Benefit Computation

All nonexempt income of every member of the household is counted in the benefit computation process.

Treatment of excluded and non-household members is covered in Excluded and Non-household Members.

HHs With No Elderly/Disabled Member

Follow the steps below to determine a household's CalFresh allotment except when the household contains a member who is elderly or disabled. Use exact dollars and cents. This budget may be computed by:

• Entering case information into CalSAWS, or
• Using a “CalFresh Budget Worksheet” (CF 286 SAR).

1. Add the anticipated monthly unearned income of all household members after subtracting allowable child support payment, if any.
2. Add the anticipated gross monthly earned income for all household members (minus earned income exclusions) to determine the household's total monthly gross earned income.
3. Subtract the earned income deduction* from the monthly gross earned income.
4. Add all the income (Earned + Unearned).
5. Subtract the standard deduction*.
6. Subtract monthly averaged dependent care expenses, if any.
7. Total the allowable shelter expenses (housing and utilities) to determine shelter costs.
8. Subtract from the total shelter costs 50 percent of the household's monthly income after all the above deductions have been subtracted. The remaining amount, if any, is the excess shelter cost.
   1. Is there an excess shelter cost?
      1. If NO, the amount in STEP 7 is the household's net monthly income. Go to STEP 10.
      2. If YES, Subtract the excess shelter cost (up to the current maximum*) from the household's monthly income after all other deductions. This amount is the household's net monthly income.
9. Round the net monthly income amount:
   1. Down for calculations that end in 1 through 49 cents, and
   2. Up for calculations that end in 50 through 99 cents.
10. Refer to Charts, Tables, and Miscellaneous to determine the household's benefit allotment.] Benefits for the month of application must be prorated if:
    1. The household applied after the first of the month, and
    2. There is a break in benefits.
       1. Refer to Benefit Proration [63-102, 63-503.13].
       2. Refer to Deductions.

ExampleExample

HHs with an Elderly/Disabled HH Members

Follow the steps below to determine the net monthly income of a household that includes a member who is defined as “elderly or disabled” for CalFresh. Use exact dollars and cents. This budget may be computed by:

• Entering case information into CalSAWS, or
• Using “CalFresh Budget Worksheet Special Medical/Shelter Deductions:” (DFA 285-D).

1. Add the anticipated monthly unearned income of all household members after subtracting allowable child support payment, if any.
2. Add the anticipated gross monthly earned income of all household members (minus earned income exclusions) to determine the household's total gross earned income.
3. Subtract the earned income deduction* from the total gross earned income.
4. Add the total monthly unearned income of all household members (minus income exclusions).
5. Subtract the standard deduction*.
6. Subtract the medical expenses in excess of the current excess medical deduction of expense*.
7. Subtract the monthly dependent care.
8. Total the allowable shelter expenses to determine shelter costs.
9. Subtract from the total shelter costs 50 percent of the household's monthly income after all the above deductions have been subtracted. The remaining amount, if any, is the excess shelter cost.
10. Subtract the excess shelter cost from the household's monthly income after all other deductions. The remainder is the household's net monthly income.
11. Round the net monthly income amount:
    1. Down for calculations that end in 1 through 49 cents, and Up for calculations that end in 50 through 99 cents.
12. Refer to Charts, Tables, and Miscellaneous to determine the household's benefit allotment.] Benefits for the month of application must be prorated if:
    1. The household applied after the first of the month, and
    2. There is a break in benefits.
       1. Refer to Benefit Proration [63-102, 63-503.13].
       2. Refer to Deductions.

Benefit Proration [63-102, 63-503.13]

Follow the chart below to determine when to prorate benefits for an application.

PRORATE IF . . .	DO NOT PRORATE IF . . .
Household (except for Non-migrant / seasonal farm worker household) applies after the 1st of the month AND there is a break in benefits of ONE day or more.	HH applies after the 1st of the month and the household is a Migrant or Seasonal farm worker household with a break in benefits of more than 30 days.
HH applies after the 1st of the month and the household is a Migrant or Seasonal farm worker household with a break in benefits of 30 days or less.

ExampleExample

ExampleExample

Refer to Exception for Late Recertifications for “Lost Benefit” requirement if the delay is due to county error.]

CalFresh benefits are prorated from the date of application. The date of application is the date that a SAWS 1 or SAWS 2plus, or CF 285 is received requesting CalFresh with at least the applicant's name and address, and the signature of the head of household, a responsible household member, or an authorized representative.

CalFresh benefits are prorated from the date all required verifications are received by the county, if the required verifications are not received until the second 30-day period after the date of application due to the fault of the household.

Follow the steps below to prorate benefits.

1. Determine the total monthly benefit to which the household is entitled.
2. [Refer to Chart Book, “Proration of First Month Benefits,” page 7-1 for a proration factor chart.]
3. Locate the calendar date of the application (or the date required verification are received, if applicable) in the Calendar Date column of the chart.
4. Multiply the total monthly benefit amount by the correct decimal fraction to determine the benefit amount that the household is eligible to receive for the remainder of the month.
5. Round the prorated benefit amount down to the next dollar. (Round down - drop cents.)
6. If the prorated benefit is less than $10, no benefits are issued for the first month of certification.

Minimum Allotments

Except during an initial month:

• All eligible one and two-person households shall receive a minimum monthly allotment of $15.

New Applicant HHs with Zero Benefits

Deny the application of a household with:

• Net income that results in zero benefits (unless the zero benefit level is due to initial month proration).
• Three or more members and
• Net income that results in zero benefits (unless the zero benefit level is due to initial month proration).

Exception: An application must not be denied for a CE and MCE households of one or two persons with income exceeding the limits for the household size. These households are entitled for a $15 minimum benefit allotment.

Related Topics

Budgeting Concepts