Across the nation, states have social programs that are intended to assist low-income households. These programs range from food assistance to stimulus payments to help families cover monthly expenses. Many state programs are also reflected at a federal level in addition. If you are a resident of California, you can soon expect another round of CalFresh benefits to be distributed this month. CalFresh helps low-income families in California purchase nutritional food.
CalFresh provides cover for families to afford nutritious food
CalFresh refers to California’s implementation of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). To qualify to be on SNAP, you must have a gross monthly income that is at or below 130% of the federal poverty level. In addition, your net income after deductions has been made must be at or below 100% of the federal poverty level. For a household of one, the 2025 US federal poverty level is $15,650 annually.
According to the California Department of Social Services, California’s largest food program is CalFresh. The program offers a vital safety net against hunger. CalFresh is county-operated and state-supervised in California, and it is required by federal law. Payments are made using an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. Functioning similarly to a debit card, recipients can buy food at participating retailers and farmers’ markets.
CalFresh April payment schedule
The CalFresh payment schedule is set according to the last digit of your specific case number. The payments are always made within the first ten days of each month. This is different from the Social Security Administration’s payment program, which staggers payments according to your birthdate. For this month, the following dates are when you can expect to receive your CalFresh payment made to your EBT card:
- Case number ending in 1 is paid on the 1st of the month
- Case number ending in 2 is paid on the 2nd of the month
- Case number ending in 3 is paid on the 3rd of the month
- Case number ending in 4 is paid on the 4th of the month
- Case number ending in 5 is paid on the 5th of the month
- Case number ending in 6 is paid on the 6th of the month
- Case number ending in 7 is paid on the 7th of the month
- Case number ending in 8 is paid on the 8th of the month
- The last digit of the case number is 9, and payment is made on the 9th of the month
- Case number ending in 0 is paid on the 10th of the month
Similarly to Social Security payments, these are vital resources for low-income families to afford to feed themselves and other family members. Ensuring that payments are made on time according to a strict payment schedule is essential for beneficiaries to plan out their month so that they do not encounter a deficiency in their benefits.
Are SNAP payments set to be cut?
With the new Trump Administration coming in for President Donald Trump to take his second, non-consecutive term as president, there has been concern that SNAP benefits are set to be cut. This would affect families on the CalFresh program, putting them at an increased vulnerability of not being able to afford food. The payment cuts are part of the federal government scaling back on unnecessary spending.
Currently, there is a new budget proposal that has yet to be approved, which could see SNAP benefits cut by 20%. In addition, Medicare budgets could also be reduced by $880 million. These widespread budget cut proposals could be very problematic for families on SNAP programs like CalFresh, as it would mean that they would be put at increased risk of not being able to cover their monthly food expenses. However, as of yet, the budget has not been approved by Congress.
