California CalFresh Calculator (Oct 2026–Sep 2027)
Uses California's FY2027 CalFresh rules. Last updated October 10, 2026.
Count everyone who buys and cooks food with you.
Disabled includes getting SSI, SSDI or other disability benefits.
Copays, prescriptions, premiums (including Medicare), dental, glasses, rides to appointments.
Wages, tips and self-employment pay for the whole household.
SSI, Social Security, unemployment, disability, child support you receive.
Include property taxes and home insurance. Don't include internet.
Used for the 3-day fast-help check. Most households have no savings limit.
For example, a past program violation, or the head of household not meeting work rules. Most people choose No.
Income test
Deductions
Your benefit
After approval
Ready to apply? Go to BenefitsCal.com or call 1-877-847-3663. Official rules: California Department of Social Services.
Disclaimer: This is an estimate, not a decision. It uses California's FY2027 CalFresh figures (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027). It does not check immigration status, work rules or student rules. Your county makes the final decision.
How to use the calculator
- Household size: Count everyone who buys and cooks food with you.
- Income: Enter monthly pay before taxes. Pick weekly or every-two-weeks pay if that fits you. The tool converts it to a monthly amount.
- Earned vs. unearned: Wages and tips are earned income. SSI, Social Security, unemployment and child support you get are unearned.
- Housing: Enter rent or mortgage. Then pick the utility bills you pay yourself.
- Age and disability: Tell us if anyone is 60 or older or has a disability. Different rules apply, and they often help.
- Medical costs: Add these only for people who are 60+ or disabled.
Your result shows each step of the math. That way you can see what helped and what didn’t.
How Your CalFresh Amount Is Calculated
The county runs three steps. First it checks your income. Then it subtracts certain costs. Last, it turns what’s left into a dollar amount.
Step 1: The income test California uses
Most households qualify if gross income is at or under 200% of the federal poverty level. Gross income means pay before taxes.
This California rule is called Modified Categorical Eligibility, or MCE. It also removes the savings limit for most households.
Two groups follow different rules:
- Anyone 60+ or disabled in the home: The county checks net income instead. Net income is what’s left after deductions. Savings count only if gross income is over 200%. Then the limit is $4,750.
- A member disqualified for breaking program rules: The gross limit drops to 130%. That’s $1,729 for one person. A $3,000 savings limit also applies.
FY2027 CalFresh limits and maximum benefits (Oct 1, 2026–Sep 30, 2027)
Household size | Gross income limit (200%) | Net income limit (100%) | Maximum monthly benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | $2,660 | $1,330 | $306 |
2 | $3,608 | $1,804 | $562 |
3 | $4,554 | $2,277 | $808 |
4 | $5,500 | $2,750 | $1,023 |
5 | $6,448 | $3,224 | $1,217 |
6 | $7,394 | $3,697 | $1,463 |
7 | $8,340 | $4,170 | $1,616 |
8 | $9,288 | $4,644 | $1,841 |
Each extra person | +$948 | +$474 | +$225 |
The net limit matters most for homes with someone 60+ or disabled. For the full chart, see our CalFresh income limits guide.
Step 2: Deductions that lower your countable income
Deductions are costs the county subtracts from your income. More deductions usually mean more CalFresh.
Deduction | FY2027 amount | Who gets it |
|---|---|---|
Earned income | 20% of wages | Anyone who works |
Standard deduction | $217 (1–3 people), $229 (4), $268 (5), $308 (6+) | Every household |
Dependent care | Actual cost | Child or adult care so you can work, train or study |
Child support you pay | Amount legally owed and paid | The parent who pays |
Medical costs | $150 standard, or actual costs over $35 | Only people 60+ or disabled |
Excess shelter costs | Housing costs above half your income after the deductions above; capped at $769 | Cap does not apply if someone is 60+ or disabled |
Homeless shelter | $205.66 | People without stable housing who pay some shelter costs |
Shelter costs include rent or mortgage, property taxes and home insurance. They also include a utility allowance, explained below. Internet bills no longer count.
