About 1,700 San Diego County residents could lose their CalFresh food benefits Thursday, Oct. 1, if they do not show by Sept. 30 that they meet new federal work requirements or qualify for an exemption.

The county issued the warning Wednesday, Sept. 16, through the County News Center. No breakdown by city was provided, but Encinitas households that receive CalFresh, California's version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), are among those affected.

Since June 1, 2026, certain working-age adults on CalFresh have been required to log at least 20 hours per week, or 80 hours per month, of work, volunteering or education to keep their benefits. The rules stem from HR1, federal legislation passed in 2025 that expanded the age range of adults subject to time limits from 18–54 to 18–64. Parents caring for children ages 14 to 17 lost their previous exemption under the same law.

Recipients got a three-month grace period at the start of their renewal cycle to connect with qualifying activities. That window closes at the end of September for the first group.

Some residents may qualify for exemptions from the work requirement. The county advisory did not list specific categories but urged residents to call for guidance.

What counts

The county said several types of activity satisfy the requirement:

  • A job or self-employment
  • Community service or volunteer work, including at food banks, schools and places of worship
  • Job training, including the CalFresh Employment & Training (CFET) program
  • Education
  • Any combination of the above

The county offers a volunteer hours form at sandiegocounty.gov to simplify reporting.

If you miss the deadline

Residents who do not respond by Sept. 30 can reapply, but they must first complete 30 consecutive days of qualifying activities before benefits resume. The county will review eligibility annually after that.

Statewide context

The Public Policy Institute of California estimated in August that about 800,000 working-age adults statewide are subject to the new time limits. CalFresh kept 850,000 Californians out of poverty in 2024, according to the California Poverty Measure cited by the institute.

How to get help

County staff can help residents identify qualifying activities and connect them with job, training and education opportunities. Residents can call the Access Customer Service Call Center at 1-866-262-9881 or update their contact information at BenefitsCal.com to avoid missing notices.