Do I qualify for CalFresh?
You can use the information table below to get a basic understanding of the eligibility requirements and understand how CalFresh benefits can assist households of various sizes.
Review to help determine your eligibility
| 1. Is your household under the gross monthly income limit? Review the income eligibility chart below: |
Yes, go to next question. | No, likely not eligible. |
|---|
Income Eligibility Chart
|
|
Gross Monthly Income |
Maximum CalFresh Allotment |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,430 | up to $291 |
| 2 | $3,288 | up to $535 |
| 3 | $4,144 | up to $766 |
| 4** | $5,000 | up to $973 |
*Household = a person living alone or a group of people living together who purchase and prepare food together.
**More than 4 people in your household? For each additional person in the household, you can create an estimate by adding approximately $858 to the Gross Monthly Income per person and approximately $219 to the maximum end of the range of the allotment per person.
Updated chart on April 29, 2024.
| 2. Does your household include at least one US citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR)? | Yes, go to next question. | No, likely not eligible. |
|---|---|---|
| 3. Does anyone in your household receive the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)? | Yes, not eligible for benefits. | No, go to next question. |
| 4. Has anyone in your household provided less than half (10 or less) meals per week from another source (like a campus meal plan)? | Yes, may still be likely to be eligible. Go to next question. | No, go to next question. |
| 5. In anyone in your household physically/mentally unable to work and/or is receiving disability benefits from any source? | Yes, skip next question and apply. | No, go to next question. |
| 6. Is anyone in your household a college student per CalFresh Guidelines? (Enrolled as least half-time - 7.5 units - and between ages of 18-49). |
Yes, review student eligibility information below. | No, no CalFresh student related restrictions. |
To be eligible for CalFresh, you must meet AT LEAST ONE of the following:
- Working 20 hours per week on average (total 80 hours per month),
- Have a disability that prevents you from working and/or maintaining employment,
- Currently receiving CalWORKS,
- Parent/Guardian of a child ages 0 to 5,
- Parent/Guardian of a child under age 6 or between 6 and 12 and no childcare is available,
- Single parent who attends school full-time and has a child under the age of 12,
- Have been awarded work study and are anticipating working,
- In an-on-the-job training program (internship/externship),
- Recipient of a TANF funded Cal Grant A or Cal Grant B,
- Are attending your last college term (and not anticipating attending graduate or additional post-graduate school),
- Majoring in one these programs:
| Academic Internships (Office of Service Learning | Administrative Services Credential (ASC): Preliminary and Intern | Agriculture B.S., Agricultural Biology Concentration |
| Agriculture B.S., Agricultural Economics Concentration | Agriculture B.S., General Agricultural Concentration | Agriculture B.S., Sustainable Agricultural Concentration |
| Anthropology B.A., Biological Anthropology Interdisciplinary Concentration |
Biology Sciences B.A. & B.S. | Business Administration B.S. |
| Campus Employment Program (no minimum hour requirement) |
Chemistry B.A. & B.S. | Child Development B.A. |
| College Corps | Cognitive Studies B.A. & B.S. | Computer Sciences B.A. & B.S. |
| Counseling M.A. | Counseling M.A.: Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential Program |
Counseling M.A.: Professional Clinical Counselor Program |
| Creative Media B.A. | Criminal Justice B.A. | Economics B.A. |
| Education M.A. Curriculum and Instruction: Reading Concentration |
Education Specialist: Mild/Moderate Support Needs and Extensive Support Needs |
Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) |
| Educational Credential Program: Education Specialist Credential Program (ESCP) |
Educational Credential Program: Multiple Subject Credential (MSCP) |
Educational Credential Program: Single Subject Credential (SSC) Program |
| English M.A.: Concentration in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) |
Exercise Sciences B.S. | Food Safety Guidelines Program |
| Gender Studies B.A. | Geography and Environmental Resources B.S. | Geology B.S. |
| Gerontology/Geriatrics Graduate Certificate | Graduate Nursing Education Certificate | Health Science B.S. |
| Kinesiology B.A. | Liberal Studies B.A.: Elementary Teaching Content Preparation Program |
Liberal Studies B.A.: Integrated Teacher Education Program |
| Liberal Studies MSCP Program | Mathematics B.A. & B.S. | Master of Arts in Psychology: Behavior Analysis Concentration |
| Master of Social Work | Master’s in science: Marriage and Family Therapy Concentration: Counseling Track |
Nursing B.S.: Pre-licensure Track |
| Nursing B.S.: RN to BSN Track | Nursing M.S. | Permaculture Minor |
| Physical Sciences B.A. | Physics B.A. & B.S. | Post Graduate Psychiatric APRN Certificate |
| Promise Scholars | Psychology B.A., M.A., & M.S. | Public Administration M.P.A. |
| Public Health Promotion B.S. | Reading/Language Arts Specialist Credential | Reading/Language Arts Specialist Reading Certificate |
| Research Assistantship | School Administration M.A. | Service-Learning Program |
| Sociology B.A. | Sociology B.A., Human Services Concentration | Teaching Assistantship |
| Theater Arts B.A. | Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funded program |
Effective June 2023
- Students are not eligible to receive CalFresh if they receive a meal plan that provides 50% or more of their meals.
- Student Financial Aid and most educational income is not counted as income for CalFresh.
- Students under age 22 living with their parent(s) must apply with their parent(s) as a household.
- Students under the age of 22 living on their own may be eligible for CalFresh benefits.
- Students must also have an eligible immigration status (cannot be DACA, Student Visa, or Dream Act).
- The primary applicant must provide identification (picture ID).
Updated: October 21, 2024