has anyone heard if California approved the emergency allotments for April 2025? I'm really counting on that extra amount to feed my kids since groceries are so expensive now. I tried calling the county but got stuck on hold for 2 hours before giving up. Any info would be super helpful!
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Liam Mendez
Unfortunately, the COVID emergency allotments for CalFresh ended permanently back in March 2023. Your neighbor is probably confused or might be talking about a completely different program. All households now only receive their regular benefit amount based on household size, income, and expenses. There are no plans to bring back the emergency allotments in 2025 or any time in the future that I'm aware of.
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Emily Jackson
•Wait, are you sure? That's super disappointing. I thought they might restart them with food prices being so high. So my regular benefit is all I'll ever get now?
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Sophia Nguyen
OMG i thought they ended those like 2 YEARS ago???? i haven't gotten extra in foreveeerrr
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Jacob Smithson
•They DID end years ago. Some people still don't know this which is crazy to me. The county offices should have sent everyone notices explaining this.
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Isabella Brown
Your neighbor is 100% WRONG!!! The emergency allotments were FEDERALLY funded and Congress ended them completely. California can't just decide to "approve" them - that's not how it works! I lost $250/month when they ended and it's been DEVASTATING. My caseworker told me they're NEVER coming back no matter how much we need them. The system doesn't care if we can afford food anymore.
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Maya Patel
•You're right that the emergency allotments were federally authorized and have permanently ended. However, there are other ways to maximize your regular CalFresh benefits. Make sure your caseworker knows about all your expenses like housing costs, utilities, childcare expenses, and medical costs (for seniors/disabled). These deductions can significantly increase your monthly benefit amount.
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Aiden Rodríguez
i think ur neighbor got confused with the regular deposit that comes on the same day each month. my sister thought she got extra too but it was just her normal benefits
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Emma Garcia
I had the same issue trying to get information from the county office! I was trying to ask about increasing my benefits because I just started paying more for childcare, but I kept getting disconnected after waiting forever. I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that holds your place in line and calls you back when a real person is available. Saved me hours of waiting! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. My worker confirmed the emergency allotments aren't coming back but helped me increase my regular benefits by recalculating with my new expenses.
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Emily Jackson
•Thanks for the tip about Claimyr! I'll check that out since I can never get through to my worker. Did they charge you to use it? And good idea about asking about recalculating benefits - I'm paying way more for rent now so maybe that would help.
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Emma Garcia
•It was totally worth it for me! Definitely tell them about your rent increase. My worker said any change in housing costs over $50 should be reported because it could increase your benefits even mid-certification period. Good luck!
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Maya Patel
To clarify for everyone: The CalFresh COVID emergency allotments permanently ended in March 2023 nationwide. Here's what you can do now to maximize your regular benefits: 1. Make sure ALL household expenses are reported (rent/mortgage, utilities, childcare, medical costs for seniors/disabled) 2. Report any income decreases promptly 3. Check if you qualify for expedited services if facing a financial emergency 4. Look into California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) if you're an immigrant not eligible for federal SNAP 5. Connect with local food banks for additional resources You can also request a benefit recalculation if your circumstances have significantly changed since your last certification.
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Aiden Rodríguez
•do utility bills like internet count? my caseworker never asked about that
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Maya Patel
•Internet alone doesn't count, but you might qualify for the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) if you pay for heating or cooling separately from rent. The SUA gives you credit for all utilities together and usually results in higher benefits. Ask your worker specifically about applying the SUA to your case if you pay any utilities.
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Emily Jackson
Thanks everyone for clearing this up. I feel kinda dumb now for believing my neighbor, but she was so convincing! I'll definitely look into getting my benefits recalculated with my current expenses. Really appreciate all the help and information.
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Liam Mendez
•Don't feel bad! CalFresh rules are complicated and there's a lot of misinformation out there. Focus on getting all your current expenses documented at your next SAR7 or recertification. That's your best path to maximizing your regular benefits now that the emergency allotments are gone.
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Jacob Smithson
My cousin works for the county and said they get calls about this ALL THE TIME still. People are really struggling without those extra benefits. I remember getting almost double my regular amount during COVID. Now food prices are even higher but we're back to the old benefit levels. It's rough out there.
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