On June 11, 2026, the Department of Social Services released ACL 26-42 on CalFresh Treatment of Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits. Medicare Advantage Supplemental Benefits are excluded from CalFresh (SNAP) income calculations. These benefits, reimbursing specific health-related items or services, do not count as household gains or benefits and cannot be used as medical expense deductions. County Welfare Departments (CWDs) must treat them as medical reimbursements, not income.

Exclusion from Income for CalFresh Purposes

• CWDs must exclude all MA supplemental benefits from income when determining CalFresh eligibility. These benefits are considered medical reimbursements and are not counted as income.
• This exclusion is based on Section 5(d)(5) of the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 and 7 CFR 273.9(c)(5), which state that reimbursements for past or future expenses are not income if they do not exceed actual expenses and do not represent a gain or benefit to the household.

Definition and Examples of MA Supplemental Benefits

• MA supplemental benefits are items or services related to the health of the enrollee and not covered under Medicare Part A, B, or D. Examples include food, transportation, utilities, or other items that improve or maintain the health or function of the enrollee.
  These benefits may be provided through spending cards limited to certain covered items or services, varying by insurer.

Not Allowable as Medical Expense Deductions

• Medical expenses reimbursed by MA supplemental benefits cannot be used as medical expense deductions for CalFresh. Households cannot use these reimbursed expenses to qualify for the Standard Medical Deduction.

(A. Meyer)

CDSS has issued additional policy clarification on the implementation of House of Representatives 1 (HR1) as it relates to the eligibility of noncitizens for CalFresh Benefits. The clarification is provided in a question and answer format. [ACIN 26-29]

(K. Wardrip)

Effective July 1, 2026, the maximum value limit for non-exempt vehicles will increase for applicants/recipients of CalWORKs and three other programs. The new limit will be $33,626 (in equity value). Any equity value above that amount will count against the applicant/recipient’s maximum asset limit. This changes also applies to the Refugee Cash Assistance, Entrant Cash Assistance and Trafficking and Crime and Victims Assistance programs. [ACL 26-38]

Applicants and recipients can self-certify their vehicles’ fair market value using the “Self-Certification Form for Motor Vehicles” (CW 80) form. The counties use this form to determine whether the value is exempt from the vehicle limit, the equity value of non-exempt vehicles and whether there is excess equity value that should count against the family’s total resource limit.

Effective January 1, 2026, Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants benefits will increase by 2.8 percent.  This increase is because of the Social Security and SSI 2.8 percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) and the amount of CAPI benefits is linked to the SSI benefit amount.

The COLA increase will also increase the presumed value of in-kind support and maintenance, the allowance for ineligible children in deeming situations, the sponsor’s allocation in sponsor deeming situations, and the allowance for parents in parent-to-child deeming situations.  (ACIN I-59-25, December 16, 2025.)

On November 17, 2025, the California Department of Social Services relaunched the Food and Vegetable Pilot.  The pilot project allows CalFresh recipients to earn a dollar-for-dollar match, up to $60 per month, when buying fresh fruits and vegetables with their CalFresh benefits at participating retailers and farmers markets.  CDSS lists the participating retailers and farmers markets. (ACWDL, November 20, 2025.)