In the state of California, the SNAP benefits program or food stamps is worked with the name of CalFresh, it has been exactly the same system, but with a different name, applied only in this state, this program is accessible to different groups of people, such as higher education students, beneficiaries of the supplemental security income, immigrants with legal immigration status and even beneficiaries of the Program for Women, Infants and Children, known as WIC.
At the time of applying for CalFresh benefits, it is essential to meet certain requirements, among which the income limit stands out, CalFresh benefits can be used for the purchase of a wide variety of foods, such as fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meats and non-alcoholic beverages, however, they cannot be used for the purchase of non-food items, such as tobacco, alcohol, pet food, vitamins, hot meals and household items, it is of utmost importance to use CalFresh benefits responsibly to ensure that they are used for the intended purpose of nutrition assistance.
Why Are There Income Limits Set for Calfresh in 2024?
Since CalFresh is a program that is funded with federal and state funds, and is administered in the state of California at the local level, it is essential that the resources are used efficiently and reach the people who really have the need; these people are families who are at risk and depend on this help to buy nutritious food.
The income limits what they do is to ensure that the program focuses on the households with the most needs, in addition, the income limits boost family development and self-sufficiency, the program, therefore, the program was designed to be a temporary support program, with these limits, the participants feel motivated to look for work and increase their income so that one day, they do not have to depend on the benefits of the program.
Why Are There Income Limits on CalFresh?
The income limits seek to prevent fraud and abuse of the program, determining guidelines to make it easier to detect when someone is trying to obtain benefits fraudulently or when they are no longer needed.
Most qualified households must have a total gross monthly income of less than 200% of the federal poverty level to be eligible for CalFresh.
Gross income refers to the total income of a household before the deductions allowed by the program are excluded, these deductions are expenses that are subtracted from the monthly gross household income by law, this determines the eligibility and the amount of CalFresh benefits that eligible families will receive monthly.
As of October 1, 2023 and until September 30 of this year, the monthly income limits are as follows, depending on the number of members of each family:
Gross Monthly Income by Family Size
| Family Size | Gross Monthly Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $2,430 |
| 2 | $3,288 |
| 3 | $4,144 |
| 4 | $5,000 |
| 5 | $5,858 |
| 6 | $6,714 |
| 7 | $7,570 |
Those families that qualify will be able to receive up to a maximum of benefits per month, which is determined in the following table:
Maximum CalFresh Allowance by Household Size
| Household Size | Maximum CalFresh Allowance |
|---|---|
| 1 | $291 |
| 2 | $535 |
| 3 | $766 |
| 4 | $973 |
| 5 | $1,155 |
| 6 | $1,386 |
| 7 | $1,532 |
| 8 | $1,751 |
| Each additional person | $219 |
