63-504_39 CalFresh COLA

.Purpose

Policy

Background

Release Date:

September 27, 2023

Definitions

Requirements

Verification Docs

CALFRESH

63-504.39 – CalFresh Cost-Of-Living Adjustments for Federal Fiscal Year 2024

Purpose

( ) To release a new policy

( ) To release a new form

( ) To convert existing policy to new writing style only – No concept changes

(X) Revision of existing policy and/or form(s)

This Administrative Release informs staff of changes to the CalFresh Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2024, for the period of October 1,2023 through September 30, 2024.

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

Policy

The COLA for FFY 2024 changes the following:

· Maximum CalFresh Allotments increased by 3.56%

· Gross and Net Income Limits increased

· Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) increased to $596

· Limited Utility Allowance (LUA) increased to $158

· Telephone Utility Allowance (TUA) increased to $19

· Minimum CalFresh Allotment for a 1–2-person Household (HH) remains the same at $23

· Homeless Standard Shelter Allowance (HSSA) increased to $179.66

· Maximum Shelter Deduction for HHs without elderly or disabled members increased to $672

· Resource Limit for HHs where at least one person is 60 or older or is disabled remains the same at $4,250

· Resource Limit for all other HHs remain the same at $2,750

· Standard Deductions per HH size increased

CalFresh maximum allotments automatically adjust benefit levels each October 1^st. For FFY 2024, the maximum benefits will increase by 3.56% to adjust for food inflation.

Background

The CalFresh COLA is effective October 1, 2023, 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.

Definitions

Term	Description
COLA	USDA adjusts the CalFresh income guidelines, deductions, and maximum allotment amounts every year based on changes to the Cost-of-Living. These adjustments go into effect on October 1^st of every year.
FFY	The accounting period for the federal government begins on October 1^st and ends on September 30^th.
SUA	A HH that incurs heating and/or cooling costs separate from the HH’s rent/mortgage payment is eligible for SUA. Examples include electric heating, gas, propane, cooling, etc. The SUA is not prorated.
LUA	HHs that do not qualify for the SUA but incur expenses for at least two separate utilities other than heating and cooling are eligible for LUA. Allowable utilities include telephone, water, sewer, and garbage. The LUA is not prorated.
TUA	A HH that is not eligible for the SUA or LUA but incurs a telephone expense, or in its absence, an equivalent form of communication, is eligible to receive a telephone deduction. The TUA is not prorated.
HSSA	Homeless HHs that incur, or reasonably expect to incur, shelter costs during the month must be eligible to receive HSSA. Higher shelter costs may be used if verification is provided. If the HSSA is received, separate utility costs are not allowed since this allowance includes a utility cost component.

Requirements

N/A

Verification Documents

N/A