Can I get CalFresh benefits while on EDD SDI disability? Eligibility confusion
I started receiving California SDI last month after my surgery and I'm trying to make ends meet while I recover. My benefit is $2,150/month which is barely covering my rent and utilities. I heard from a friend that I might qualify for CalFresh (food stamps) to help with groceries, but I'm getting mixed information online. Some sites say disability income counts against eligibility and others mention exemptions. Has anyone here successfully gotten CalFresh while on disability? Will my SDI payments disqualify me? I'm a single person household if that matters.
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Lucy Taylor
Yes, you CAN apply for CalFresh while receiving SDI! I went through this last year. Your SDI is counted as income, but that doesn't automatically disqualify you. The income limits for CalFresh are higher than most people think. For a single person, the gross monthly income limit is around $2,430 (as of 2025), so you're still under that threshold with your $2,150. Here's what helped me: 1. Apply online through GetCalFresh.org (much faster than the county office) 2. Be specific that you're on temporary disability, not permanent disability 3. Have your SDI award letter ready to upload I was getting about $187/month in food benefits while on disability. Definitely worth applying!
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Isaac Wright
•Thank you so much for the detailed info! I was really confused about this. Did they ask you for a bunch of documentation? I'm worried they'll want bank statements and stuff I can't easily access right now.
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Connor Murphy
not true! if ur getting ssi u can get calfresh now but if ur on sdi its different. my cousin got denied 4 calfresh while on temp disability but maybe depends on how much u get?? idk the rules change all the time ugh
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KhalilStar
•There's often confusion between SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and SDI (State Disability Insurance). You're right that the rules changed - SSI recipients can now get CalFresh as of a few years ago. But SDI has always been treated as regular income for CalFresh purposes. Your cousin may have been denied because their SDI amount exceeded the income limits, not because they were categorically ineligible.
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Amelia Dietrich
I WENT THROUGH THIS EXACT SITUATION!!! Applied for CalFresh while on disability after my car accident and the whole process was a NIGHTMARE!!! Called the county office like 15 times and kept getting different answers every single time. One person said I qualified, the next said I didn't. Finally got through to a supervisor who confirmed I could apply. The system is BROKEN. They make it so confusing on purpose to discourage people from applying. Don't give up though - you're entitled to those benefits if you meet the income requirements!
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Kaiya Rivera
•I had a similar experience trying to call my county office about CalFresh. Could never get through, and when I did, they'd transfer me and the call would drop. I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me get through to a live person! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/1X-mEsLtbmQ?si=1hcSq3KFtCr4oAmd Much easier than spending hours redialing. They connected me directly to a CalFresh specialist who confirmed that SDI recipients can absolutely apply and helped process my application over the phone.
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Katherine Ziminski
Just wanted to add some technical clarification on this topic... For CalFresh eligibility while on SDI: - SDI is counted as "unearned income" (just like unemployment benefits would be) - The current (2025) gross monthly income limit for a household of 1 is $2,430 - The net monthly income limit after deductions is $1,869 - Important: You get deductions for housing costs exceeding 50% of your income So with your $2,150 in SDI benefits, you're under the gross limit. And if your rent is high (which sounds like it is), the housing deduction might get you under the net income limit too. Also, the application asks about your expenses - be thorough with listing ALL medical costs related to your disability, as these can further reduce your countable income.
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Isaac Wright
•This is super helpful! I didn't realize they'd take my housing costs into consideration. My rent is $1,800/month so that would definitely be over 50% of my income. And I do have out-of-pocket medical expenses that insurance isn't covering. I'll make sure to include all of that on my application.
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Noah Irving
am on disability 2 and got calfresh last month! only $86 but better than nothing lol... the lady at the office was super nice and helped me fill everything out. just bring ur disability award letter when u go
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Isaac Wright
UPDATE: I just wanted to let everyone know that I applied for CalFresh online yesterday using the GetCalFresh.org site someone recommended. The application was pretty straightforward and only took about 15 minutes. I uploaded my SDI award letter and rent agreement. They said I should hear back within 30 days, but might get a call sooner for a phone interview. Will update again when I get a decision!
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KhalilStar
•Great job getting that application submitted! One tip for your phone interview - make sure to emphasize that your disability is temporary and that you'll be returning to work. CalFresh is meant to help during temporary financial hardships, which is exactly your situation. Keep us posted on the outcome!
