Because of the government shutdown, some CalFresh and SNAP benefits were not initially issued at the start of November, causing confusion among recipients of the program and those wishing to apply.
Since then, CalFresh benefits have been issued for the month of November and should continue without further interruption. To help CalFresh users and those interested in the program, we’ve put together the latest updates to California’s food assistance program as of November 2025.
What is CalFresh?
CalFresh is California’s public assistance program for food, federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It provides monthly payments to help prevent hunger for low-income individuals and families, and the benefits can be used at most grocery stores.
What happened to CalFresh during the government shutdown?
Because SNAP and CalFresh are federally funded through the USDA, the funding was impacted during the government shutdown. It was unclear whether recipients across the country would receive partial payments or nothing at all. However, the courts ruled that the USDA must use its contingency funds to pay SNAP benefits during the shutdown.
The government shutdown ended on November 12, and the USDA sent a memo instructing states to pay the full amount of SNAP benefits for November.
Are CalFresh Benefits being paid out?
Yes. All CalFresh recipients should have received their benefits for November. December 2025 benefits in California are expected to be issued on the normal schedule which is the 1st through the 10th. Funding for CalFresh is secured through September 2026.
Can I still apply for CalFresh?
Yes. CalFresh is still accepting applications for assistance. Those interested in learning more can head to CalFresh. ICLS also provides free civil legal assistance to eligible residents for public benefit programs, including CalFresh.