FREQUENTLYASKEDQUESTIONS:

NonMinorDependents&CalFresh

1) WillbeinginfostercaredisqualifyaNMDfromeligibilityforCalFreshbenefits?
Answer: BeinginfostercaredoesnotdisqualifyaNMDfromeligibilityfor
CalFreshbenefits.EligibilityforCalFreshbenefitsismadeonacaseby
casebasisandconsiderstheindividualsearnedandunearnedincome,
includinganyportionofthefostercarepaymenttheyreceivedirectly;
assets;householdcomposition;theamountofrentandutilityexpenses;
studentstatusandotherfactors.
2) WhataretheincomerequirementsforCalFresheligibility?
Answer: CalFresheligibilityisbasedongrossandnetincomedeterminationtests.
Grossincomeisallnonexcludableincomefromanysourceincluding
bothearnedandunearnedincome.Netincomeiswhatyouareleftwith
afterdeductionsareappliedtoyourgrossincome.Incomedeductions
aredescribedinquestion5.

WHATISANONMINOR
DEPENDENT?
AnonminordependentorNMD
isapersonwhois18,19or20years
ofageandisparticipatingin
extendedfostercare(under
dependency,transition,or
delinquencyjurisdiction).Extended
fostercarewasestablishedin2010
bythepassageofCalifornia
AssemblyBill12,TheFostering
ConnectionstoSuccessActandwas
implementedstartingin2012.More
informationat
www.cafosteringconnections.org.
WHATISCALFRESH?
TheCalFreshProgram,federally
knownastheSupplemental
NutritionAssistanceProgram(SNAP),
andknownformerlyasfoodstamps,
issuesmonthlyelectronicbenefits
thatcanbeusedtobuymostfoods
atmanymarketsandfoodstores.
Moreinformationat
www.calfresh.ca.gov.

Themaximumgrossincomeallowedis130%oftheFederalPovertyLevel
(FPL).Themaximumnetincomeallowedis100%oftheFPL.i(Forachart
showingmaximumhouseholdincomesforeachhouseholdsize,seeright
handcolumn).HowtocountanyportionofafostercarepaymentaNMD
receivesisaddressedinthenextquestion.
3) ShouldaNMDcounttheirfostercarepaymentasincome?
Answer: AnystipendorallowancethataNMDreceivesdirectlyshouldbecounted
asunearnedincome.Belowaresomeexamplesbyplacement:
SupervisedIndependentLivingPlacement(SILP):ANMDsmonthlySILP
paymentiscountedasunearnedincomewhentheyreceiveitdirectly.If
thispaymentisgoingdirectlyfromthecountytoalandlordtopayfor
rent,thentheamountisconsideredavendorpayment,andisexcluded
fromincomeconsideration.
TransitionalHousingPlacement(THP+FC):ThemonthlyTHP+FCratethe
providerreceivesperyouthisnotwhatiscountedasincome.The
monthlystipendthataNMDinaTHP+FCplacementreceivesdirectly
fromtheprovideristheamountthatiscountedasunearnedincome,
whetherspent,heldorputintopersonalsavings.iiWhiletheTHP+FCrate
issetandprovidersallreceivethesamemonthlyamountperyouth,the
amountthattheproviderschoosetopassondirectlytotheyouthvaries
acrossthestate.Notethatanyamountthattheproviderpaysdirectlyto
alandlordforrent(theyouthdoesnotreceivethis)wouldnotbe

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Lastupdated10/2016|Contact:simone@johnburtonfoundation.org

GROSSMONTHLYINCOME
ELIGIBILITYSTANDARDSFY2017
(130%FederalPovertyLevel)
HouseholdSize GrossIncome
1
$1,287
2
$1,736
3
$2,184
4
$2,633
5
$3,081
6
$3,530
7
$3,980
8
$4,430
Eachaddl
+$451
member

MAXIMUMMONTHLY
ALLOTMENTSFY2017
HouseholdSize
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Eachaddl
member

Maximum
Allotment
$194
$357
$511
$649
$771
$925
$1,022
$1,169
+$146

Thesetables,inadditiontothenet
incomeeligibilitytableareprovided
bytheUSDAontheirwebsite,and
1
byCDSS,asanattachmentto
ACINI6816(COLAfor201617).

countedasadirectstipend,andthereforewouldbeexcludedfrom
incomeconsideration.

