In California, EBT benefits under CalFresh run from a maximum of $298 per month for a single person to $994 for a household of four, with larger households receiving more. Those are ceilings for the federal fiscal year that started October 1, 2025 and runs through September 30, 2026. What you actually receive depends on your household size, your income, and the deductions you qualify for, so most households land below the maximum.
Maximum Monthly CalFresh Amounts by Household Size
The USDA adjusts these ceilings each October. For FFY 2026:
- 1 person: $298
- 2 people: $546
- 3 people: $785
- 4 people: $994
- 5 people: $1,183
- 6 people: $1,421
- 7 people: $1,571
- 8 people: $1,789
- Each additional person: add $218
If your household’s calculated benefit comes out very low, one- and two-person households still get a guaranteed minimum rather than being cut to zero.1USDA Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information
How Your Monthly Amount Is Calculated
The formula is simple. Start with the maximum for your household size, then subtract 30 percent of your net monthly income. Net income is your gross income minus the deductions the program allows. Every extra $100 of net income lowers your benefit by $30.2USDA Economic Research Service. Understanding the Food Stamp Benefit Formula
A worked example: a household of three with $1,500 in net monthly income takes the $785 maximum, subtracts $450 (30 percent of $1,500), and receives $335 per month. A household whose net income comes out to zero after deductions gets the full maximum.
Deductions That Raise Your Benefit
Because the formula runs on net income, every deduction you claim puts more money on your card. These are the ones that matter for FFY 2026.
Standard Deduction
Every household gets a flat monthly deduction with no documentation required:
- 1 to 3 people: $209
- 4 people: $223
- 5 people: $261
- 6 or more people: $299
Earned Income Deduction
If anyone in the household works, 20 percent of gross wages is automatically excluded. Someone earning $2,000 a month has $400 shaved off before net income is figured.
Dependent Care
Out-of-pocket child care or adult dependent care costs are deductible when the care is necessary for a household member to work, look for work, or attend training. There is no cap.3Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. The Food Stamp Dependent Care Deduction
Medical Expenses for Elderly or Disabled Members
Households with a member aged 60 or older, or with a qualifying disability, can deduct unreimbursed medical expenses over $35 a month. California offers a standard medical deduction of $120 once at least one expense over $35 is verified. If actual medical costs exceed $155 per month, the household can claim the full amount instead.4Santa Clara County Social Services Agency. CalFresh Update 2024-11 Standard Medical Deduction
Shelter and Utilities
Shelter costs count rent, mortgage payments, property taxes, and homeowner’s insurance. When shelter plus a utility allowance exceeds half of your income after other deductions, the excess is your shelter deduction. For most households it’s capped at $744 per month for FFY 2026. Households with an elderly or disabled member have no cap.5Santa Clara County Social Services Agency. CalFresh Program Handbook – Shelter Costs
California uses standardized utility allowances rather than tracking bills. Pay heating or cooling separately from rent, and you get the $663 Standard Utility Allowance. Pay for at least two non-heating utilities like water, garbage, and phone, and you get the $170 Limited Utility Allowance. Phone only gets you $20.6Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services. CalFresh Cost-Of-Living Adjustments for Federal Fiscal Year 2026
Homeless households without a fixed address can claim a $198.99 monthly homeless shelter deduction instead of documenting actual costs.7USDA Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP FY2026 Maximum Allotments and Deductions
Income Limits To Qualify
California uses two income tests. Most households have to pass both. Households that include someone 60 or older or someone with a disability only have to pass the net income test.
Gross Income Limit (200% of Federal Poverty Level)
- 1 person: $2,610
- 2 people: $3,526
- 3 people: $4,442
- 4 people: $5,360
- 5 people: $6,276
- 6 people: $7,192
- 7 people: $8,110
- 8 people: $9,026
- Each additional person: add $918
California’s 200 percent gross income threshold is more generous than the 130 percent federal baseline used in many other states.8Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services. CalFresh Eligibility Criteria
Net Income Limit (100% of Federal Poverty Level)
- 1 person: $1,305
- 2 people: $1,763
- 3 people: $2,221
- 4 people: $2,680
- 5 people: $3,138
- 6 people: $3,596
- 7 people: $4,055
- 8 people: $4,513
- Each additional person: add $459
Bank accounts and other assets generally don’t count against you for CalFresh eligibility in California. The main exception is households where a member has been disqualified for an intentional program violation, which brings in a stricter income standard and a resource test.
When Benefits Load and How to Check Your Balance
California staggers deposits across the first ten days of each month based on the last digit of your case number. Case number ending in 1 loads on the 1st, 2 on the 2nd, and so on, with 0 loading on the 10th. Benefits appear in the morning. When a deposit date falls on a weekend or holiday, funds typically post the business day before.
Your card reloads automatically. Unused benefits roll over month to month, but anything sitting untouched for 365 days is removed from your account.9CalFresh. CalFresh – California’s Food Assistance Program
To check your balance, call California EBT customer service at 1-877-328-9677, available 24 hours a day.10California EBT Project. When to Call the Toll-Free Customer Service Telephone Number You can also log in at ebt.ca.gov to see your balance and recent transactions.11California EBT Project. CardHolder Portal BenefitsCal.com shows your case information as well. Every store receipt prints your remaining balance at the bottom, and most terminals will let you swipe to check without buying anything.
One thing to know once you’re approved: keeping your benefits requires filing a Semi-Annual Reporting (SAR 7) form every six months and completing a full recertification once a year. Miss those deadlines and payments stop until you reapply.