H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) & CalFresh: Frequently Asked Questions

H.R. 1, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, is a federal law. President Trump signed H.R. 1 on July 4, 2025.

H.R. 1 is a budget bill that outlines a spending plan for the federal government. This includes spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as CalFresh in California.

The law cuts federal money that helps pay for CalFresh. This means:

• Some CalFresh recipients are getting less money for food.
• More CalFresh recipients may need to participate in work or community engagement activities to keep their benefits (changes began on June 1, 2026 – more information is below).
• Many lawfully present immigrants no longer qualify for CalFresh (changes began on April 1, 2026 – more information is below).
• There are changes to how utility costs are deducted for some CalFresh recipients (changes began on November 1, 2025 – more information is below).
• California will have to pay more money to help run CalFresh, even for some of the food benefits themselves.

Beginning on November 1, 2025, households that do not include a member over age 60 or who has a disability must have heating or cooling costs separate from their housing costs to claim a utility deduction. Claiming a utility deduction may increase monthly CalFresh benefits.

Previously, households that did not have heating and cooling costs separate from their housing costs were provided a State Utility Assistance Subsidy (an annual $20.01 energy assistance payment) that entitled them to claim the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) deduction. Under H.R. 1, this option is now limited to households with a member over age 60 or with a disability.

If your household includes a member over age 60 or with a disability, your county will continue to automatically issue you this annual energy assistance payment so that you can claim the SUA deduction.

Because of this change, households without a member over age 60 or with a disability may experience a reduction in their monthly CalFresh benefit. A smaller number of these households may lose CalFresh eligibility.

Beginning on April 1, 2026, the following categories of lawfully present immigrants are no longer eligible for CalFresh:

• Asylees
• Refugees
• Parolees (unless they are Cuban and Haitian Entrants)
• Individuals with deportation or removal withheld
• Conditional entrants
• Victims of trafficking
• Battered noncitizens
• Iraqi or Afghan with Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) who are not Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR)
• Certain Afghan Nationals granted parole between July 31, 2021, and September 30, 2023
• Certain Ukrainian Nationals granted parole between February 24, 2022, and September 30, 2024

This change will be implemented for existing CalFresh households at their next recertification following April 1, 2026.

Beginning on June 1, 2026, some CalFresh recipients between the ages of 18-64 may have to meet the work and community engagement requirements to keep their CalFresh benefits. This change does not apply to people who are excused from the rule, or who live in a county with a waiver of the rule because of high unemployment.

Find out if you may be required to meet the CalFresh work and community engagement requirements to keep your CalFresh benefits, or whether you may be excused by using the CalFresh Work and Community Engagement Requirements: Pre-Screening Tool..

People who are excused from these federal rules include people who are:

• Under age 18 or over age 64
• A parent or responsible for a dependent child under the age of 14
• Unable to work at least 20 hours per week or a total of 80 hours or more per month because of a physical or mental health issue
• Caring for a sick, injured, or disabled person who will need your help for more than 30 days
• Getting or applying for disability benefits, including but not limited to:
  • Veteran’s disability benefits
  • Worker’s compensation
  • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • State issued temporary or permanent disability benefits
• Unable to work because you are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction or a victim of domestic violence or experiencing chronic homelessness. The condition must be tied to a physical or mental health issue
• Pregnant (any stage of pregnancy)
• Identify as an Indian, Urban Indian or California Indian under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA)
• Participating in an Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) training program for at least half-time
• Going to school at least half-time (student eligibility rules may apply)
• Living in an area where the ABAWD work requirement is waived

People who have to meet the work or community engagement requirement must participate in qualifying activity for up to 20 hours per week, or 80 hours averaged monthly.

Qualifying activities include:

• Paid employment
• Volunteer work or community service
• Job training or work programs
• Education
• Workfare
  • CalFresh households who select this option will be told by the county how many workfare hours they must complete; it may be less than 20 hours per week.
• Combination of any of the above

For outreach and training materials, visit our Resources Webpage.

You can apply online at BenefitsCal.com.

You can also contact your local county social services office. You can get connected by calling 1-877-847-3663 or by visiting a local office. Find your local office here.

If you need food now, you can find your local food bank.

For a detailed overview of these changes please watch a recorded webinar hosted by the California Health and Human Services (CHSS) Agency and including Jennifer Troia, Director of the California Department of Social Services.

The recording can be accessed on the CalHHS YouTube page with the section timestamps as follows:

• 03:47 – CMS Interim Final Rule: Impact on Medi-Cal Work and Community Engagement Requirements
• 17:52 – CalFresh Updates