New federal rules could put up to 40,000 Fresno CalFresh recipients at risk

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- As of Monday, CalFresh recipients have to meet new federal qualifications to continue to receive their benefits.

H-R1, known as the "Big Beautiful Bill," now requires able-bodied adults between ages 18 and 64 without dependents to provide proof of employment, school attendance, community engagement or qualify for an exemption.

"Over the next year, between 800,000 and a million CalFresh recipients who are already just scraping to get by will be newly at risk of losing their CalFresh benefits," said Carlos Marquez III, executive director of County Welfare Directors Association.

In Fresno County, the Department of Social Services says 40,000 of the 240,000 CalFresh recipients may be impacted by the change, but not right away.

"If you're an existing individual who receives benefits, you're going to be determined if you meet an exemption, work requirement or community engagement at your next annual renewal," explained Joshua Hernandez, deputy director of Fresno County's Department of Social Services

The department says recipients will be contacted ahead of their annual renewal.

You can check when your renewal date is by going to benefitscal.com.

During their renewal appointment, rules, exemptions and resources will be explained.

"From there, we'll help them try to keep their benefits," Hernandez stated.

County officials across the state say the new rules will significantly increase the staff's workload as thousands of recipients will need additional help while staffing levels remain the same.

"We will be unable to keep up with our call volume in our call centers, which will result in a failure to complete our applications and our renewals on time which does result in vulnerable CalFresh recipients losing their assistance," explained Marla Stuart, Contra Costa County director of Employment and Human Services Department.

That added risk is now causing some California leaders to ask Governor Gavin Newsom to step in.

"We have called for additional funding to help counties have the resources to hire hundreds of workers to help with the screening and verification and engagement needed for people to retain their CalFresh benefits," said Senator Jesse Arreguín (D), Berkeley.

That funding awaits approval.

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