Hilda Solis warns Medi-cal changes could affect 600,000 Californians
More than 600,000 Californians could lose CalFresh food benefits when expanded medi-cal-related federal work rules take effect next month. Hilda Solis said about 260,000 people in Los Angeles County are among those at risk under the new requirements.
The changes begin in June and would expand work rules to people up to age 64, up from age 54. Some adults would have to work, volunteer or take part in school or job training for 20 hours a week, and those who do not meet the standard would be limited to three months of CalFresh benefits every three years.
Hilda Solis on L.A. County
Solis, chair of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, said at a briefing Wednesday that the new rules will hit people already trying to keep up with basic costs. “These expanded work requirements are going to create more barriers for people who are already struggling to meet ends,” she said.
She also said, “It's not about creating opportunity, it's about making it harder for people to keep the benefits that they already qualify for.” L.A. County has already seen about 108,000 people lose CalFresh benefits since the bill was passed last July.
California CalFresh rules
The state Department of Social Services says the expanded work rules will apply to people experiencing homelessness, veterans and former foster youth unless they qualify for another exemption. Those exemptions also include people unable to meet the hours because of a physical or mental illness and those caring for children under 14 years old.
CalFresh serves about 5.4 million people, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office. The office said the June work-rule changes are expected to affect about 665,000 Californians, while back in April separate eligibility changes for some Californians without U.S. citizenship disqualified some refugees and victims of trafficking; about 72,000 people were expected to lose benefits from that change.
One Big Beautiful Bill
President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill into law last summer, setting up three changes to CalFresh this year: expanded work requirements, the disqualification of some people without U.S. citizenship and a new funding model that will pull more money from state and local sources instead of the federal government.
In October, California could face roughly $480 million in new annual costs and counties about $190 million, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office. For people who may be affected by the June work rules, the immediate issue is whether they can document enough hours or qualify for an exemption before their three-month benefit limit is triggered.