4) IfaNMDlivesinahouseholdwhereotherindividual(s)arealreadyreceivingCalFreshbenefitscanthey
stillapply?
Answer: Insharedlivingarrangementswheremealsarepurchasedandpreparedtogether,theHeadof
HouseholdwouldapplyforCalFreshbenefitsonbehalfoftheentirehousehold(i.e.
foster/relativecaregiver,guardianhomes).Insharedlivingarrangementswheremealsare
purchasedandpreparedseparately,eachindividualmayapplyforCalFreshbenefitsseparately
(i.e.THP+FC,rentingaroominaSILP).
5) Whatareincomedeductions,whicharemorecommontoNMDs,andhowdotheywork?
Answer: Thenetincomeiscomputedbydeductingcertainallowedamountsfromthegrossincome.Four
typesofincomedeductionsthataremorecommontoNMDsaredescribedbelow.Deduction
amountsareadjustedannuallybytheU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture(USDA)atthebeginningof
eachfederalfiscalyear,basedonchangesinthecostofliving.Currentamountscanbefoundon
theUSDAswebsiteathttp://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/costlivingadjustmentcolainformation.
TheCaliforniaDepartmentofSocialServices(CDSS)alsoreleasesanannualAllCounty
InformationNotice(ACIN)thatincludestheupdatedamountsbasedonCostofLiving
Adjustments(COLAs).
EarnedIncome:AllCalFreshrecipientshaveanallowabledeductionof20%.Thismeansthat
NMDswhoareworkingcanautomaticallydeduct20%oftheamounttheyearnfromwagesor
salariestocalculatetheirnetincome.
StandardDeduction:AllCalFreshrecipientsgetthestandarddeduction.Forhouseholdsof13
people,thisdeductionis$157forFFY2017.
StandardUtilityAllowance:Whenutilitycostsareseparatefromtherentpayment,theCalFresh
recipientiseligibleforthisdeduction.ANMDwhopaysanyutilitybillseparatefromtheirrent
payment(i.e.makingpaymentsdirectlytotheutilitycompany)isallowedtheStandardUtility
Allowancewhichis$389forFFY2017.
DependentCare:Actualcostofpaymentsnecessaryfordependentcareifthatcareenablesa
householdmembertoacceptorcontinueemploymentortraining,oreducationpreparatoryfor
employment.ANMDwhopaysforchildcarewhenthatchildcareenablesthemtoworkor
attendtraining/educationpreparatoryforwork,shoulddeducttheirchildcarecoststo
determinetheirnetincome.iii
6) ArethereanytypesofincomethatarentcountedwhenconsideringCalFresheligibility?
Answer: Yes,therearecertaintypesofincomethatarenotcountedwhencalculatinggrossornet
income.Theyarelistedbelow:
Inkindbenefits(anygainorbenefitthatisnotintheformofmoneyi.e.meals,clothing,
housingprovidedbyemployer,etc.)
Vendorpayments(moneypaidtothirdpartyforahouseholdexpensebyapersonor
organizationoutsideofthehousehold)

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Lastupdated10/2016|Contact:simone@johnburtonfoundation.org

Deferrededucationalloans
Grantsandscholarships
Cashdonationsfromacharitableorganizationofnotmorethan$300inacalendarquarter
Incomereceivedtooinfrequently/irregularlytobereasonablyanticipatedbutnotmorethan
$30inaquarteriv

7) ShouldaNMDincludeunderthetableincometheyearnontheirCalFreshapplication?
Yes,allincomemustbereportedatapplication.Afterbenefitsareinitiated,mostCalFresh
householdsareissuedanIncomeReportingThreshold(IRT),whichifexceeded,requiresthe
householdtoreporttheincometothecounty.Aslongasearnedincome,cashorotherwise,is
underthisthresholditneednotbereported.
8) DoesbeingastudentimpactaNMDseligibilityforCalFresh?
Answer: Studentsenrolledhalftimeininstitutionsofhighereducationaregenerallynoteligiblefor
CalFreshunlesstheymeetcertaincriteriaorareexemptfromtherequirement.Itisimportantto
notethatsomeofthesecriteriaand/orexemptionsapplytomanyNMDs.

