CalFresh — California’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — deposits monthly food assistance onto Electronic Benefit Transfer cards for qualifying low-income households.
May 2026 payments follow the standard statewide schedule: funds load during the first ten days of the month, with each account’s deposit date determined by the last digit of the recipient’s case number.
The assignment runs sequentially from the 1st through the 10th. A case number ending in 1 means a May 1 deposit; one ending in 0 means May 10. Third-party EBT tracking data shows roughly 92% of California accounts receive funds at midnight on their assigned date.
How to find your EBT number for CalFresh
Recipients unsure of their case number can find it on county paperwork or through a registered account on the state’s benefits platform. CalWORKs cash aid follows a separate timeline, landing within the first three calendar days of the month regardless of case number.
Maximum monthly allotments through September 2026
The benefit caps below apply October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, and reflect households with zero net income. Actual amounts are lower once income is factored in.
| Household size | Maximum monthly benefit |
|---|---|
| 1 | $298 |
| 2 | $546 |
| 3 | $785 |
| 4 | $994 |
| 5 | $1,183 |
| 6 | $1,421 |
| 7 | $1,571 |
| 8 | $1,789 |
| Each additional member | +$218 |
The minimum allotment is $24. Households of two or more people aged 60 and over or with a disability are guaranteed a minimum of $60 monthly under a one-year trial provision.
The benefit formula: multiply net monthly income by 30%, then subtract that figure from the household maximum. Lower net income produces a higher benefit.
How income and deductions are calculated
Gross income covers wages, self-employment, Social Security, disability payments, pensions, unemployment, and cash support. Several deductions reduce that figure before the benefit is calculated.
An automatic 20% earned income deduction applies to wages and self-employment. Standard deductions run $209 for households of one to three people, $223 for four, $261 for five, and $299 for six or more. Housing costs exceeding half of adjusted income qualify as an excess shelter deduction, capped at $744 for households without an elderly or disabled member — that cap does not apply to those households.
Out-of-pocket medical expenses above $35 monthly are deductible for households with at least one member aged 60 or older or with a qualifying disability.
The Standard Utility Allowance stands at $663. Under H.R. 1, households without an elderly or disabled member must now document actual separate heating or cooling expenses to claim it. Those who no longer qualify may still access the Limited Utility Allowance ($170) or the Telephone Utility Allowance ($20). The household resource limit is $3,000; homes and vehicles are excluded.
Gross income thresholds and eligibility categories
Most households must fall below 130% of the federal poverty level in gross monthly income: $1,696 for one person, $3,483 for four. Under Modified Categorical Eligibility, the threshold rises to 200 percent of FPL — $2,610 for one person, $5,360 for four. Net income limits sit at 100% of FPL: $1,305 for one person, $2,680 for four.
Households with a member aged 60 or older or with a disability that miss the gross income test may still qualify if net income falls within range.
Noncitizen eligibility changes as of April 2026
Federal changes under H.R. 1 removed CalFresh access for refugees, asylees, and several other previously eligible immigration categories effective April 1, 2026. The change applies immediately to new applications and at next recertification for current recipients. In mixed-status households, eligible members — typically U.S. citizen children — retain their full benefit.
An ineligible parent’s income is prorated rather than fully counted against the household. Noncitizens losing federal eligibility may qualify for the California Food Access Program (CFAP), a state-funded alternative that provides equivalent monthly benefit amounts.
Work requirements beginning June 1, 2026
The Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) work requirement takes effect June 1 across most California counties after the statewide waiver expired. H.R. 1 expanded the affected age range from 18–54 to 18–64.
Adults in that range without a disability and without a child under 14 in the household must meet the rule to receive benefits beyond three months within the 36-month window running from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2028.
The requirement is satisfied by working an average of 20 hours per week, earning at least $217.50 weekly before taxes, or logging 80 hours monthly in an approved training or community service program.
Who is exempted?
Exemptions apply to pregnant individuals, those receiving SSI or disability benefits, people enrolled in drug or alcohol treatment, and residents of counties with active federal waivers: Alpine, Colusa, Imperial, Merced, Monterey, Plumas, and Tulare — waivers valid through October 31, 2026. A new exemption under H.R. 1 covers individuals meeting the Native American definition under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, provable by self-attestation.
Veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth no longer hold automatic exemptions unless they qualify under another category. State projections estimate approximately 665,000 individuals will not meet the requirement or secure an exemption, with roughly 108,000 people losing access each month once enforcement begins.
