The amount of CalFresh benefits a household gets depends on how many people are in the household and how much monthly net income remains after taking allowable deductions. [7 C.F.R. §§ 273.10(d), 273.10(e)(1), 273.10(e)(2)(ii)(A); MPP §§ 63-502.3, 63-503.32.]
The county welfare department takes the maximum amount of CalFresh benefits a household can get for the number of people in the household, and then deducts 30% of the household’s net income. [7 C.F.R. § 273.10(e)(2)(ii)(A); MPP § 63-503.32; ACIN I-45-07.] For Fiscal Year 2022 (October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022) the maximum monthly allotment for a two-person household in California is $459. [ACIN I-78-21.] This means that for every ten dollars of net income the household has, the CalFresh office will reduce the CalFresh allotment by three dollars.
If there are only one or two people in the household, the CalFresh office will give it at least $10 in CalFresh benefits, if the household members qualify for CalFresh benefits at all. If the household has three or more people, and the CalFresh allotment comes out to only $1, it will get $2. If eligible for $3, the household will get $4; and if eligible for $5, it get $6. [See 7 C.F.R. § 273.10(e)(2)(ii)(C); MPP § 63-503.325 (QR).]
NOTE: The maximum benefit amount is increased by 15% between January 1, 2021 and September 30, 2021 by the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021 because of COVID-19. [USDA, SNAP – Temporary Increase in Maximum Allotments due to COVID-19.] The 15% increase ended effective September 30, 2021. [ACIN I-78-21.]