Following new federal rules that limit who is eligible for food benefits and impose expanded work requirements, the California Health & Human Services Agency (CalHHS), Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA), and California Department of Social Services (CDSS) are taking action to help more eligible Californians keep their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, known as CalFresh in California, by recognizing existing workforce programs as acceptable ways to meet the new federal rules and expanding the number of programs Californians can participate in to keep their CalFresh benefits.
“When people are worried about having enough food to eat, it becomes much harder to gain the skills and experience needed to obtain and maintain stable employment,” CalHHS Secretary Kim Johnson said. “I want to thank the Labor and Workforce Development Agency and the California Department of Social Services for their partnership on this effort, which will provide food security for eligible individuals.”
As a result of H.R. 1, on June 1, 2026, federal eligibility rules for SNAP changed. Now, more people must verify that they meet expanded work and community engagement requirements to get or keep their CalFresh benefits. People who engage in qualifying programs can count their participation hours towards these requirements, while also gaining education and career training that will support their readiness for work. California is actively working to expand access to programs that help people meet these new rules.
“Reducing barriers between people and the support they need to care for themselves and their families is a core part of our mission,” LWDA Secretary Stewart Knox said. “Together with California Health and Human Services and the California Department of Social Services, we’re aligning a wider range of education and training programs with new federal requirements to give more Californians practical ways to stay connected to food assistance while they prepare for long‑term employment.”
Many workforce programs currently offered in California that promote work readiness and economic mobility did not previously count towards work and community engagement requirements. However, federal rules allow states to set standards and recognize a broader range of programs for assessing SNAP eligibility. California moved quickly to establish new statewide standards that will recognize existing workforce programs as acceptable ways to meet the CalFresh work and community engagement requirements. Programs that will be recognized as meeting the requirements include, but are not limited to, adult education, apprenticeships, and Career Technical Education.
“By expanding the number of programs that meet these new federal requirements, California is not only helping people retain critical food benefits – we are also helping people build skills, secure employment, and ultimately achieve economic stability and mobility,” CDSS Director Jennifer Troia said.
The CalFresh program provides financial assistance for purchasing food to low-income California residents. Benefits are federally funded, and the program is administered by California counties.
For information on how to apply, visit GetCalFresh.org or BenefitsCal.com. For data on CalFresh enrollment, access the Department’s CalFresh data dashboard.
Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cardholders can download the free mobile application ebtEDGE to manage and protect their benefits. For more information on ebtEDGE, visit the Department’s ebtEDGE webpage.
CalFresh is just one of the many programs in California that are in place to fight hunger.
