CalFresh / SNAP

Processing of Recipient IEVS matches

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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

Posted on by

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.)

CalFresh time limit waiver for Alpine, Merced, Monterey, and Plumas Counties

Posted on by

The United States Department of Agriculture has granted a CalFresh time limit waiver for Alpine, Merced, Monterey, and Plumas Counties from November 1, 2025 to October 31, 2026.  This waiver was approved based on each of these counties having an average unemployment rate over 10 percent from January to March, 2025.  This means that Alpine, Merced, Monterey, and Plumas will not need to implement the CalFresh time on aid limit until November 1, 2026.

Alpine, Merced, Monterey, and Plumas Counties must remain ready to implement the time limit when the waiver expires.  These counties must identify clients subject to the time limit; screen for exemptions; inform clients of the time limit and work rules; and track work registration, time limit, and Employment and Training data.  (ACL 26-15, February 26, 2026.)

Parolee eligibility for California Food Assistance Program (CFAP)

Posted on by

The California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) is a state funded program that provides benefits equivalent to CalFresh to qualified immigrants who are not eligible for CalFresh.

based solely on the immigration status restrictions in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA). Under PRWORA, parolees who are in the United States for over five years were eligible for CalFresh, but parolees in the United States for under five years were not eligible for CFAP.

Currently, California Department of Social Services policy is parolees in the United States for less than one year are ineligible for CFAP.  Parolees in the United States between one and five years are eligible for CFAP.

Starting on June 1, 2026, or when automation is completed, people paroled into the United States for less than one year will be eligible for CFAP.  These individuals will be eligible for CFAP as soon as they are paroled for up to five years.  After being paroled for five years, they will not be eligible for CFAP because after five years they will be ineligible for CalFresh because of HR 1 instead of being ineligible because of PRWORA.

Any household member who was excluded because they were paroled into the United States for less than one year must be added as a CFAP household member at the household’s next recertification, if all other eligibility is met. The DT Code is sufficient verification of parolee status and the county cannot ask for additional verification beyond the DT Code. (ACL 26-03, January 15, 2026.)

Extension of CalFresh Standard Medical Expense Deduction

Posted on by

The California Department of Social Services has issued guidance regarding extension of the CalFresh Standard Medical Expense Deduction (SMD).  The SMD waiver and has been extended to September 30, 2029.

The SMD is a standard $150 per month deduction for households with an elderly and/or disabled member with verified medical expenses of at least $35 per month.  Households with more than $185 per month in verified medical expenses can deduct all expenses from their income.

Failure to verify medical expenses is not a basis to deny or discontinue a case.

Except as stated, the details of the SMD are unchanged.  (See ACL 17-35, 21-117, 21-117E, and 24-59.   (ACL 26-04, January 15, 2026.)