CalFresh – SNAP payments in California will see the 2025 COLA increase starting next week

Starting October 1, 2024, CalFresh (California’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients will see a modest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed these updates, which will slightly increase the monthly benefits for eligible individuals and families across California. While the increase is small, it’s better than recent reductions seen in other states, such as Hawaii.

Here’s everything you need to know about the updated payment schedule and the new benefit amounts.

Payment Schedule

CalFresh payments are distributed via Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards from the 1st to the 10th of each month. The exact day you receive your benefits depends on the last digit of your case number. Here’s the breakdown for October 2024:

• Case numbers ending in 1: Benefits deposited on October 1.
• Case numbers ending in 2: Benefits deposited on October 2.
• Case numbers ending in 3: Benefits deposited on October 3.
• Case numbers ending in 4: Benefits deposited on October 4.
• Case numbers ending in 5: Benefits deposited on October 5.
• Case numbers ending in 6: Benefits deposited on October 6.
• Case numbers ending in 7: Benefits deposited on October 7.
• Case numbers ending in 8: Benefits deposited on October 8.
• Case numbers ending in 9: Benefits deposited on October 9.
• Case numbers ending in 0: Benefits deposited on October 10.

This staggered schedule ensures that recipients won’t all receive their benefits on the same day, helping to smooth out demand for assistance and ease access to funds.

Increases

The COLA increase for CalFresh will raise the maximum monthly benefits slightly. The increase is small but still meaningful for those relying on SNAP for food security.

Household Size	Previous Max Benefit	New Max Benefit (Oct 2024)	Increase ($)
1 individual	$291	$292	$1
2 individuals	$535	$536	$1
3 persons	$767	$768	$1
4 persons	$974	$975	$1
5 persons	$1,157	$1,158	$1
6 persons	$1,389	$1,390	$1
7 persons	$1,535	$1,536	$1
8 persons	$1,751	$1,756	$5

As you can see, the increase for most households is just $1, while a family of eight will see a $5 boost in their monthly benefits. While this may seem modest, it still provides a small cushion to help cover the rising costs of groceries and essential items.

For a family of four, the maximum monthly benefit will increase to $975, and for individuals, it will go up to $292. Over the course of a year, these small changes add up, providing additional support to California’s most vulnerable families.

CalFresh Recipients

The COLA increase in 2024 signals a continued effort to adjust benefits in response to rising costs of living. Although the increase is slight, it is an acknowledgment that living costs, including food, are still climbing, even if inflation is slowing.

For SNAP recipients, this means that while the rise in benefits might not be dramatic, it still offers some extra funds to stretch their grocery budget a little further. Every dollar counts when it comes to feeding a family, and SNAP continues to provide essential assistance to those who need it most.

Benefits

To make the most of your CalFresh benefits, consider budgeting and planning meals ahead of time. This can help you avoid waste and make your SNAP dollars go further. Additionally, many farmers’ markets in California accept EBT, and some even offer programs like Market Match, which provides extra funds when you use EBT at certain markets, making healthy food more accessible.

Finally, make sure your information with CalFresh is up to date. Report any changes in income or household size to ensure you’re receiving the correct benefit amount. If you haven’t yet, create an online account with CalFresh so you can manage your benefits and check your payment schedule easily.

FAQs