The state’s CalFresh program, California’s implementation of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), has begun a new disbursement cycle starting October 1, 2025, this time with the corresponding annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), a nationally mandated mechanism intended to address inflation.
The modification of the aid amounts responds to changes in the Consumer Price Index for Urban and Wage Earners (CPI-W). The administration and oversight of these changes falls to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). For residents of the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, the average increase in the maximum benefit limits has been estimated at approximately from 2.5% to 3.2%.
CalFresh payments in California: updated amounts
The updated allocations stem directly from changes to the Thrifty Food Plan, a standard basket of food items used as a reference for calculating assistance. This framework ensures that monetary allocations remain aligned with fluctuations in actual food costs.
The adjustment process is automatic and occurs without the need for new legislative authorization each year, functioning as a permanent programmatic provision. The revision applies to all participating households, regardless of their composition or geographic location within the state of California.
The primary objective of implementing the COLA is to preserve the purchasing power of beneficiary families against inflation. Without this systematic adjustment, the real value of benefits would erode over time, diminishing households’ ability to access a stable amount of food.
New monthly maximum amounts (Fiscal Year 2025-2026):
- 1 person: $298
- 2 people: $546
- 3 people: $785
- 4 people: $994
- 5 people: $1,183
- 6 people: $1,421
- 7 people: $1,571
- 8 people: $1,789
- Each additional person: +$218
These are the October CalFresh payment dates
CalFresh benefits are sent to Golden State Advantage EBT cards between October 1 and 10, based on the last digit of the recipient’s case number. Payments are made starting at 5 a.m. on the applicable dates and arrive on time in 99% of cases.
Let’s look at the ten payment dates for the current month:
- Last digit 1: Wednesday, October 1
- Last digit 2: Thursday, October 2
- Last digit 3: Friday, October 3
- Last digit 4: Saturday, October 4
- Last digit 5: Sunday, October 5
- Last digit 6: Monday, October 6
- Last digit 7: Tuesday, October 7
- Last digit 8: Wednesday, October 8
- Last digit 9: Thursday, October 9
- Last digit 0: Friday, October 10
Who is eligible for CalFresh SNAP benefits
Eligibility for CalFresh benefits depends on several conditions, primarily household size and income. The program evaluates both gross and net income, considering all household income before taxes and deductions. Generally, households with incomes below certain thresholds established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are eligible to receive benefits.
These thresholds are adjusted each year to reflect the cost of living, ensuring that low-income households can access the food support they need.
Basically, if your household qualifies, you can receive an EBT card to purchase groceries at authorized stores. The good news is that California has expanded the rules to allow more people to qualify, removing resource limits for most people and focusing on affordable incomes.
When it comes to income in 2025, the gross monthly limit (before deductions) for most households is 200% of the federal poverty level, meaning that if you earn less than that, you’re already on track to qualify. For example, for a one-person household, the gross limit is $2,610 per month; for two people, it rises to $3,526; and for a family of four, it reaches $5,360.
They then calculate net income by subtracting expenses like rent, childcare, or medical bills, and it must be below 100% of the poverty level: $1,305 for one person, $1,763 for two, and so on up to $2,680 for four.
If there’s someone over 60 or disabled in the household, they only look at the net income, which makes things easier. And the maximum benefits range from $298 for a single person to $994 for four, depending on your actual income.
