Will homeless status changes to CalFresh/SNAP affect my benefits in 2025?

Hey there! I work at a community resource center and can help clear this up. The changes coming in 2025 are actually GOOD news for homeless CalFresh recipients. The new rules will make it easier to qualify and maintain benefits without a permanent address. The main changes include: 1. Simplified verification requirements (you won't need to provide as many documents) 2. Extended certification periods (you'll recertify less often) 3. Higher benefit amounts for those without cooking facilities Your current $298 should actually increase to around $315-325 under the new guidelines. The most important thing is to make sure your county office knows you're homeless so they apply the right rules to your case. If you get any confusing notices, bring them to a homeless service provider or call your caseworker for help.

Just to add to what @resourceperson said - make sure your current contact info is up to date with the county. Even without a permanent address, they need some way to reach you about these changes. If you use a shelter address or General Delivery, double-check that it's current in their system. Also, those new rules include a special homeless income deduction that will help you qualify for more benefits. The 2025 changes recognize how expensive it is to buy ready-to-eat food when you don't have cooking facilities. If you're worried about missing important notices because of your reading disability, you can request reasonable accommodations from your county office. They can provide verbal explanations of written notices.

THEY ALWAYS SAY THERES GOOD CHANGES COMING but then they find ways to cut people off anyway!!! I was homeless in 2023 and they kept losing my paperwork and saying I didn't turn things in ON TIME when they never told me what they needed!!! Don't trust what they say about "simplifying" anything - it's just code for finding new ways to deny benefits. The whole system is designed to be confusing on PURPOSE.

the new rules are gonna make it so ppl who are at homeless shelters get counted different than people sleeping outside just fyi. i think u get more $ if ur not in a shelter cuz they figure ur buying more ready made food. i got the notice last week but my gf threw it away b4 i could read it all lol

My case worker said that for 2025 CalFresh, homelessness is getting redefined into different categories that affect your benefit amount: - Unsheltered homelessness (car, street, camp) = highest benefit tier - Emergency shelter residents = middle benefit tier - Transitional housing residents = lower benefit tier They're trying to match benefits to your actual food costs based on what cooking facilities you have access to. You'll need to clarify your specific situation during recertification or by submitting a SAR7 form if your housing situation changes. The most important change is they're removing the need to verify an address every 3 months, which has been a huge barrier for homeless recipients.

@homelessguy2025 - To answer your question about verification: Under the new 2025 rules, you'll need to self-declare your homeless status, but the verification requirements are much lighter. Basically, you can provide: 1. A statement from a homeless shelter 2. OR a statement from someone who knows your situation (like a social worker) 3. OR simply explain your situation to your eligibility worker They're moving away from requiring constant proof and putting more emphasis on self-attestation. The county might do occasional spot-checks, but they're not supposed to hassle you for proof every few months anymore. And yes, generally speaking, these changes will benefit you if you're primarily unsheltered. The 2025 benefit increase for unsheltered homeless individuals is estimated to be about 8-10% higher than current rates.

OK so I called my county office today after seeing all your replies. After waiting for like 2 hours I finally got through! The worker confirmed what you all said - there ARE changes coming but they're mostly going to HELP homeless people, not hurt us. She said I should get a letter about 3 months before my recertification in September explaining everything. She also put a note in my file about my reading disability so they'll call me to explain any notices. Thanks everyone for the help! I was really stressed about this!

this is good info for my brother too hes been homeless since november. does anyone know if the 2025 changes mean u still have to do the SAR7 reporting every 6 months? thats what messes him up the most cause he doesn't get mail regular

As someone who's been navigating the CalFresh system while experiencing homelessness, I want to add that it's really important to keep ANY documentation you get about your homeless status - even informal notes from shelter staff or case workers. I learned the hard way that having backup documentation helps if there's ever confusion about your status. Also, if you're staying in different places (shelters some nights, outdoors others), don't worry too much about being super precise in your reporting. The new 2025 rules are designed to be more flexible about this. One thing that helped me was asking my caseworker to put notes in my file about my disability accommodations AND my homeless status at the same time. That way both are documented together and future workers will see it right away. @homelessguy2025 you're doing the right thing by staying on top of this and asking questions. The system can be overwhelming but there are people who want to help make it work for you.

I've been working with homeless CalFresh recipients for about 3 years now, and I want to emphasize something important that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you understand the difference between "temporary" and "permanent" homelessness in the new 2025 system. If you've been homeless for over a year like you mentioned, you'll likely qualify for the "chronic homelessness" category which has even more streamlined requirements and potentially higher benefits. This is separate from the shelter/unsheltered distinctions others have talked about. Also, since you mentioned having a reading disability, you should know that the new rules specifically require counties to provide information in accessible formats. Don't hesitate to ask for verbal explanations of ALL written materials - it's your right, not a favor they're doing you. The key thing to remember is that these changes are happening because advocates have been pushing for years to make the system work better for homeless people. The old system was designed assuming everyone had a stable address, which obviously doesn't work for folks in your situation. Keep asking questions and don't let anyone rush you through the process. You deserve to understand what's happening with your benefits.