Associate and Bachelors degree programs now count as CalFresh LPIEs

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In general, students who are enrolled in an institution of higher learning at least half time are ineligible for CalFresh.  There are several exceptions to that rule.  One of those exceptions is when the student is in a program designated as a Local Program that Increases Employability.  Effective June 1, 2026, all associates and bachelor’s degree programs at a California Community College, California State University, or University of California campus will be considered LPIEs.

This means that anyone attending a California Community College, California State University or University of California campus at least half time, and who is enrolled in an associates or bachelor’s degree program in any major, is exempt from the CalFresh student exclusion.  This includes associates degrees for transfer.  Students who have not declared a major but are in enrolled in general education courses requires to obtain a associates or bachelor’s degree will also be exempt from the CalFresh student exclusion.  A client’s verbal or written statement that they are enrolled in an associates or bachelor’s program at a public institution of higher learning is acceptable verification unless it is questionable.

The student exclusion still applies to students enrolled in private institutions, and to students who are not enrolled in associates or bachelor’s degree programs.  This includes graduate/advanced degree programs, certificate programs, Career and Technical Education programs, and adult basic education programs.  However, such programs can still be submitted to the California Department of Social Services for evaluation whether they qualify for the Local Program that Increases Employability exception to the CalFresh student rule.

The expansion of programs that qualify as LPIEs must be applied to all new CalFresh applications starting June 1, 2026.  The new definition will apply to ongoing households when they recertify.  However, voluntary reports will be acted upon if they increase benefits.  (ACL 26-25, April 13, 2026.)

Good cause for CAPI applicants

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To be eligible for the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI), applicants must apply for SSI or other available benefits within 30 days of applying for CAPI.  That 30 day deadline can be extended for good cause.  Some examples of good cause are that the Social Security appointment process causes a delay beyond the 30 day deadline, the applicant is hospitalized which prevents them from applying for SSI or available benefits within 30 days, and a natural disaster prevents them from applying for SSI within 30 days.

When the county finds good cause, the applicant must submit their Social Security appointment letter to the county when they receive it.  The date of the appointment letter is the date the 30 days begins to run.

Counties must determine what constitutes good cause and should get evidence of the circumstances surrounding good cause.  Attestations can be used instead of physical evidence if there is no reason to doubt their credibility.

If the request for more time to apply for SSI is related to a disability, it should be treated as a request for a reasonable accommodation instead of a good cause request.  (ACL 26-22, April 3, 2026.)

Processing of Recipient IEVS matches

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The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) issued guidance regarding processing of matches from the Recipient Income and Eligibility Verification System (R-IEVS) system.  R-IEVS contains income information from several databases that is matched with information provided by current CalWORKs and CalFresh recipients.

In general, counties must process IEVS matches within 45 days, and establish overpayments and overissuances no later than the quarter after the quarter when the income discrepancy is discovered.  However, R-IEVS matches on closed cases are not subject to the 45 day processing time or the quarter after quarter requirement.

Counties must try to process IEVS matches on closed cases within 12 months of the run date of the date of receipt of the match.  However, counties can process the match after 12 months if the counties believes it is cost effective or if the county suspects fraud.  If the county determines that pursuing the match is not cost-effective, there must be a note in CalSAWS to that effect.

On or before March 31, 2026, CDSS and CalSAWS will do a one-time disposal of all IEVS abstracts that are more than 12 months old.

Counties must implement and update written policies that reflect these new guidelines. (ACL 26-05, January 26, 2026.)

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.)

Note that stipends for the Community College Higher UP pilot program are considered an award to attend college and are exempt.  (PI 26-18.)

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.)