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By Julie Schurman, Esq., Director of Public Policy, The Arc and UCP California Collaboration
Changes to CalFresh will begin on June 1, 2026. The changes are happening in order to implement a law signed by President Trump on July 4, 2025. This law is known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1.).” Under this new law, some people will have to meet work or community engagement requirement rules to receive or continue receiving food assistance from CalFresh, California’s food assistance program.
What are Work or Community Engagement Rules?
The CalFresh work or community engagement rules, also known as work requirements, mean that certain adults must work, volunteer, or participate in approved employment, education or training activities to receive or keep their food assistance benefits, unless they qualify for an exemption.
Do People with Disabilities Have to Meet Work or Community Engagement Requirements?
Many people with disabilities will not have to meet CalFresh work or community engagement rules.
There are two main ways you can be exempt from CalFresh work or community engagement rules.
1) You get disability benefits.
This includes many programs, such as disability pensions, veterans benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), State Supplementary Payment (SSP), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), workers’ compensation, and State Disability Insurance (SDI).
2) You are unable to work at least 20 hours a week or 80 hours a month on an ongoing basis.
You can still be exempt even if you are working.
You can also be exempt if you sometimes work more than 20 hours a week, but cannot keep that schedule long term or on an ongoing basis. For example, you may need to take time off from work because of your disability.
Some people with disabilities need to tell their local county office that they are exempt. Other people are exempt automatically and do not need to apply.
Do Caregivers Have to Meet Work or Community Engagement Rules?
No. If you are a caregiver for someone who is sick, injured, elderly, or has a disability, you do not have to meet work or community engagement requirements.
This is true even if you are not related to the person you care for.
You also do not have to live with the person you care for.
Many caregivers will need to tell their local county office that they are a caregiver so the county knows they are exempt.
Who Else is Excluded from the Work or Community Engagement Rules?
If any of the below apply to you, you can apply to your local county office to be exempt from the requirements. Some people in the list below will be automatically exempt without needing to apply to the California government.
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- You are age 18 or younger
- You are 65 years old or older
- You are going to school, college, jobs skills training or other recognized program part-time or full-time.
- You live in Colusa, Imperial, or Tulare county. If you live in one of these counties you do not need to meet the requirements until at least October 31, 2026. See The California Department of Social Security (CDSS) website to get current information on counties that do not have to meet the requirements.
- You have applied for or are getting unemployment insurance
- You are experiencing drug or alcohol addiction
- You are a victim of domestic violence
- You are pregnant
- You are responsible for a child that is under 14
- You or your family line is Native American for example Navajo Nation, Cherokee Nation, Ojibwe Nation or Lakota Nation.
- You are in an Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) Training Program
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How Do I apply for an Exclusion to Work or Community Engagement Requirements?
You can apply through your local county office. See below for county contact information.
If I am not Excluded from the Work or Community Engagement Rules, How do I Meet the Requirements?
If you are not exempt from work or community engagement rules, you must meet the requirement.
You can meet the requirement by working, volunteering, or joining certain work or training programs. You can mix activities to reach the total hours.
1) You work at least 20 hours a week on average or 80 hours per month.
This includes regular jobs, self-employment, in-kind work (working for goods or services), and volunteering.
If you work, you must either average 20 hours a week or earn $217.50 a week before taxes.
2) You are in an approved job training program or workfare for at least 20 hours a week or 80 hours per month.
3) You do community service or volunteer work for at least 20 hours a week or 80 hours per month.
What If I Am Not Excluded and I Am Not Meeting the Work or Community Engagement Requirement?
If you are not exempt from work or community engagement rules, and you are not working, volunteering, or in a work program, you will only get CalFresh for three months in a three-year period.
If this applies to you, contact your county office right away. They can help you find a way to meet the work or community engagement requirement so your CalFresh benefits do not stop.
Who Can Answer My Questions?
If you have questions you can speak with your local county office, they can help you understand the CalFresh work and community engagement rules.
For more information, and to speak directly to a county worker over the phone, call 1-877-847-3663 (FOOD) to be routed to a local county office.
To find a county office near you, visit: https://calfresh.dss.ca.gov/food/officelocator/
To apply for CalFresh Food benefits, visit: https://benefitscal.com/
More Information
All County Letters – these are letters sent from the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to all of the counties in California, to explain the new changes to CalFresh food assistance.
https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/Additional-Resources/Letters-and-Notices/ACLs/2019/19-93_ES.pdf