Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits Excluded from CalFresh Income Calculations

Posted on by

On June 11, 2026, the Department of Social Services released ACL 26-42 on CalFresh Treatment of Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits. Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits are excluded from CalFresh (SNAP) income calculations. These benefits, reimbursing specific health-related items or services, do not count as household gains or benefits and cannot be used as medical expense deductions. County Welfare Departments (CWDs) must treat them as medical reimbursements, not income.


Exclusion from Income for CalFresh Purposes

  • CWDs must exclude all MA supplemental benefits from income when determining CalFresh eligibility. These benefits are considered medical reimbursements and are not counted as income.
  • This exclusion is based on Section 5(d)(5) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and 7 CFR 273.9(c)(5), which state that reimbursements for past or future expenses are not income if they do not exceed actual expenses and do not represent a gain or benefit to the household.

Definition and Examples of MA Supplemental Benefits

  • MA supplemental benefits are items or services related to the health of the enrollee and not covered under Medicare Part A, B, or D. Examples include food, transportation, utilities, or other items that improve or maintain the health or function of the enrollee.
    These benefits may be provided through spending cards limited to certain covered items or services, varying by insurer.

Not Allowable as Medical Expense Deductions

  • Medical expenses reimbursed by MA supplemental benefits cannot be used as medical expense deductions for CalFresh. Households cannot use these reimbursed expenses to qualify for the Standard Medical Deduction.

(A. Meyer)

Use Of Income, Employment, and Work Hour Verification Tools: The Work Number And Truv

Posted on by

As of June 8, 2026, CDSS is changing the workflow for verification of income, employment, and work hours in two ways. [ACL 26-37]

First, CDSS uses a consumer credit report called The Work Number (TWN) to verify work and employment information for applicants and recipients of CalFresh and CalWORKs. Previously, eligibility workers only obtained a TWN verification if income or employment was reported by the household/assistance unit. Effective June 8, 2026, CDSS requires eligibility workers to obtain a TWN verification for every initial applicant and at any recertification or redetermination of benefits.

Second, CDSS will now offer Truv as an option to applicants and recipients as a way to obtain verification of employment, income, and work hours. Participant consent to use of Truv is optional and participants can still use other verification methods. Truv allows individuals to consent to securely share real-time payroll and employment data directly from employers, payroll providers, and gig economy platforms. Individuals can utilize the Truv link provided by the county and complete the consent-based verification process by providing login credentials to relevant electronic sources.

(K. Wardrip)

Non-Exempt Vehicle Limit Increase

Posted on by

Effective July 1, 2026, the maximum value limit for non-exempt vehicles will increase for applicants/recipients of CalWORKs and three other programs. The new limit will be $33,626 (in equity value). Any equity value above that amount will count against the applicant/recipient’s maximum asset limit. This changes also applies to the Refugee Cash Assistance, Entrant Cash Assistance and Trafficking and Crime and Victims Assistance programs. [ACL 26-38]

Applicants and recipients can self-certify their vehicles’ fair market value using the “Self-Certification Form for Motor Vehicles” (CW 80) form. The counties use this form to determine whether the value is exempt from the vehicle limit, the equity value of non-exempt vehicles and whether there is excess equity value that should count against the family’s total resource limit.

Child care eligibility and attendance changes

Posted on by

The California Department of Health Services has released guidance regarding changes to child care eligibility and attendance.

Effective January 1, 2026, medical and education appointments are considered excused absences from child care.  A child care contractor can claim attendance for days that the contractor is required to hold a space when the family is assumed to have abandoned care or is appealing disenrollment.

The income threshold for CalWORKs Stage 3 child care is now 70% to 85% of area median income adjusted for family size.

There is an exemption from family fees for abused, neglected, or exploited children who are receiving child protective services, or are at risk of being abused, neglected, or exploited and have a written referral from a legal, medical, or social services agency.  That exemption is extended to 24 months.  This exemption applies to General Child Care and Development, Migrant Child Care and Development (CMIG), Family Child Care Home Education Networks, California Alternative Payment Program, Migrant Alternative Payment Program, California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Stage 2, and California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids Stage 3.  (CCB 26-02, January 22, 2026.)

Eligibility for Migrant Child Care Programs

Posted on by

Effective January 1, 2026, the definition of “migrant agricultural worker family” for purposes of migrant child care programs at least one family member earns at least 40 percent of their total gross income from employment in fishing, agriculture, or agriculturally related work during the 12 months prior to applying.

Parents must provide documentation of the family’s total countable income either by providing payroll records or a letter from the employer, or a release authorizing the contractor to contact the employer.  If the employer does not provided the requested documentation, or requesting the documentation would adversely affect the parent’s employment, the parent can provide other verification such as a client list with amounts paid, tax return, quarterly estimated tax return, or other records of income.  (CCB 26-03, February 24, 2026.)