CalFresh recipients wait for work requirements triggered by new federal law
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides money to nearly 42 million low-income Americans for groceries. In California, the funds are distributed through the CalFresh program.
“Before, it was like they would buy more stuff. Now, it’s less. They’re thinking, ’Oh I don’t want to buy this. It’s more expensive,'” said Cathy Perez, a cashier at the Food Bowl Market and Deli in South Park.
Perez has checked out customers at the small, family-owned store for 31 years. About a third of the customers who shop at the Food Bowl use CalFresh EBT cards to purchase food.
H.R. 1 is the federal law passed by Congress and signed by the president on July 4, 2025. It includes hundreds of provisions, like extending 2017 tax cuts and adding more work requirements for SNAP programs across the country. The law went into effect on Feb. 1.
“(My EBT benefit) was almost $300 a month, but they took it down to $24 after I went on disability,” said Danté Vargas, who shops at the Food Bowl and is in a wheelchair because of health problems that required partial foot amputations.
As Vargas deals with that setback, other non-disabled people without dependents getting federal food help must now work, volunteer or participate in a training program of some kind at least 80 hours a month. If they don’t meet the minimum, they face losing their benefits.
In San Diego County, the Health and Human Services Agency certifies low-income or no-income people for EBT cards. They have to re-qualify at least once a year.
A county spokesperson told NBC 7 on Monday that none of the new rules have gone into effect locally yet. The agency is still waiting for more direction from the federal government.
Most CalFresh recipients between 18 to 65 without disabilities and dependents could be impacted. The required work rules could now also apply to veterans, young people who’ve aged out of the foster system, and, in some cases, people who are homeless.
The county spokesperson said no changes will happen before those impacted are notified by the agency first. Online updates can be found here.
