CalFresh and CalWORKs: childhood hunger and foster youth

Federal changes narrowed CalFresh exemptions for households with children and former foster youth. The law prioritizes keeping eligible people enrolled while California builds automated exemption and work-verification systems.

What the law does ​

• Treats parents or household members responsible for children age 14 or older as subject to the federal CalFresh ABAWD time-limit rules.
• Directs the State Department of Social Services to streamline and automate verification of CalFresh work-rule exemptions using available administrative data, including for specified people with disabilities, homeless people unable to work, and eligible current and former foster youth with qualifying health conditions.
• Requires automated recognition of compliance with CalFresh work requirements for extended-foster-care participants determined to work at least 80 hours monthly, once data-sharing and system changes are ready.
• Requires semiannual, deidentified reporting beginning January 15, 2027, on CalFresh recipients subject to, exempted from, or discontinued under the federal changes.
• Raises the monthly CalWORKs recurring special-needs allowance cap from $10 to $15 for each eligible family member.

Who it affects ​

• CalFresh recipients newly subject to ABAWD work requirements, including households with children age 14 or older.
• Current and former foster youth, including extended-foster-care participants.
• CalFresh recipients with qualifying disabilities, homelessness, or caregiving-related exemptions.
• CalWORKs families receiving recurring special-needs assistance.