Special eligibility rules for the “elderly” or “disabled”

The CalFresh program gives special help to people who are “elderly” or “disabled” regarding:

  • How much income they can have and still get CalFresh benefits (see the section about income limits);
  • What are expenses and how much of their expenses they can deduct from their income (see the section about income deductions for the rules applicable to a household with an “elderly and disabled” member);
  • How much in resources they can have and still get CalFresh benefits (for more details, see the section about how many resources a household can have);
  • Whether they have to register for work (see the section about exemptions from work requirements for more information);
  • Whether they may be a separate household, even if they eat with others whose income is too high to get CalFresh benefits (see the section about options for multiple and separate CalFresh households in the same house); and
  • The length of their certification period (for more details, see the section about CalFresh time limits).
  • Can use their CalFresh benefits at certain restaurants and grocery stores to buy prepared meals through the Restaurant Meals Program.  Effective September 1, 2021, the Restaurant Meals Program is statewide.  [ACL 21-100.]  EBT cards must allow all CalFresh recipients who are eligible for the Restaurant Meals Program to utilize benefits in all Restaurant Meals Program authorized restaurants statewide. [ACL 18-24.]