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Vanessa Chang
my neighbor got calfresh and sdi at same time but they only gave her like $34 a month for food which is nothing these days. system is rigged against disabled ppl if u ask me. good luck tho
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Lucy Taylor
•The benefit amount varies a lot based on your income, expenses, and household size. While $34 doesn't sound like much, it's calculated based on the specific financial situation. Someone with income closer to the upper limit will get less than someone with very low income. Even smaller amounts help when you're trying to make ends meet on disability!
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Isaac Wright
FINAL UPDATE: I got approved for CalFresh! Had my phone interview yesterday and they approved me on the spot for $173/month in food benefits. They're loading it onto my EBT card today. I'm so relieved to have some help with groceries while I'm recovering. Thanks to everyone who encouraged me to apply and shared their experiences. For anyone else in a similar situation - definitely worth applying even if you're on SDI!
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Katherine Ziminski
•Congratulations! That's a great outcome and will definitely help stretch your budget during recovery. Thanks for coming back to share the positive result - it helps others in similar situations know that it's possible to get these benefits while on disability.
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Ethan Moore
•That's fantastic news Isaac! $173/month will definitely make a real difference with grocery costs. Your success story will be really helpful for other community members who might be hesitant to apply thinking they won't qualify. It's a great reminder that these programs exist specifically to help people get through tough times like recovering from surgery. Wishing you a smooth recovery!
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Mikayla Brown
This is such a helpful thread! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation - been on SDI for 3 months after a work injury and struggling to afford groceries. Reading through everyone's experiences gives me hope that I might qualify too. My SDI is $1,980/month and my rent is $1,650, so it sounds like I might be in a similar position to Isaac. Does anyone know if they consider medical expenses from physical therapy and prescription copays? I'm spending about $200/month on recovery-related costs that aren't fully covered by insurance. Also wondering if the application asks about savings - I had to dip into my emergency fund to cover initial medical bills, so my account balance is pretty low right now. Going to try the GetCalFresh.org site this weekend. Thanks for sharing your success story Isaac - it's encouraging to see it worked out!
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Amina Diallo
•Yes, they absolutely consider medical expenses! Physical therapy copays, prescription costs, and other out-of-pocket medical expenses related to your disability can be deducted from your income calculation. Make sure to keep receipts and documentation of all these costs - they can really help bring down your countable income for CalFresh purposes. Regarding savings, they do ask about resources/assets, but the limits are pretty reasonable for CalFresh. For a single person household, you can have up to $2,750 in countable resources (like savings accounts). Since you mentioned dipping into your emergency fund for medical bills, you're probably well under that limit anyway. With your income and rent situation, you sound like you'd be in a very similar position to Isaac. Your rent is over 80% of your SDI, which should qualify you for significant housing cost deductions. Definitely worth applying - the worst they can say is no, but it sounds like you have a good chance of approval!
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Nathaniel Mikhaylov
This whole thread has been incredibly informative! I'm a case worker who helps people navigate disability benefits, and I see this confusion about CalFresh eligibility ALL the time. Just wanted to add a few quick tips for anyone else reading this: 1. The "SNAP/CalFresh Screening Tool" on the CDSS website can give you a quick preliminary assessment before you apply 2. If you're denied initially, don't give up - you can request a fair hearing within 90 days 3. Emergency CalFresh (within 3 days) might be available if you have less than $150 in monthly income after housing costs Isaac, congrats on getting approved! Your experience is exactly why I always encourage people to apply rather than assume they won't qualify. The income limits are more generous than most people realize, and the deductions for housing and medical expenses can make a huge difference in the calculation. For anyone else in this situation - temporary disability is exactly what these safety net programs are designed for. Don't let pride or confusion stop you from getting help you're entitled to during recovery.
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NebulaNinja
•Thank you for sharing your professional perspective, Nathaniel! As someone new to navigating disability benefits, this thread has been incredibly eye-opening. I had no idea about the emergency CalFresh option or the fair hearing process if denied. It's reassuring to know there are advocates like you helping people understand these systems. I'm actually in a similar boat - just started receiving SDI after a back injury and have been worried about making ends meet. Reading Isaac's success story and all the detailed advice here has given me the confidence to apply. The screening tool you mentioned sounds like a great first step to get a sense of eligibility before diving into the full application. It's unfortunate that these programs aren't better publicized or explained clearly upfront. So many people probably go without help simply because they assume they don't qualify or the process is too complicated. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community support makes such a difference!