Step 3: From net income to your benefit
CalFresh expects a household to spend about 30% of its net income on food. The formula is simple:
Your benefit = maximum benefit for your household size − 30% of your net income
If your net income is $0, you get the full maximum. For homes of 9 to 17 people, add $225 per extra person. Homes of 18 or more are capped at $3,887.
Why your estimate might say $25 or $0
- Households of 1 or 2 people: If gross income is under the 200% limit, you get at least $25. That holds even when the formula says less.
- Households of 3 or more: You can qualify but still get $0. This happens when net income is too high.
Some older adults get more through a state pilot. It tops up benefits to $60 for certain homes of two or more. Everyone in the home must be 60+ or disabled, with no work income. The pilot covers only homes enrolled by December 1, 2025. It ends November 30, 2026.
Learn more about the minimum SNAP benefit.
California Rules That Change Your Number
These four rules move estimates the most. Generic SNAP calculators often miss them.
Utility allowance: $686, $176 or $21
CalFresh doesn’t add up each utility bill. It uses a flat amount instead. California has three levels for FY2027:
Allowance | Amount | You get it if you pay… |
|---|---|---|
Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) | $686 | Heating or cooling, separate from rent |
Limited Utility Allowance (LUA) | $176 | No heat or cooling bill, but two or more others, like water, sewer, trash or phone |
Telephone Utility Allowance (TUA) | $21 | Only a phone bill |
What changed under H.R. 1. H.R. 1 is the 2025 federal budget law, also called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Before it, most households got a small yearly state energy payment of $20.01. That payment let them claim the full $686.
Since November 1, 2025, that payment only counts for homes with someone 60+ or disabled. Other homes now need their own heating or cooling bill. Existing cases switched at their next renewal.
If heat is included in your rent, expect the LUA or TUA. In our family example below, that one change costs $144 a month.
The $150 medical deduction for seniors and people with disabilities
This applies if someone in your home is 60+ or disabled. If you show more than $35 a month in medical costs, the county subtracts a flat $150.
You only need proof of costs over $35. You don’t have to prove every bill. If your costs top $185 a month, you can claim your actual costs instead.
Costs that count include:
- Copays and prescriptions
- Health insurance premiums, including Medicare
- Dental care, dentures and glasses
- Medical supplies and equipment
- Rides to medical appointments
California has extended this deduction through September 30, 2029. Read more about the SNAP medical expense deduction and CalFresh for seniors over 60.
Homeless shelter deduction: $205.66
No stable home? You can still get CalFresh. If you pay some shelter costs during the month, the county applies a flat $205.66. A motel night or money toward a friend’s rent can count.
You can’t add a utility allowance on top of it. If your real shelter costs are higher, show proof to the county. See our guide to the homeless shelter deduction.
SSI recipients can get CalFresh
Since June 1, 2019, people on SSI in California can get CalFresh. SSI counts as unearned income.
Many SSI recipients also qualify for the $150 medical deduction. They can also get the $686 utility allowance through the yearly energy payment. Together, these can raise your benefit a lot.
CalFresh Examples: Three Real-World Estimates
These examples use FY2027 numbers. The 30% share is rounded up to the next dollar.
Example 1: A senior on SSI living alone
Rosa is 68. She gets $1,200 a month in SSI. Her rent is $500. She has $40 a month in Medicare copays.
Step | Amount |
|---|---|
Gross income | $1,200 |
Minus standard deduction ($217) | $983 |
Minus medical deduction ($150) | $833 |
Shelter costs: $500 rent + $686 utility allowance | $1,186 |
Minus half of $833 ($416.50) = excess shelter, no cap | $769.50 |
Net income ($833 − $769.50) | $63.50 |
30% of net income, rounded up | $20 |
Estimated CalFresh ($306 − $20) | $286 |
Without the $150 medical deduction, Rosa would get about $221. The deduction is worth $65 a month to her.
