Oct. 1, 2024 through Sept. 30, 2025 SNAP Eligibility in California (CalFresh)

Total monthly household income before taxes, including job, self-employment, and other income like social security, disability, child support, worker's comp, unemployment, and pension income.

• For self-employment income, you can either subtract your allowable business expenses or take a 40% standard deduction from your gross self-employment income.
• For income received more often than once a month, convert your income to monthly by multiplying weekly income by 4.33 and biweekly income by 2.17.

Net income is a household's gross income minus deductions.

At the bottom of the page are some of the expenses that can be deducted to calculate net income. It's difficult to calculate net income without a SNAP calculator as the shelter-related expenses (utilities and rent) can only be deducted if they exceed half the household's income after other deductions have been applied. Additionally, there is a limit on the maximum shelter deduction for some households.

SNAP benefit amounts are based on a household's net income. While there are minimum and maximum SNAP benefit amounts, in general $100 more in net income = $30 less in benefits.

This means countable resources, like funds in bank accounts. A home and vehicles are not counted as resources.

Court-ordered child support payments are excluded from gross income. Unlike other deductions that only impact net income, child support payments are excluded from gross income, reducing both gross and net income.

Monthly out of pocket medical expenses for household members who are 60 or older or have a disability can be deducted when calculating net income. You can deduct the full amount of expenses (minus $35) with verification. Alternatively if you have medical expenses over $35, you can use the standard medical deduction amount of $150 without needing to verify all expenses.

Households can only receive one utility allowance. If a household qualifies for multiple allowances, choose the highest allowance.

Heating and Cooling: If a household pays utility bills for heating and cooling, or receives over $20 in heating assistance from LIHEAP, this allowance can be claimed.

Basic Utility Allowance: If a household pays for two or more utility bills (including electricity, gas, water, sewage, trash, or telephone), this allowance can be claimed.

Single Utilities: If a household pays for the utility, this allowance can be claimed.

Households can receive deductions for the following expenses. Shelter deductions (utilities, rent, and homeowners insurance) only apply for the amount that total shelter expenses exceed a percentage of household income, and are limited to a maximum amount if the household does not contain a member who is 60 or older or has a disability.