Deactivation of Magnetic Stripe EBT cards

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California issues CalWORKs and CalFresh benefits on Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards.  As of April 29, 2025, all EBT cardholders with an active EBT card were issues a replacement chip/tap EBT card.  The magnetic stripe cards for those cardholders were deactivated effective October 25, 2025.

There are approximately 34,000 magnetic stripe EBT cards still in circulation.  These cards were not considered active when the chip/tap cards were issued, or were subsequently reactivated because of reapplication for food or cash benefits.  Effective April 19, 2026, these remaining magnetic stripe cards will be deactivated.  People who have these magnetic stripe cards can get a replacement chip/tap card by EBT Customer Service Helpline at (877) 328-9677, online at BenefitsCal or the ebtEDGE mobile application and cardholder portal, or by contacting their local county welfare department office.

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) will give counites a list of cardholders with magnetic stripe cards that will be deactivated.  CDSS strongly recommends that counties conduct outreach to these cardholders.

Some counties may have chip/tap cards that were not picked up by cardholders.  Those chip/tap cards must be securely destroyed by April 19, 2026.  (ACWDL, March 19, 2026.)

CalWORKs and CalFresh income exemption for awards to attend college

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) issued guidance regarding the new income exemption for awards to attend college.  Effective March 1, 2026, any grant, award, scholarship, loan or fellowship awarded for the purpose of attending an institution of higher education is excluded from consideration as income for CalWORKs and CalFresh.  These awards are exempt as a resource for 12 months.  These funds are excluded whether they are distributed to the institution of higher education, or the benefits recipient.

This exemption does not apply to cash payments made directly by friends or relatives for the purpose of attending an institution of higher education.

For CalWORKs, verification must establish that the financial assistance is for the purpose of attending an institution of higher education.  Verification is not required for CalFresh unless the income exclusion is questionable.

For recipients, counties must reevaluate eligibility and benefit calculations at their next SAR or annual recertification.  Current recipients can make a voluntary mid-period request to recalculate their benefits with the new income exclusion.

Until automation is complete, counties must manually implement the new income exclusion.

The new income exclusion also applies to Refugee Cash Assistance, Entrant Cash Assistance, and Trafficking and Crime Victims Protection Act benefits.  (ACL 26-16, March 19, 2026.)

New CalWORKs Welfare-to-Work forms

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has designated seven Welfare-to-Work (WTW) forms for statewide use.  Six of those forms are informing notices.

The new WTW 112 form is for clients to get medical verification that a household member who is not a mandatory WTW participant requires care in the home. The form must be completed by a doctor or other medical professional who can verify the need for care in the home. When that need is established, a mandatory WTW participant may be exempt from WTW to care for that household member.  If the person who needs in home care is also a mandatory WTW participant, the CW 61 form must be used to verify their WTW exemption.  (ACL 26-08, January 23, 2026.)

Business relationship between the state and family child care providers

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The California Department of Social Services released a bulletin stating that family child care providers are not public employees and do not have an employment relationship with the state, political subdivisions of the State (including counties), or contractors or subcontractors administering state-funded early care and education programs.   Family child care providers are not public employees and do have an employment relationship with the state. They are therefore not eligible for any of the following:

  • Workers’ compensation, 
  • Unemployment insurance, 
  • Liability under the Labor Code or state wage orders, and
  • Vicarious liability in tort. 

(CCB 25-31, November 25, 2025)

CAPI Presumptive Disability

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has informed counties about presumptive disability payments in the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI).

When a CAPI applicant has certain medical conditions, the county can make a presumptive disability determination which makes the applicant eligible for six months of benefits while their disability evaluation is pending.  The conditions are listed in MPP section 49-025.1.  Additional conditions are stated in this letter.  Presumptive disability payments cannot be for more than six months.  These payments are not overpayments if the applicant is eventually found not disabled unless non-disability factors cause the overpayment.

If someone who received presumptive disability payments is found to be not disabled and then reapplies for CAPI, they can get presumptive disability payments again only if there is documentation or a worsening physical or mental condition, there is documentation of a new impairment, or there is a strong likelihood the claim will be approved.

When presumptive disability payments are granted, the notice of action must state the presumptive disability payments will end after six months.  If six months pass and there has not been a disability determination, the county must send a notice of action ending presumptive disability payment and stating that the case remains open pending a disability determination.

The county should send a notice of denial when the applicant is determined to be not disabled, or when a decision could not be made because the applicant did not cooperate with the disability evaluation.  (ACL 26-14, February 20, 2026.)

CalFresh time limit waiver for Alpine, Merced, Monterey, and Plumas Counties

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The United States Department of Agriculture has granted a CalFresh time limit waiver for Alpine, Merced, Monterey, and Plumas Counties from November 1, 2025 to October 31, 2026.  This waiver was approved based on each of these counties having an average unemployment rate over 10 percent from January to March, 2025.  This means that Alpine, Merced, Monterey, and Plumas will not need to implement the CalFresh time on aid limit until November 1, 2026.

Alpine, Merced, Monterey, and Plumas Counties must remain ready to implement the time limit when the waiver expires.  These counties must identify clients subject to the time limit; screen for exemptions; inform clients of the time limit and work rules; and track work registration, time limit, and Employment and Training data.  (ACL 26-15, February 26, 2026.)