Example 2: A family of four with a full-time worker
A parent earns $4,000 a month. Rent is $1,600 with heat included. They pay water, trash and phone bills.
Step | Amount |
|---|---|
Gross income (under the $5,500 limit) | $4,000 |
Minus 20% earned income deduction ($800) | $3,200 |
Minus standard deduction ($229) | $2,971 |
Shelter costs: $1,600 rent + $176 LUA | $1,776 |
Minus half of $2,971 ($1,485.50) = excess shelter | $290.50 |
Net income ($2,971 − $290.50) | $2,680.50 |
30% of net income, rounded up | $805 |
Estimated CalFresh ($1,023 − $805) | $218 |
If this family paid its own heating bill, it would get the $686 SUA. The estimate would rise to $362. That gap is the H.R. 1 utility change.
Example 3: A single worker who gets the minimum
Jordan earns $2,400 a month. Rent is $1,200 with all utilities included.
Step | Amount |
|---|---|
Gross income (under the $2,660 limit) | $2,400 |
Minus 20% earned income deduction ($480) | $1,920 |
Minus standard deduction ($217) | $1,703 |
Minus half of $1,703 ($851.50) from $1,200 rent = excess shelter | $348.50 |
Net income ($1,703 − $348.50) | $1,354.50 |
30% of net income, rounded up | $407 |
Formula result ($306 − $407) | Below $0 |
Estimated CalFresh | $25 minimum |
Jordan’s gross income is under the limit. So as a one-person household, he still gets $25.
What Changed for CalFresh on October 1, 2026
CalFresh numbers update every October 1. This yearly update is called a cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA. You don’t need to reapply to get it.
Item | Through Sep 30, 2026 | From Oct 1, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
Maximum benefit, 1 person | $298 | $306 |
Maximum benefit, 4 people | $994 | $1,023 |
Gross income limit, 1 person | $2,610 | $2,660 |
Gross income limit, 4 people | $5,360 | $5,500 |
Standard deduction, 1–3 people | $209 | $217 |
Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) | $663 | $686 |
Limited Utility Allowance (LUA) | $170 | $176 |
Telephone Utility Allowance (TUA) | $20 | $21 |
Excess shelter cap | $744 | $769 |
Homeless shelter deduction | $198.99 | $205.66 |
Minimum benefit, 1–2 people | $24 | $25 |
Savings limit, 60+ or disabled (when it applies) | $4,500 | $4,750 |
Why your CalFresh may not have gone up
The COLA raises the ceiling. It doesn’t add the same amount to every case. Your benefit can still drop if:
- Your income went up.
- You lost the $686 utility allowance at renewal.
- Your rent, child care or medical costs changed.
Check your Notice of Action from the county. It shows exactly how they figured your amount. For the national picture, see SNAP COLA for FY2027 and new SNAP amounts for October 2026.
What This Calculator Can’t Decide
The calculator handles income and costs. A few other rules can change whether you get CalFresh at all.
- Immigration status. Since April 1, 2026, many lawfully present immigrants lost CalFresh. This includes refugees, asylees and most parolees. Green card holders may still qualify. In mixed-status homes, eligible members, like U.S. citizen children, can still get benefits. Ask your county about the state-funded California Food Assistance Program (CFAP).
- Work rules. Since June 1, 2026, many adults ages 18 to 64 must work, train or volunteer 80 hours a month. This applies if they have no child under 14 at home. If not, benefits can stop after 3 months. See work requirement exemptions and how to appeal a work-rule cutoff.
- College students. Students ages 18 to 49 in school at least half-time face extra rules. Our CalFresh eligibility guide explains them.
- Self-employment and sponsor income. The county reviews business costs and an immigrant sponsor’s income case by case.
