Figures verified against the official USDA FY2027 COLA memo. Reviewed October 2026.
CalFresh amounts in California follow the federal SNAP table for the 48 states, refreshed every October 1. Through September 2027, a family of four can receive up to $1,023 a month and a single person up to $306. California’s twist is not the money, which is federal, but the machinery around it: county administration, the CalWORKs interplay, and the SAR 7 report that quietly decides whether the money keeps arriving. This page covers the full table, the calculation, and the California specifics.
CalFresh Maximums: October 2026 Through September 2027
| Household size | Maximum monthly benefit |
|---|---|
| 1 | $306 |
| 2 | $562 |
| 3 | $808 |
| 4 | $1,023 |
| 5 | $1,217 |
| 6 | $1,463 |
| 7 | $1,616 |
| 8 | $1,841 |
| Each additional person | +$225 |
The minimum for eligible one and two person households is $25. Every California county pays from this same federal table; what counties control is processing, not amounts.
How Your Actual CalFresh Amount Is Set
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The program subtracts about 30 percent of your net monthly income from the maximum for your household size. Net means after deductions, and California’s high housing costs make one deduction matter more here than almost anywhere: the excess shelter deduction. A household paying Los Angeles or Bay Area rent on a modest income often deducts enough shelter cost to land at or near the full benefit.
The other big levers: a standard deduction, 20 percent off earnings, dependent care, and medical costs over $35 for elderly or disabled members. The application’s expense questions are where the money is, and leaving rent or utilities blank is the most expensive mistake on the form.
One Special California Case: SSI Households
Since 2019, SSI recipients in California can receive CalFresh alongside SSI, reversing the old cash out policy, and many eligible SSI households have still never applied. An SSI recipient living alone can qualify for up to the full $306 depending on housing costs, on top of the SSI payment itself, whose own calendar is mapped in our SSI payment schedule.
The Paperwork That Keeps It Paying
Our free checker shows every program you're eligible for with estimated monthly amounts. No signup needed.
See What I Qualify For →🔒 Free · Private · Takes 2 minutesCalFresh runs on the SAR 7 semi annual report and an annual recertification, both completed in BenefitsCal, and counties suspend benefits when either is late. The amount above only matters if the report habit holds. Deposits land on the day matching your case number’s last digit, days 1 through 10, with the table in our California deposit dates guide.
New applicants can start with our guide to applying for CalFresh, and county timelines are covered in CalFresh processing times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Free and trusted resources to help you take the next step.
Get immediate food assistance while your SNAP application is being processed. Feeding America connects you with local food pantries.
Find Food Near YouPregnant women and families with children under 5 can get free formula, milk, eggs, and produce through WIC.
Apply for WICSNAP recipients often qualify for Medicaid, LIHEAP, Lifeline phone, and other programs. Screen for everything at once.
Free Eligibility CheckThese are recommended resources based on the topic of this article. We only suggest free, official, or widely trusted services.
How much CalFresh does one person get in California?
Up to $306 a month through September 2027, with the exact amount depending on net income after deductions. High rent relative to income pushes single households toward the full amount, and the minimum for any eligible one or two person household is $25.
Did CalFresh go up in October 2026?
Yes, the federal adjustment raised a family of four from $994 to $1,023 effective October 1, 2026, applied automatically on your normal deposit day.
Is CalFresh the same as SNAP and food stamps?
Yes, CalFresh is California’s name for the federal SNAP program, and EBT is the card it arrives on. Same money, same rules, California branding.
Can I get CalFresh and CalWORKs at the same time?
Yes, and most CalWORKs families do. The cash and food benefits load onto the same EBT card on different days, and the CalWORKs grant counts as income in the CalFresh math, which the county calculates automatically.
Why is my CalFresh amount lower than my neighbor’s?
Identical household sizes can carry different net incomes: earnings, rent, childcare, and medical deductions all move the number. The county’s Notice of Action itemizes your calculation, and a missing deduction there is worth a call to fix.
The Bottom Line
The money is federal, up to $1,023 for four, and the outcome is Californian: shelter costs drive the deductions, the SAR 7 drives continuity, and BenefitsCal holds it all together. Report the real rent, keep the report dates, and the October increase guide covers what changed for every household size.
