The 15% increase in CalFresh benefits because of COVID-19 has been extended by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to September 30, 2021. The minimum benefit is increased to $19. Income deductions are unchanged.
The $300 per week Pandemic Unemployment Compensation benefit is excluded as income or a resource. Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits for persons who were independent contractors or self-employed and lost employment because of COVID-19 count as income for CalFresh. Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation that provides additional weeks of Unemployment Insurance counts as income for CalFresh.
Individual rebates and child tax credits under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 are excluded as income for CalFresh and do not count as a resource for 12 months. (ACL I-24-21, April 1, 2021.)