Ifastudentmeetsanyofthefollowingcriteria,theyarenotexcludedfromeligibilityfor
CalFreshbasedontheirstudentstatus:
Employedforaminimumof20hoursperweek
Approvedforworkstudyforthecurrenttermandanticipateworkingduringterm
Aparentwithadependentchildunderage6
Aparentwithadependentchildage612andforwhomlackofadequatechildcareprevents
fromattendingclassandworking20hoursperweekorparticipatinginworkstudy
Enrolledfulltimeinahighereducationinstitutionandasingleparentwithadependentchild
underage12
Ifanyofthefollowingexemptionsapply,thestudentisnotexcludedfromeligibilityfor
CalFreshbasedontheirstudentstatus:
Thosewhoarephysicallyormentallyunfitforemployment
Highschoolstudents
Thoseparticipatingstrictlyinthejobtrainingportionofonthejobtrainingprogramsas
opposedtotheclassattendanceportion*
Thoseenrolledinhighereducationinstitutionslessthanhalftimeasdefinedbytheinstitution
Thoseenrolledinschoolsandtrainingprogramswhicharenotinstitutionsofhighereducation

*AccordingtoAllCountyLetter1570(issuedSeptember15,2015),enrollmentinExtendedOpportunity
ProgramsandServices(EOPS)qualifiesanotherwiseCalFresheligiblestudentfortheCalFreshexemption
becauseCDSSconsidersEOPSanemploymenttrainingprogram.Studentswhoprovideproofof
enrollmentinEOPSshallbeeligibleforCalFreshiftheymeetallotherconditionsofCalFresheligibility.
NotethatCooperatingAgenciesFosterYouthEducationalServices(CAFYES)programsarehousedwithin
EOPS,soanyfosteryouthparticipatinginaCAFYESprogramoncampusisenrolledinEOPS.

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Lastupdated10/2016|Contact:simone@johnburtonfoundation.org

StateguidanceaboutparticipationinadditionalprogramsthatwouldqualifyanotherwiseCalFresh
eligiblestudentfortheCalFreshexemptionisforthcoming,andwillbereflectedinafutureversionofthis
FAQ.
9) AregrantsandscholarshipscountedasincomewhenIapplyforCalFresh?
Answer: No.Grantsandscholarshipsareconsideredexemptincome.vTheyshouldnotbeincludedon
yourapplicationasincome.
10) WhatamountofCalFreshbenefitswillNMDslikelyqualifyfor?Howmightthisdifferforparenting
NMDs?
Answer: TheamountofCalFreshbenefitsahouseholdgetsdependsonhowmanypeopleareinthe
householdandhowmuchmonthlynetincomeremainsaftertakingallowabledeductions.The
countywelfaredepartmenttakesthemaximumamountofCalFreshbenefitsahouseholdcan
getforthenumberofpeopleinthehousehold,andthendeducts30%ofthehouseholdsnet
income.Thismeansthatforevery$10ofnetincomethehouseholdhas,theCalFreshofficewill
reducetheCalFreshallotmentby$3.
ForFederalFiscalYear(FFY)2017(October1,2016throughSeptember30,2017)themaximum
monthlyallotmentforatwopersonhouseholdinCaliforniais$357.Maximumallotmentsare
adjustedbytheUSDAatthebeginningofeachfederalfiscalyear,basedonchangesinthecost
ofliving(http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/costlivingadjustmentcolainformation).Achartthat
showsthemaximummonthlyallotmentsbyhouseholdsizeforthecurrentfederalfiscalyearis
includedintherighthandcolumnonpage1.CDSSalsoincludesthisinformationintheirannual
ACINthatincludesupdatedCOLAs.
11) IfaNMDisalsoreceivingSupplementalSecurityIncomeorStateSupplementalProgrampayments
(SSI/SSP),doesthisaffecttheireligibilityforCalFresh?
Answer: ThosereceivingSSIorSSParenoteligibleforCalFresh.vi
12) HowdoyougoaboutapplyingforCalFresh?
Answer: Downloadanapplicationathttp://www.cdss.ca.gov/cdssweb/entres/forms/English/CF285.pdf,
fillitout,andsubmitittoyourlocalCountyWelfareDepartment,orcompleteitonlineat
http://www.benefitscal.org/.YouwillberequiredtohaveaninterviewwiththeCountyto
discussyourapplication,mostlikelydoneoverthephone.Youwillbeaskedforproofofyour
income,expenses,andothercircumstancestoseeifyouareeligible.Alistofproofneededto
getbenefitsisincludedontheonlineapplication.TheCountywillsendyoualettertoletyou
knowifyourhouseholdisapprovedordeniedCalFreshbenefitswithin30days.vii
13) WherecanIusemyCalFreshbenefitstobuyfood,andwhatcanIbuy?
Answer: YoucanuseyourCalFreshbenefitstobuyalmostallfoods,aswellasseedsandplantstogrow
yourownfood.Youcannotbuyalcohol,tobacco,petfood,foodthatwillbeeateninthestore,
hotfoods,oranythingthatisnotfood(liketoothpaste,soap,orpapertowels).viii

