The United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has issued policy about which foods are eligible for purchase with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, known as CalFresh in California) benefits.

In general, food items intended for human consumption are eligible for purchase with SNAP.  This includes cooking ingredients normally consumed only after being incorporated into food with other ingredients, vegetable products imparting flavor to food and items not labeled as food such as water and ice.

Certain non-food items can also be purchased with SNAP including

• garden seeds and plants used to produce food for human consumption
• military commissary surcharges
• container deposits under state law
• sales tax only if it is included in the shelf price of an eligible item.

Items excluded from purchase with SNAP include:

• alcohol
• tobacco and nicotine delivery products
• hot food, which is defined as foods and beverages that are hot at the point of sale
• prepared food intended for on-premises consumption, but prepared food intended for off-premises consumption is eligible as long it is not hot at the point of sale
• firearms, ammunition and explosives
• medicines and dietary supplements; live animals, except for shellfish
• fish as long as they are removed from water prior to removal from the sales premises, and other animals live at the point-of-sale if they are slaughtered prior to removal from the premises
• gift baskets if the value of non-food items is over half of the purchase price
• non-food items
• fees, including retailer fees for the delivery of food and grocery bag fees
• sales tax unless it is included in the shelf price of an item.

(RPMD Policy Memorandum 2018-2, January 16, 2018.)

CDSS has issued guidance regarding AB 563 which defers individuals who are considered Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) from mandatory placement in the CalFresh Employment and Training (E & T) Program.

AB 563 expands the deferral criteria from CalFresh E & T to include individuals subject to the ABAWD time limit which limits eligibility to three full months in a 36-month period for people between ages 18 and 50 who are not disabled and who do not have children.  Counties that choose to operate CalFresh E & T programs must continue to screen work registrants to determine whether they will participate in or be deferred from mandatory CalFresh E & T placement.  Deferred individuals may voluntarily participate.  Note that as of the publication of this letter, all CalFresh E & T programs in California are voluntary.

AB 563 also adds job search training, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act activities, self-employment training and job retention and allowable components of CalFresh E & T programs.  The statute also adds subsidized employment as an allowable CalFresh E & T program component, but implementing that is contingent on approval of a federal waiver to allow federal E & T funds to be used for subsidized employment.  (ACL 18-11, January 25, 2018.)

CDSS has released a handbook about the CalFresh Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) time limit.  The handbook provides policy guidance regarding implementation and administration of the ABAWD time limit.

California has had a statewide wavier of the ABARD time limit since 2008 because of a high statewide unemployment rate.  The waiver will expire on August 31, 2018.  Some geographic areas of the state will be ineligible for continuation of the waiver.  Counties that lose waiver eligibility will be required to implement the ABAWD time limit beginning September 1, 2018.  The ABAWD rule limits receipt of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (CalFresh in California) to three full months in a 36-month period for people between ages 18 and 50 who are not disabled and who do not have children.

The handbook includes a general overview of the ABAWD time limit, guidance on exemptions and how to satisfy the ABAWD work requirement.  The handbook also addresses counting months of ABAWD participation, losing and regaining CalFresh eligibility and tracking ABAWD eligibility and participation.  (ACL 18-08, January 26, 2018.)

CDSS has issued instructions about CalFresh for persons displaced by disaster including the December 2017 Southern California fires.  The guidance is the same as was issued for the Northern California fires but makes clear that it applies to all emergencies that result in people being displaced within California.

County welfare departments statewide are to serve displaced applicants under regular CalFresh rules, including expedited service, regardless of whether they are permanent residents of the county of application.  If verification of residency or other verification is impossible, the county must accept self-certification.  The county must also provide options for mailing to persons without a permanent mailing address.

Counties statewide must serve displaced households with an active CalFresh case in the disaster-affected area.  The county may contact the county with the active case for assistance.  Counties  must displaced households regardless of the computer system consortia used by the county.

Food lost because of a disaster can be replaced.  A household must complete the Reinstatement and Affidavit/Authorization (CF 303) form to receive replacement benefits unless mass replacement benefits are issued.  Families cannot receive both individual replacement benefits and mass replacement benefits.

Counties are encouraged to inform displaced households about CalFresh availability and replacement benefits.  (All County Welfare Directors Letter, December 19, 2017.)