The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued guidance regarding treatment of the new individual stimulus payments as income for various benefits programs.
The payments authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 are individual tax rebates. They are excluded from income in the month received for CalWORKs, CalFresh, Refugee Cash Assistance, and the Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program. The individual stimulus payments count as a resource after 12 months if they have not been spent. (ACWDL, December 31, 2020.)