The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) informs counties of the temporary 15% increase in the maximum CalFresh benefit from January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021. This change effectively increases all CalFresh benefits by 15%. The minimum benefit amount is temporarily increased to $19.
Counties must use mass change informing practices of this temporary benefit changes, including news or other media outlets, social media, client facing websites, text messages, and posters in welfare department offices.
This increase in benefits must be excluded when calculating the amount of an overissuance against a household.
For January 2021, the benefit increase will be issued on February 7. Starting with February benefits, the increase will be issued with the household’s normal benefits.
Because of automation issues, the emergency allotment for January will now be issued on February 14, 2021. (ACIN I-11-21, January 27, 2021.)