The California Department of Social Services has issued guidance regarding impacts on the CalFresh and CalWORKs programs because of the federal government shutdown that started on October 1.
Because of the federal government shutdown, CalFresh benefits for November, 2025 will not be issued until further notice. Households who apply for CalFresh benefits in October, 2025, and are found to be newly eligible for October, 2025 will receive their October, 2025 benefits.
Counties must continue to process new CalFresh application, including expedited service and recertifications. For applications received beginning November 1, 2025, counties must authorize benefits, but those benefits will be held until further notice.
Federally funded replacement benefits for household misfortune for November, 2025 and beyond will be held until further notice.
State funded replacement benefits for electronic theft will be processed as normal.
CFAP benefits for November, 2025 will be delayed because, although CFAP is state funded, the accounting mechanism is interconnected with CalFresh.
Supplemental Nutrition Benefits and Transitional Nutrition Benefits will be processed as normal.
CalFresh Water Pilot issuance will be processed as normal.
Funding should be available for CalWORKs benefits to be issued for November, 2025. (ACL 25-75, October 20, 2025.)