PD 25-21: CalFresh Minimum Nutrition Benefit Pilot Program

Date: 11/24/25
To: DEBS Eligibility Staff
From: Ana Guitron, SSA BPIS
Reference: ACL 25-01, ACL 25-59

Background

The CalFresh Minimum Nutrition Benefit Pilot Program (MNB Pilot) will provide state-funded nutrition benefits for up to twelve months to eligible households that receive less than $60 in CalFresh or California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) benefits. Eligible households will receive a state-funded food benefit issuance that, when combined with their regular food benefit allotment, totals no less than $60.

The MNB Pilot will operate for twelve months beginning December 1, 2025, through November 30, 2026.

Guidance

Eligibility Criteria

Households eligible to participate in the MNB Pilot include those who meet all the following requirements:

  • Meet the eligibility criteria for the Elderly Simplified Application Project (ESAP), 
  • Receive a monthly food benefit allotment of less than $60, and
  • Are a household of two or more CalFresh-eligible members.

To participate in the MNB Pilot, eligible households must be: 

  • Receiving CalFresh on December 1, 2025, or 
  • Have a pending application approved with a beginning date of aid on or before December 1, 2025. 

They must also have ESAP status effective as of December 1, 2025. Households that apply for CalFresh or are conferred ESAP status effective after December 1, 2025, are not eligible to participate in the MNB Pilot.

Households approved for a monthly CalFresh allotment of less than $60 and receiving less than their approved allotment because they are repaying a CalFresh overissuance through benefit reduction are eligible. They will receive an MNB issuance that, when added to their approved allotment prior to benefit reduction, will equal no less than $60.

Exception: Households that otherwise qualify but receive a prorated CalFresh benefit allotment due to a restoration of aid or any other reason will not receive an MNB issuance in the month their CalFresh allotment is prorated. 

Ineligible Households

  • Households that apply for CalFresh after the implementation date are not eligible.
  • Households approved for a monthly CalFresh allotment of $60 or more but receiving less than $60 because they are repaying a CalFresh overissuance through benefit reduction are not eligible for the MNB Pilot. 
  • Supplemental Nutrition Benefit (SNB) recipients are not eligible for the MNB Pilot because the SNB program provides a state-funded benefit that is greater than the MNB Pilot threshold of $60. 

Discontinuance and Restoration 

Once determined eligible for the MNB Pilot, households will continue to receive MNB issuances through the duration of the pilot, up to twelve months, unless they lose eligibility for any of the following reasons:

  • The household is no longer eligible for CalFresh, 
  • The household no longer has at least two CalFresh-eligible members
  • The full month CalFresh allotment before any disqualifications or benefit reduction increases to $60 or more, or
  • The household no longer meets the eligibility criteria for ESAP. 

Households that:

  • Lose eligibility to the MNB Pilot must be discontinued on the first of the month following timely and adequate notice of discontinuance.
  • Are discontinued from the MNB Pilot, but regain eligibility through rescission, restoration, or reapplication during the 12-month duration of the pilot, and do not have a break in aid, will again be eligible for MNB issuances.
  • Are discontinued from CalFresh and reapply after a break in aid, are not eligible to participate in any remaining months of the MNB Pilot.

Overissuance

If it is determined that a household was eligible for a higher CalFresh allotment of more than $60, which would have disqualified the household from participation in the MNB Pilot, the issuance must be corrected to reflect the correct amount of CalFresh benefits it was eligible for, and the MNB Pilot participation must be discontinued. 

Note: Any MNB Pilot benefits issued in error must not be recovered and may not be used to repay CalFresh claims.

Underissuance

If the household was issued less MNB Pilot benefits than it was eligible for, the benefit amount will be recalculated, and additional benefits issued based on the difference between the MNB Pilot benefits the household received and the benefits for which the household was eligible for. 
Correction of any MNB Pilot under issuances must be made no later than June 30, 2027. 

Replacement of Benefits

MNB Pilot benefits must not be replaced if they are lost in a disaster, household misfortune, or stolen by electronic theft.

Benefits Issuance and Use

MNB Pilot benefits:

  • Will be loaded onto the household’s existing EBT card as a separate issuance, in addition to the regular CalFresh allotment.
  • May be used in the same manner as other food benefits, including participation in the Restaurant Meals Program (RMP), if otherwise eligible, and Market Match.
  • Are subject to existing procedures for expungement of unused benefits due to inactivity or when all household members are deceased.

Forms 

Two Notices of Action (NOAs) were developed for the MNB Pilot, which include: 

  • Notice of Approval for the CalFresh Minimum Nutrition Benefit Pilot Program (CF 378A)
  • Notice of Discontinuance for the CalFresh Minimum Nutrition Benefit Pilot Program (CF 378B)

Note: The MNB Pilot notices will be provided in English and Spanish only. Households whose primary language is not available must also be issued a Notice of Language Services (GEN 1365 ). 

CF 378A

Eligible households will be provided the CF 378A when approved for the MNB. If households experience a change in MNB benefit allotment when their CalFresh allotment changes, a new CF 378A does not need to be provided. 

CF 378B

When the MNB Pilot ends or when a household loses eligibility for any reason, the CF 378B will be provided. Timely and adequate notice rules apply, and the appropriate reason statement(s) for the discontinuance must be indicated.

If the reason for discontinuance is due to Then the CF 378B
The household’s CalFresh benefits have increased to $60 or more must be issued alongside the CalFresh benefit change NOA.
The household is being discontinued from CalFresh, must be issued alongside the CalFresh discontinuance NOA

 

CalSAWS

MNB benefits will be approved automatically; however, certain scenarios will require manual processing. Manual MNB issuance is required in the following scenarios:

  • New applications that are eligible on December 1, 2025, but are authorized after December 30, 2025
  • Reevaluation of 12/2025 benefit month for eligible MNB households
  • Inter County Transfers (ICT)

For steps on how to manually issue/discontinue MNB, refer to the CalFresh Minimum Nutrition Benefit CalSAWS Quick Guide.

 

Implementation

Instructions in this Program Directive are effective December 1, 2025.