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Eve Freeman
This thread is such a valuable resource! I'm currently in week 2 of my SDI claim after a shoulder surgery and have been stressing about finances. My benefits should start next month at around $1,900/month, but between rent ($1,400) and medical bills, I'm already worried about affording groceries. Reading through everyone's experiences, especially Isaac's successful outcome, gives me so much hope. I had completely written off the idea of CalFresh because I assumed any government disability income would disqualify me. The fact that SDI is just treated as regular income for eligibility purposes makes so much more sense now. I'm definitely going to use the GetCalFresh.org site that multiple people recommended. The breakdown of income limits and deductions that Katherine provided is super helpful - sounds like my housing costs alone would put me in a good position for approval. For anyone else reading this who might be hesitant like I was - this community has shown that it's absolutely worth applying. These programs exist to help us get through temporary hardships, and recovering from surgery/injury definitely qualifies. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and advice!
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Fiona Sand
•Welcome to the community, Eve! Your situation sounds very similar to what many of us have gone through. It's completely understandable to feel overwhelmed about finances during recovery - that stress definitely doesn't help the healing process. You're absolutely right that these programs exist for exactly these kinds of temporary hardships. Shoulder surgery recovery can be tough, and having one less thing to worry about (like grocery costs) can really help you focus on getting better. Since you mentioned you're still waiting for your SDI to start, you might want to look into that emergency CalFresh option that Nathaniel mentioned earlier. If your current income situation qualifies, you could potentially get benefits within 3 days rather than waiting for the standard processing time. Best of luck with both your recovery and your application! Don't hesitate to come back and share your experience - success stories like Isaac's really help encourage others who might be on the fence about applying.
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Liam Duke
This thread is amazing - thank you all for sharing your experiences! I'm a single mom on temporary SDI ($2,000/month) after a C-section complication that's keeping me out of work longer than expected. With daycare costs and rent eating up most of my benefits, I've been living on rice and beans trying to make it work. I honestly didn't even know CalFresh was an option while on disability. The way Isaac broke down his whole process and the final approval gives me so much hope! I'm especially grateful for Katherine's explanation of the income limits and deductions - with my childcare expenses on top of housing costs, it sounds like I might actually qualify for a decent benefit amount. Going to apply this weekend using GetCalFresh.org. Even if it's just $50-100/month, that would make such a difference for fresh fruits and vegetables for my toddler. It's so reassuring to know there's help available during these tough recovery periods. Will definitely update once I hear back!
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Madison King
•I'm so glad this thread has been helpful for you, Liam! Being a single parent on disability sounds incredibly challenging, and you're doing an amazing job managing everything during your recovery. The fact that you're prioritizing your toddler's nutrition shows what a dedicated parent you are. You're absolutely right that childcare expenses should work in your favor for CalFresh - those costs are considered when calculating your net income, just like housing costs. With both rent and daycare eating into your $2,000 SDI, you'll likely qualify for a substantial benefit amount. One additional tip since you mentioned having a young child - make sure to note that on your application! Households with children under certain ages sometimes get priority processing or additional considerations. And don't underestimate how much even $50-100 would help - that's a week's worth of groceries that you wouldn't have to stress about. Your situation is exactly what these programs were designed for. Wishing you a smooth recovery and hoping your application goes as smoothly as Isaac's did!
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TillyCombatwarrior
Just wanted to share my experience as someone who went through this process about 6 months ago. I was on SDI for 4 months after a knee replacement surgery, getting about $1,850/month. Like many of you, I was confused about whether I could get CalFresh and almost didn't apply because I thought any disability income would disqualify me. The application process through GetCalFresh.org was surprisingly straightforward - took maybe 20 minutes total. What really helped was having all my documents ready beforehand: SDI award letter, lease agreement, and receipts for my physical therapy copays. I ended up getting approved for $142/month, which was honestly a lifesaver during recovery. The phone interview was just basic verification of what I'd already submitted online. The caseworker was actually really understanding about my situation and explained how the deductions worked. For anyone still hesitating - Isaac's success story isn't unique! I know it can feel overwhelming when you're already dealing with recovery, but these benefits can really take some financial pressure off during a difficult time. The worst they can say is no, but you might be surprised by the outcome. Good luck to everyone who's applying!
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Keisha Williams
•Thanks for sharing your experience! It's really encouraging to hear another successful outcome. I'm in a similar situation - just started my SDI claim after a work injury and have been nervous about the whole CalFresh application process. Your point about having all the documents ready beforehand is super helpful - I'll make sure to gather everything before I start the application. It's amazing how much this thread has opened my eyes to what's actually possible. Like so many others here, I had completely assumed that any disability benefits would automatically disqualify me from food assistance. Reading all these real experiences from Isaac, you, and others has given me the confidence to actually apply instead of just struggling through on my own. The $142/month you received sounds like it would make such a difference when every dollar counts during recovery. Did you find the physical therapy copay receipts made a big impact on your eligibility calculation?
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