CalFresh student eligibility

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued instructions implementing AB 214 regarding CalFresh student eligibility.

The California Student Aid Commission must now provide written notice to Cal Grant A and B recipients of their potential eligibility for CalFresh.  Only Cal Grant A and B are TANF funded and make recipients eligible for CalFresh.  Cal Grant B Access and CalGrant C are not TANF funded and do make recipients eligible for CalFresh.

Students who are enrolled less than half-time are eligible for CalFresh. Half-time enrollment is now defined as enrolled in at least half of the number of credits needed each semester in order to graduate in four years, or within two years if enrolled as a transfer student.

Students are eligible for CalFresh if they are approved for any state or federal work study program for the current term and can anticipate working during the term.  Anticipating participation is defined as reasonably expecting or forseeing being assigned a work study job, and a student is deemed to be anticipating participation until they receive notice from the institution of higher education that they have been denied participation in work study.

Students participating in a program that increases employability are eligible for CalFresh.  CDSS must maintain a non-exhaustive list of local education programs that increase employability.  Education institutions can request that a local education program be approved as a program that increases employability.  In addition, participation in an Unaccompanied Refugee Minors program qualifies the student for an exception to the CalFresh student eligibility rule.  (ACL 18-27, April 2, 2018.)