If any of these apply, still apply. Only the county can make the call.
After Your Estimate: Next Steps
1. Apply
Apply online at BenefitsCal.com, call 1-877-847-3663, or visit your county office. You can start with just your name, address and signature. Benefits count from the day you apply.
Step-by-step help is in our CalFresh application guide.
2. Ask for fast help if you need it
You may get CalFresh within 3 days through expedited service if:
- Your monthly income is under $150 and you have $100 or less in cash, or
- Your rent and utilities cost more than your income plus cash.
Otherwise, the county decides within 30 days. Most interviews happen by phone.
3. Know when to report a raise
If you were approved with income at or under 130% of the poverty line, report when you go over it. That line is $1,729 a month for one person and $3,575 for four. Report within 10 days.
If your income was between 130% and 200% when approved, you don’t report raises mid-period. You’ll still send your regular reports.
4. Plan for payment day
CalFresh loads onto your EBT card once a month. In California, the date is between the 1st and 10th. See the CalFresh payment schedule.
Your card covers most groceries. Check what you can buy with CalFresh. Then guard it against theft with these EBT skimming tips.
5. Check Medi-Cal too
Many CalFresh households also qualify for free or low-cost health care. Try our Medi-Cal calculator or see Medi-Cal income limits.
Not in California? Find Your State’s SNAP Income Limits
Each state sets its own gross income limit, from 130% to 200% of the poverty line. Moving, or helping family in another state? Pick the state below. You can also compare them all on our SNAP income limits by state page.
- A–D: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware
- F–I: Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa
- K–M: Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana
- N: Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota
- O–S: Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota
- T–W: Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming
Want a dollar estimate for another state? Use our national SNAP calculator.
How We Built This Calculator
We’re an independent site. We’re not part of USDA, CDSS or any county.
Every number comes from official sources:
- Maximum benefits, deductions and net limits: USDA’s FY2027 SNAP cost-of-living tables.
- California’s utility allowances, medical deduction and savings limits: the state’s FY2027 CalFresh update, as published in Los Angeles County’s policy manual.
- The 200% income rule: California’s Modified Categorical Eligibility policy. California sets this limit at twice the federal net limit. We use the same method.
- H.R. 1 changes: the CDSS H.R. 1 and CalFresh FAQ.
We last checked these numbers on October 10, 2026. We update them each October and whenever the rules change.
[Author: name, role. Reviewer: name, benefits-eligibility credential.]
Spot an error? Tell us here.
Conclusion
Your CalFresh amount comes down to three things: income, household size and allowed costs.
California’s rules can work in your favor. The 200% income limit lets more working families qualify. Seniors and people with disabilities can get a $150 medical deduction and the full utility allowance.
Recent federal changes also matter. Some households lost the $686 utility allowance. Some immigrants and adults without kids face new limits.
Use the calculator above for your estimate. If it shows you may qualify, apply. Even $25 a month helps, and many people get much more.
Sources
- USDA Food and Nutrition Administration: SNAP FY2027 cost-of-living adjustments
- California Department of Social Services: H.R. 1 and CalFresh FAQ
- Los Angeles County DPSS: CalFresh COLA for FFY 2027
- Los Angeles County DPSS: Modified Categorical Eligibility
- Los Angeles County DPSS: CalFresh fact sheet
- Legal Services of Northern California: Medical expense deductions
- Legal Services of Northern California: Income deductions for CalFresh households
- Legal Services of Northern California: Minimum Nutrition Benefit Pilot
- California Department of Social Services: FFY 2026 CalFresh COLA, ACIN I-46-25 (prior-year values)
- BenefitsCal (apply online)
CalFresh Calculator FAQ (FY 2027)
How much CalFresh will I get as one person?
Why does the calculator say I'll get $25?
Do I get the utility allowance if heat is in my rent?
- $176 if you pay two other utilities, like water, trash or phone
- $21 if you pay only a phone bill