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CalFresh Eligibility Criteria

Maximum Gross Income Level

 

Number of People in Household

130% Federal Poverty Level Maximum Gross Income Allowed

Gross Monthly Income Eligibility Standards for Modified Categorical Eligibility (MCE)/Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) 200% Federal Poverty Level Maximum Gross Income Allowed

1

$1,580

$2,430

2

$2,137

$3,288

3

$2,694

$4,144

4

$3,250

$5,000

5

$3,807

$5,858

6

$4,364

$6,714

7

$4,921

$7,570

8

$5,478

$8,428

Each Additional Member

+$557

+$858

Gross income is all the income your household gets from any source except the exempt income.  Some examples of exempt income include any college work study program and Job Training Partnership Act. For most households, the monthly gross income (before payroll deductions) must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level for the household size. If a member of your household is disqualified because of an intentional program violation, then the 130% Federal Poverty Level will apply to your household and your resources will also be counted.

 

Adjusted Net Income

Number of People in Household

Maximum Net Income Allowed
(100% Federal Poverty Level)

1

$1,215

2

$1,644

3

$2,072

4

$2,500

5

$2,929

6

$3,357

7

$3,785

8

$4,214

Each Additional Member

+$429
After showing that your income is less than the allowable Gross Income, your Eligibility Worker will allow certain deductions and subtract them from your gross income to determine your adjusted net income that will be used to determine the monthly benefit amount for your household's size.

Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD)

An ABAWD is a person who is applying for, or receiving, CalFresh benefits and is between the ages of 18 and 49, is able to work, and does not have dependent children.  An ABAWD customer is limited to receiving three months of CalFresh benefits within a 36-month period, unless he/she:

  1. Is exempt from the ABAWD Time Limit;
  2. Satisfies the CalFresh work requirement;
  3. Qualifies for an additional three consecutive month period of eligibility;
  4. Receives a discretionary exemption; or
  5. Lives in a county or area with a waiver of the ABAWD Time Limit.

Work Registration

Each non-exempt CalFresh household member age 16 through 59 must be registered for employment at initial application and once every 12 months after initial registration, as a condition of CalFresh eligibility.

Elderly and Disabled Households

If your household includes someone who is elderly (age 60 or older) and/or disabled, your net monthly income limit will be used to determine eligibility instead of the gross income limit. 

Apply for CalFresh and other programs at BenefitsCal today!