California Sues Federal Government to Prevent SNAPโค Benefit Cuts
SACRAMENTO, โคCalif.- California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced today that the state has joined aโค multi-state โlawsuit against the federal government to prevent the scheduled expiration of emergencyโ SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits,โ known as CalFresh in California, โset to impact over 5.5 million residents startingโค in November.
The lawsuit challenges the U.S. Departmentโข of Agriculture’s (USDA) decisionโฃ to end the enhanced benefits,โ arguing the agencyโ did not adequately consider the impact on vulnerable populations. The USDA maintains that congressional action ended the funding โfor the increased benefitsโฃ and that available funds have beenโค appropriated but aren’t โขenough to cover the continuation of the higher benefit levels. โคThe agency โdid state a contingencyโ fund exists for food assistance in disaster areas.
The cuts will substantially impact California’s economy, affecting approximately 26,600โฃ grocers, farmers’ โขmarkets, โand other businesses that accept SNAP payments, Bonta warned.
In anticipation of the benefit reductions, Governor Gavinโค Newsom announced theโ “fast-tracked” distribution of $80 โฃmillionโ to 50 food banks โacross theโข state. The California National Guard is also being deployed to assist food banks with increased demand.โ However,โค Newsom acknowledged this amount is insufficient, noting California typically issues approximately $1.1 billion in federal CalFresh benefits each month.
Currently, approximately 5.5 million Californians receive SNAP benefits monthly.โ Eligible households receive monthly funds via anโข Electronic โฃbenefit Transfer (EBT) card for grocery purchases at approvedโข retailers. Benefit amounts vary based on household size,โข income, allowable deductions, and โขstate-specific rules.
for the period October 2025 – september 2026, a household in California โmust meet โคthe gross monthly โฃincome test at 185% of the federal poverty levelโ (FPL) to โคqualify. Approximate maximumโ gross โmonthly incomes are:
* โค 1-person household: $2,413/month
* 2-person household:โ $3,261/month
* 3-personโ household: $4,109/month
* 4-person household: $4,957/month
Households with a โmember aged 60 or older or โคsomeone โwith a disability โmay qualifyโค through โฃa net income test andโฃ resource limits, perhaps waiving the gross income test.