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Lastupdated10/2016|Contact:simone@johnburtonfoundation.org

CalFreshbenefitscanbeusedtopurchasefoodatgrocerystores,farmersmarkets,andeven
somefleamarkets.Theycannotbeusedtopurchasefoodsonline.
14) HowlongwillittakefromthetimeIapplyforCalFreshtothetimeIreceivemyfirstbenefitpayment?
Answer: Itmaytakeupto30daystoprocessyourapplication.However,youmaybeabletogetbenefits
within3calendardaysifyourhouseholdsmonthlygrossincome(incomebeforedeductions)is
lessthan$150andyourcashonhandorincheckingorsavingsaccountsis$100orless;orif
yourhouseholdshousingcosts(rentandutilities)aremorethanyourmonthlygrossincome
andcashonhandorincheckingorsavingsaccounts.(Foradditionalcircumstanceslesscommon
toNMDs,visittheonlineapplication).ix
__________________________

OnlineCalFreshResources:
CaliforniaDepartmentofSocialServices,CalFreshProgramhttp://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/foodstamps/
UnitedStatesDepartmentofAgricultureFoodandNutritionService,SupplementalNutritionAssistance
Programhttp://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplementalnutritionassistanceprogramsnap
LegalServicesofNorthernCaliforniasGuidetoCalFreshBenefitshttp://calfresh.lsnc.net/
CalFreshonlineapplicationhttp://www.benefitscal.org/

CodeofFederalRegulations273.9(a)<http://www.ecfr.gov/cgibin/text
idx?SID=bc19473384f994f28453c3af21a8a305&mc=true&node=pt7.4.273&rgn=div5#se7.4.273_19>
ii
CalFreshProgramRequestforPolicy/RegulationInterpretation
<http://www.cdsscounties.ca.gov/foodstamps/res/pdf/CF24/THP%20PLUS%20fostercare%20REVISED%207%2012%2016.pdf>
iii
CalFreshRegulations63502.3<http://www.cdss.ca.gov/foodstamps/entres/getinfo/pdf/fsman5.pdf>
iv

UnitedStatesCode2014(d)<https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/7/2014#d>
CalFreshRegulations63502.145<http://www.cdss.ca.gov/foodstamps/entres/getinfo/pdf/fsman5.pdf>
vi
CaliforniaDepartmentofSocialServicesManualofPoliciesandProcedures63402.226
<http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/ord/entres/getinfo/pdf/fsman04a.pdf>
vii
ApplicationforCalFreshBenefits<http://www.cdss.ca.gov/cdssweb/entres/forms/English/CF285.pdf>
viii
ApplicationforCalFreshBenefits<http://www.cdss.ca.gov/cdssweb/entres/forms/English/CF285.pdf>
ix
ApplicationforCalFreshBenefits<http://www.cdss.ca.gov/cdssweb/entres/forms/English/CF285.pdf>
v

ThisdocumentwasdevelopedbytheJohnBurtonFoundation
Lastupdated10/2016|Contact:simone@johnburtonfoundation.org