CalFresh Income Limits 2027: Where Your Household Lands
Every week, people in Santa Clara County decide not to apply for CalFresh because they assume they earn too much. Many of them are wrong. The county publishes the exact income limits — here is the table in plain words, so you can find your row before you decide anything.
CalFresh is California’s name for SNAP: food money on an EBT card, run by the state (CDSS) and Santa Clara County.
The two tests (FFY2027 — October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027)
Most households must pass two income tests. These are the county’s published standards:
| Household | Gross monthly (200% test) | Net monthly (100% test) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,660 | $1,330 |
| 2 | $3,608 | $1,804 |
| 3 | $4,554 | $2,277 |
| 4 | $5,500 | $2,750 |
| 8 | $9,288 | $4,644 |
Add $948 gross / $474 net for each person past 8.
Read it this way: a household of four can earn up to $5,500 a month before deductions and still pass the first test. Rent and shelter costs count toward the second test, which is why people who “make too much” on paper often still qualify.
How much you could get
The maximum monthly amounts (FFY2027): 1 person $306 · 2: $562 · 3: $808 · 4: $1,023 · 8: $1,841 (+$225 per extra person). Most households get less, based on income and expenses. The standard deduction is $217 for households of 1–3 ($229 for 4).
Rules that change the answer
- Age 60+ or disabled? Your household skips the gross test — only the net test applies, and medical expenses can raise your amount.
- On SSI/SSP? You can get CalFresh too — California ended the old exclusion in 2019.
- Assets: most households under the 200% line have their resources exempt entirely. Where resource limits apply, they are $3,000, or $4,750 for a household with a member 60+ or disabled.
- Citizen children qualify even if a parent cannot. Qualified non-citizens can be eligible too; the county decides, and asking costs nothing.
The one work rule to know
If you are 18–64, able to work, and have no child under 14 at home, the ABAWD rule applies in Santa Clara County: after 3 full months of CalFresh you must work, volunteer, or train about 20 hours a week (80 a month) to keep it — unless you are excused (pregnancy, caring for someone who needs help, health limits, getting disability benefits, and more are all excuses under the rules). Ask the county about your situation before you assume it applies to you.
How to apply — free
- Online: BenefitsCal.com — one application, and it also screens you for Medi-Cal and CalWORKs.
- By phone: the county, (408) 758-3800.
- With help: Second Harvest’s Food Connection, 1-800-984-3663 (Mon–Fri 8–5, in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and more), helps with CalFresh applications — and with finding groceries today.
You will have a phone or in-person interview, and the county may ask for proof of income, identity, and housing costs. Don’t let a missing document stop you from applying — you can add documents after.
What to do this week
- [ ] Find your household size in the table above and compare both tests
- [ ] If you are 60+, disabled, or on SSI/SSP, check the rules that change the answer — they may put you back in
- [ ] Apply at BenefitsCal.com or call the county at (408) 758-3800
- [ ] Need food before the card arrives? Call Food Connection at 1-800-984-3663
→ See your numbers before you apply — the checker runs these same tests on your household
See also: CalFresh in Santa Clara County · Free food in San Jose & Santa Clara County
