Will Extra Food Stamps be Extended in California?

Millions of Californians have looked to Emergency Food Stamps benefits to help them afford food throughout the pandemic. However, the Extra food stamps benefits were scheduled to be temporary and as things currently stand, they will expire at the end of September 2021. In this post, we will answer the question “Will extra food stamps be extended in California.”.

We will explain what is currently happening in Congress with the extra food stamps benefits and the likelihood of the program being extended further.

Additionally, we will explain the 25% increase in food stamps that’s scheduled to take place on October 1, which is the biggest increase in food stamps in history, and what that means for SNAP beneficiaries in California.

This post will cover:

• September Extra Food Stamps Benefits
• Will Extra Food Stamps be Extended in California after September?
• When 25% Increase in California SNAP will Start
• Update on California Stimulus Check #2 ($600 or $1,200)

September Extra Food Stamps Benefits

As previously noted, California has been approved for emergency allotments for the month of September 2021.

September Extra CalFresh benefits will be issued on October 24, 2021.

In addition, if you did not receive your August extra benefit on September 11, 2021, the next round of August payments will be issued on October 24, 2021, as well.

Also, if you did not receive your benefits on August 8th, the next round of July payments will be issued on September 11, 2021.

Also, if your July payment did not come on September 11, 2021, then the last opportunity to receive your payment for July is on October 24, 2021.

Will Extra Food Stamps be Extended in California after September?

The 15% boost to food stamps that was part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 will end on September 30.

This increase has added an extra $27 to SNAP benefits during the pandemic.

According to USA Today, there are no plans from Congress to pass additional relief measures.

However, from October 1, food stamps are instead getting a permanent boost worth an extra $36 a month per person as explained below.

When 25% Increase in California SNAP will Start

CalFresh benefits will soon increase by more than 25% – the largest single increase in the program’s history.

This is the first time since 1975 that the CalFresh program has seen a boost in purchasing power.

President Joe Biden’s administration has approved this increase because studies show that more than a quarter of the households enrolled in SNAP exhaust their monthly benefits in the first week after issuance, and more than half do so by the second week.

Unlike the 15% increase in food stamps that was approved from January – September 2021, the 25% increase in food stamps for 2021 is permanent.

This means that you will receive this benefit increase indefinitely if you qualify.

How Much will I get a month in SNAP from the 25% Increase?

The average increase will be $36.24 more per person, per month, or about $1.19 more per day, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, the average benefit was about $121 per person on a monthly basis.

The table below shows the new SNAP benefit amounts with the 25% increase.

These benefits will begin in October 2021.

As you can see from the table below, here’s what you can expect based on household size:

If you are single and receiving SNAP, the new monthly maximum you can get starting October 1, 2021, is $250. That’s a $46 increase from the previous maximum.

Also, a household of 4 will get a maximum benefit of $835, a $155 increase from the previous maximum.

Additionally, a family of 6 will receive a maximum SNAP benefit of $1,190, a $221 increase from the previous maximum limit.

The table below shows what SNAP benefits would have been without the 15% increase that has been in effect from January to September 2021.

Household Size	Current Maximum SNAP Monthly Benefit without 15% Extra Allotment	New Maximum SNAP Benefit with 25% Increase
1	$204	$250
2	$374	$459
3	$535	$658
4	$680	$835
5	$807	$992
6	$969	$1,190
7	$1,071	$1,316
8	$1,224	$1,504
Each additional member	(+$153)	(+$188)

Do I need to do anything to get the Increased 25% CalFresh Benefits?

No. If you are already receiving CalFresh, no further action is needed to get the increase in benefits come October.

However, if you might be eligible for CalFresh but don’t currently receive it, you can apply for CalFresh here.

Update on California Stimulus Check #2

While a fourth stimulus check from the Congres isn’t on the table for Americans this year, California isn’t holding back on additional relief aid for its residents.

On September 17th, a new batch of Golden State Stimulus II payments arrived in bank accounts across California.

The first round — amounting to 600,000 payments — went out on Aug. 27.

The second batch, issued on September 17th is much larger, with at least 2 million Californians receiving the benefit.

Am I eligible for

Check if you qualify for the Golden State Stimulus II

According to the state of California, to qualify for the Golden State Stimulus II, you must:

• File your 2020 taxes by October 15, 2021
• Have a California Adjusted Gross Income (CA AGI) of $1 to $75,000 for the 2020 tax year. For this information refer to:
  • Line 17 on Form 540
  • Line 16 on Form 540 2EZ
• Have wages of $0 to $75,000 for the 2020 tax year
• Be a California resident for more than half of the 2020 tax year
• Be a California resident on the date payment is issued
• Cannot be claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer
  • A dependent is a qualifying child or qualifying relative. Go to FTB Publication 1540 for more information about a qualifying child and qualifying relative

Will Extra Food Stamps be Extended in California? – Summary

Here’s the bottom line about Extra food stamps extension in California:

The 15% boost to food stamps that was part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 will end on September 30.

Congress has no plans to pass legislation extending the benefits.

However, from October 1, CalFresh benefits will see a permanent 25% boost – which is worth an extra $36 a month per person.

Questions?

If you have further questions about Extra SNAP Benefits, California SNAP, or EBT Card, please let us know in the comments section below.

Be sure to check out our other articles about CalFresh and CalFresh EBT, including:
Restaurants that Take CalFresh in California
How to Apply for California P-EBT
California P-EBT Extension for 2020/2021
CalFresh for San Diego County
How much will I get in CalFresh in 2021?
How to Complete CalFresh SAR 7 Form
Get Printable CalFresh SAR 7 Form
$3,000 Stimulus Child Tax Credit for Families