The anxiety that gripped millions of California households in November has finally dissipated. The partial federal shutdown, a recurring specter of Washington dysfunction, temporarily severed the funding pipeline for CalFresh, the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
County offices were plunged into uncertainty, and for recipients, the worry was immediate: would the next EBT deposit arrive to restock empty kitchens? While CalFresh benefits were ultimately delivered in full, the episode was a stark, bruising reminder of the fragility of the social safety net. It exposed how political brinksmanship translates directly into food insecurity.
CalFresh Back to Normal, But New Requirements Are Now In Force
Now, with December benefits disbursing on schedule via the ubiquitous Golden State Advantage EBT cards, a semblance of normalcy has returned. The program’s mechanical rhythm—deposits tied to case number digits, the familiar swipe of the card at the grocery store—has resumed.
Yet, beneath this surface calm, a more profound and lasting shift is brewing, one that will redefine the very contract of assistance for a specific subset of Californians. The target: Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents, or ABAWDs.
A federal rule, dormant for years, has been resurrected. It mandates that most adults aged 18 to 49 without minor children must document at least 80 hours of work, community service, or approved training each month to retain their CalFresh eligibility beyond a strict three-month limit in a 36-month period.
However, there are contradictory news all over the state. A local news report might declare the requirements already in effect, prompting panic. But official channels tell a contrasting, more measured story. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and major county human services agencies maintain a consistent position: they are awaiting final federal guidance and clarifying potential state flexibilities.
The implementation, they say, is not imminent. “The timeline is fluid, but we are not looking at an enforcement date before 2026, at the earliest.”
Are the New Work Rules Now Active or Not?
This discrepancy between media urgency and bureaucratic process is more than just confusion; it’s harmful. Vulnerable individuals may wrongly believe their benefits are in immediate jeopardy, potentially causing them to disenroll prematurely.
The official delay, however, is a period for counties to build infrastructure, for community organizations to prepare outreach, and for potential recipients to understand the complex web of exemptions.
CalFresh Payment Schedule for December 2025
Benefits are deposited onto your EBT card between December 1st and 10th. Your specific payment date depends on the last digit of your case number.
| Last Digit of Case Number | Payment Date (December 2025) |
|---|---|
| 1 | December 1 |
| 2 | December 2 |
| 3 | December 3 |
| 4 | December 4 |
| 5 | December 5 |
| 6 | December 6 |
| 7 | December 7 |
| 8 | December 8 |
| 9 | December 9 |
| 0 | December 10 |
Remember that your CalFresh benefits are only for alimentary purposes
Your food stamps funds are designated strictly for the purchase of food intended for home preparation and consumption. This means the funds on your Golden State Advantage EBT card can be used to buy eligible groceries such as fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, bread, and cereals.
Au contraire, federal and state regulations explicitly prohibit using these benefits for any non-alimentary purposes. You cannot buy alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, medicines, hot prepared foods, pet food, cleaning supplies, or any other household items.
