Why am I only getting $23 for CalFresh on SSI when my friend gets $200?

This sounds frustrating but there are a few things to clarify here. First, CalFresh and CalWORKs are two completely different programs. CalWORKs is cash aid for families with children, while CalFresh is the food assistance program (what used to be called food stamps). Since you're on SSI, you wouldn't qualify for CalWORKs unless you have children in your household. The $23 you're getting is CalFresh, not CalWORKs. The amount of CalFresh benefits is calculated based on income, household size, and expenses. Someone working three IHSS jobs might still qualify for more benefits if they have more people in their household or higher expenses like rent. Your SSI income counts against your CalFresh eligibility, which is why your benefit is lower.

The difference is probly because of something called the "Standard Utility Allowance" and housing costs. Do you pay rent? Do you pay for your own utilities like electric and gas? If you don't have these expenses or have very low housing costs, that can REALLY reduce your CalFresh amount. Also, when you applied, did you make sure to tell them about ALL your expenses? Many people don't realize they should report their phone bill, medical expenses, etc. which can increase your benefit amount.

Yes, SSI recipients became eligible for CalFresh in June 2019 (before that, SSI recipients in California couldn't get CalFresh). But your benefit amount is still calculated based on income and expenses. The pandemic increase you mentioned was temporary emergency allotments that gave everyone the maximum benefit amount for their household size regardless of income. Those emergency allotments ended in March 2023 for all CalFresh recipients, which is why your benefit dropped back down. If you want to increase your benefit amount, call your county office and report these additional expenses you mentioned (medical costs, phone bill). For SSI recipients, medical expenses over $35 per month can significantly increase your CalFresh benefits.

I went thru this EXACT same thing!!!! I was getting like $20 in CalFresh with my SSI but then I reported my medical expenses and it went up to $175!!! The county workers NEVER tell you about this for some reason. you have to ASK specificly about the medical deduction. bring reciepts for any meds, dr visits, health insurance, medical equipment, even tylenol and vitamins count!!

Good luck reaching anyone at the county office though. I tried calling for THREE DAYS straight when I needed to report a change to my CalFresh and kept getting disconnected or put on hold for hours until I eventually had to hang up. It's beyond frustrating.

Another thing to consider is your friends income situation. IHSS has some weird income rules - not all IHSS income counts the same way for CalFresh. If she's caring for a family member, some of that income might be exempt. And if her boyfriend has low income too, that could explain why they get more. BUT with your SSI, you should definitely be getting more than $23 if you're reporting your expenses correctly. Call them ASAP and ask for a recalculation!

the system is RIGGED thats why. i worked my whole life and cant get NOTHING but people who never worked a day get all the benefits. the whole system is corrupt and the workers just lie to keep your benefits low. my neighbor gets $800 in CalFresh somehow with a job but they gave me $16. make it make sense. and dont get me started on the immigrants getting more than citizens!!!

UPDATE: I called my county office (finally got through!) and told them about my medical expenses. They're recalculating my benefits and said I'll likely get more CalFresh next month! The worker said I should have been told about the medical expense deduction when I applied. She's sending me a form to list all my expenses and said to keep receipts for everything. Thank you everyone for your help!

So glad you got through and they're helping you! This is exactly why I always tell people to ask specifically about ALL possible deductions when applying for CalFresh. The workers are supposed to inform you about these things, but unfortunately many don't. For anyone else reading this thread - if you're on SSI and getting a low CalFresh amount, definitely ask about the medical expense deduction. It can make a huge difference! And don't forget that things like vitamins, bandages, heating pads, and even mileage to medical appointments can count as medical expenses if you're on SSI. Hope your new benefit amount helps you get the food you need!

This whole thread is such a great example of how much community knowledge helps! I'm also on SSI and was getting frustrated with my low CalFresh amount but didn't know about the medical expense deduction either. One thing I'd add - if you have recurring medical expenses like prescription copays or regular doctor visits, ask your county worker about setting up an "ongoing medical deduction" so you don't have to report the same expenses every month. My caseworker told me this saves time and makes sure the deduction doesn't accidentally get dropped. Also, for anyone still struggling to get through to their county office, try calling right when they open in the morning - that's usually when you have the best chance of getting through quickly. The afternoon phone lines are always swamped. Really glad you got this sorted out and will be getting more benefits soon!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who's been navigating the CalFresh system for my elderly mother who's on SSI, I can't thank everyone enough for sharing these insights about medical expense deductions. We were also getting a frustratingly low benefit amount ($31/month) and had no idea that her prescription costs, medical equipment, and even her Medicare Part B premium could count toward increasing her CalFresh benefits. The caseworker never mentioned any of this when we applied. I'm definitely going to help her gather all her medical receipts and call to request a recalculation. It's honestly shocking how much critical information isn't shared upfront - you really do have to know exactly what to ask for. Does anyone know if there's a limit to how far back you can report unreported medical expenses? We've been paying for her medications and medical supplies for months without knowing they could help increase her benefits.

I'm so glad I found this thread! I've been dealing with a similar situation - I'm on SSI and was only getting $45/month in CalFresh, barely enough to cover a few days of groceries. After reading all these comments about medical expense deductions, I realized I never reported my monthly prescription costs, physical therapy copays, or even my medical transportation expenses. I called my county office yesterday (took three tries to get through!) and spoke with a caseworker about adding these medical expenses to my case. She was actually really helpful and said many SSI recipients don't know about this deduction. She's sending me the forms to document everything and said my benefits should increase significantly once they recalculate. One thing she mentioned that I haven't seen discussed here yet - if you use rideshare or public transit to get to medical appointments, those costs can also count toward your medical expense deduction if you're on SSI. I spend about $40/month on Uber rides to my doctor visits that I never thought to report. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences here - this community knowledge is invaluable when the system doesn't always explain these important details upfront!

This thread has been incredibly eye-opening! I'm also on SSI and have been struggling with a really low CalFresh amount ($38/month) that barely covers anything. Reading everyone's experiences about medical expense deductions has made me realize I've been missing out on reporting so many qualified expenses. I had no idea that things like over-the-counter medications, medical equipment, and even transportation to appointments could count toward increasing benefits. I spend probably $80+ per month on various medical costs that I never reported because nobody ever told me about this deduction when I applied. The part about Medicare Part B premiums really caught my attention too - I pay that monthly but never connected it to my CalFresh calculation. It's honestly frustrating that caseworkers don't automatically ask about or explain these deductions, especially for SSI recipients who could really benefit from knowing about them. I'm definitely going to gather all my medical receipts and call my county office to request a recalculation. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - this community support is exactly what people need when navigating these complicated benefit systems!