DPSS ePolicy

To revise existing policy and/or form(s) 

This Administrative Release (AR) informs staff of changes to the CalFresh Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2026, for the period of October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. 

Note: Changes are shown highlighted in grey throughout the document. 

The COLA for FFY 2026 changes the following: 

• Maximum CalFresh Allotments increased by 2.1%
  
  
• Gross and Net Income Limits increased
  
  
• Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) increased to $663
  
  
• Limited Utility Allowance (LUA) increased to $170
  
  
• Telephone Utility Allowance (TUA) increased to $20
  
  
• Standard Medical Deduction remains the same at $150
  
  
• Minimum CalFresh Allotment for a 1–2-person household (HH) increase to $24
  
  
• Homeless Standard Shelter Allowance (HSSA) increased to $198.99
  
  
• Maximum Shelter Deduction for HHs without elderly or disabled members increased to $744
  
  
• Resource Limit for HHs where at least one person is 60 or older or disabled remains the same at $4,500
  
  
• Resource Limit for all other HHs remains the same at $3,000
  
  
• Standard Deductions per HH size increased

CalFresh maximum allotments automatically adjust benefit levels each October 1^st. For FFY 2026, the maximum benefits will increase by 2.1% to adjust for food inflation. 

The CalFresh COLA is effective October 1, 2025, for all CalFresh HHs. CalFresh COLA allotments are adjusted annually at the beginning of the FFY (October 1^st) by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services to account for changes in the cost of the Thrifty Food Plan.

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