Overview
- The eligibility shift, which took effect Wednesday, removes refugees, asylees, certain parolees, trafficking survivors, and other lawfully present non-citizens from CalFresh, California’s version of SNAP.
- State and local estimates project about 72,000 people statewide will lose eligibility over time, including roughly 30,000 in Sacramento County, about 23,000 in Los Angeles County, and nearly 13,000 in San Diego County.
- Because removals happen at recertification, current recipients keep benefits until renewal, and counties urge people to update contact details, watch deadlines, and respond to paperwork.
- Food banks in Sacramento, San Diego, and Orange County report longer lines and warn they cannot fill the gap, noting CalFresh delivers about nine meals for every one a food bank provides.
- Another change scheduled for June 1 expands work requirements for some adults without dependents, which local agencies say will trigger a second wave of benefit losses and higher demand for emergency food.