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Benefits in California
2026 income limits and how to apply for SNAP, WIC, Medicaid and other help in California. A family of four can earn up to $3,575 a month before taxes and still meet the SNAP gross income test.
- People below poverty
- 4,632,248
- 12.0% of residents (ACS 2020-2024)
- Median household income
- $99,122
- ACS 2020-2024
- Medicaid expansion
- Yes
- Adults up to 138% qualify
- Poverty guideline, 4 people
- $33,000
- 2026, 48 states and D.C.
Food assistance income limits in California
SNAP limits apply 10/01/2026 to 09/30/2027. WIC limits apply 07/01/2026 to 06/30/2027.
| Household size | Poverty guideline (2026, yearly) | SNAP gross (monthly) | SNAP net (monthly) | WIC (yearly) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $15,960 | $1,729 | $1,330 | $29,526 |
| 2 people | $21,640 | $2,345 | $1,804 | $40,034 |
| 3 people | $27,320 | $2,960 | $2,277 | $50,542 |
| 4 people | $33,000 | $3,575 | $2,750 | $61,050 |
| 5 people | $38,680 | $4,191 | $3,224 | $71,558 |
| 6 people | $44,360 | $4,806 | $3,697 | $82,066 |
| 7 people | $50,040 | $5,421 | $4,170 | $92,574 |
| 8 people | $55,720 | $6,037 | $4,644 | $103,082 |
For each additional person, add $5,680 to the yearly poverty guideline. Figures are rounded up to the next dollar, as agencies do. Source: HHS 2026 poverty guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and D.C.
Health, energy and phone income limits in California
Medicaid adult limit is 138%. LIHEAP shows the federal maximum; California may use a different limit.
| Household size | Medicaid adults (yearly) | Lifeline (yearly) | LIHEAP max (yearly) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $22,025 | $21,546 | $23,940 |
| 2 people | $29,864 | $29,214 | $32,460 |
| 3 people | $37,702 | $36,882 | $40,980 |
| 4 people | $45,540 | $44,550 | $49,500 |
| 5 people | $53,379 | $52,218 | $58,020 |
| 6 people | $61,217 | $59,886 | $66,540 |
| 7 people | $69,056 | $67,554 | $75,060 |
| 8 people | $76,894 | $75,222 | $83,580 |
For each additional person, add $5,680 to the yearly poverty guideline. Figures are rounded up to the next dollar, as agencies do. Source: HHS 2026 poverty guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and D.C.
Where to apply in California
Official finders that list the agency for your state
- State agencies
- California on USA.gov
- Medicaid
- Apply through HealthCare.gov
- SSDI
- Apply at SSA.gov
- LIHEAP
- Find your LIHEAP office
- Unemployment
- Find your state unemployment office
- Pell Grant
- Start the FAFSA
- Section 8
- Find your public housing agency
Food
- SNAP: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance ProgramSNAP, once called food stamps, gives monthly benefits on an EBT card to buy groceries at authorized stores.
- WIC: Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and ChildrenWIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support and referrals for pregnant and postpartum women, infants and children under 5.
Health care
- MedicaidMedicaid provides free or low-cost health coverage to people with low incomes, including children, pregnant women, parents, seniors and people with disabilities.
- CHIP: Children's Health Insurance ProgramCHIP gives low-cost health coverage to children in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. Some states also cover pregnant women.
Income
- SSI: Supplemental Security IncomeSSI pays monthly benefits to people with limited income and resources who are 65 or older, blind or disabled, including children with disabilities.
- SSDI: Social Security Disability InsuranceSSDI pays monthly benefits to people who cannot work because of a disability expected to last at least a year or result in death, and who have worked long enough in jobs covered by Social Security.
Utilities and phone
Housing
School and work
- Unemployment: Unemployment InsuranceUnemployment insurance replaces part of your wages for a limited time if you lose your job through no fault of your own.
- Pell Grant: Federal Pell GrantsPell Grants help undergraduate students with financial need pay for college. Unlike loans, they usually do not need to be repaid.
Households getting benefits by county in California
Share of households that received each benefit in the last 12 months (ACS 2020-2024). Select a county for details.
Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.
| County | Households getting SNAP | SSI | Social Security | Cash assistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda County | 9.9% | 5.0% | 24.6% | 4.4% |
| Alpine County | 9.7% | 7.1% | 39.3% | 2.1% |
| Amador County | 9.8% | 5.9% | 46.8% | 1.8% |
| Butte County | 16.0% | 6.4% | 33.4% | 4.9% |
| Calaveras County | 9.5% | 4.7% | 49.8% | 2.2% |
| Colusa County | 16.4% | 5.3% | 32.1% | 5.2% |
| Contra Costa County | 8.5% | 4.7% | 30.5% | 3.0% |
| Del Norte County | 22.8% | 9.5% | 44.5% | 4.4% |
| El Dorado County | 6.5% | 3.9% | 38.5% | 2.9% |
| Fresno County | 21.8% | 7.9% | 27.0% | 5.9% |
| Glenn County | 14.7% | 8.4% | 35.3% | 4.6% |
| Humboldt County | 21.0% | 7.9% | 34.6% | 3.2% |
| Imperial County | 28.7% | 9.7% | 34.7% | 7.2% |
| Inyo County | 8.5% | 6.1% | 40.2% | 1.6% |
| Kern County | 20.2% | 6.5% | 27.7% | 5.6% |
| Kings County | 20.0% | 6.8% | 25.8% | 6.5% |
| Lake County | 24.3% | 11.3% | 44.3% | 4.4% |
| Lassen County | 13.4% | 7.6% | 39.9% | 4.4% |
| Los Angeles County | 14.4% | 6.6% | 26.1% | 4.7% |
| Madera County | 21.7% | 7.7% | 33.5% | 6.0% |
| Marin County | 5.5% | 3.1% | 35.9% | 2.6% |
| Mariposa County | 13.4% | 5.2% | 47.7% | 1.8% |
| Mendocino County | 17.4% | 8.0% | 42.3% | 3.7% |
| Merced County | 21.0% | 8.5% | 25.5% | 5.2% |
| Modoc County | 14.0% | 7.3% | 48.2% | 3.5% |
| Mono County | 4.6% | 3.9% | 22.2% | 2.4% |
| Monterey County | 9.6% | 4.6% | 30.4% | 2.9% |
| Napa County | 6.9% | 4.9% | 35.2% | 2.6% |
| Nevada County | 8.1% | 5.8% | 43.3% | 2.6% |
| Orange County | 8.5% | 4.9% | 27.6% | 3.1% |
| Placer County | 5.7% | 4.5% | 35.1% | 2.3% |
| Plumas County | 13.5% | 6.8% | 45.0% | 3.2% |
| Riverside County | 12.5% | 5.9% | 32.5% | 4.2% |
| Sacramento County | 14.2% | 7.2% | 28.7% | 4.7% |
| San Benito County | 10.5% | 5.3% | 29.6% | 2.9% |
| San Bernardino County | 15.8% | 6.6% | 28.1% | 5.4% |
| San Diego County | 9.9% | 4.7% | 26.8% | 3.3% |
| San Francisco County | 11.4% | 6.8% | 24.1% | 3.6% |
| San Joaquin County | 15.6% | 7.4% | 28.4% | 4.2% |
| San Luis Obispo County | 8.2% | 4.2% | 36.0% | 2.5% |
| San Mateo County | 5.1% | 3.8% | 27.7% | 2.7% |
| Santa Barbara County | 10.9% | 4.1% | 31.5% | 3.1% |
| Santa Clara County | 6.6% | 4.3% | 23.0% | 2.8% |
| Santa Cruz County | 9.9% | 5.0% | 33.6% | 3.0% |
| Shasta County | 13.4% | 8.0% | 39.4% | 3.3% |
| Sierra County | 9.8% | 3.5% | 33.6% | 2.0% |
| Siskiyou County | 15.5% | 7.7% | 45.1% | 3.5% |
| Solano County | 11.4% | 5.7% | 32.5% | 3.2% |
| Sonoma County | 8.0% | 5.0% | 35.1% | 2.5% |
| Stanislaus County | 15.5% | 7.7% | 29.9% | 3.8% |
| Sutter County | 13.2% | 8.5% | 32.0% | 4.7% |
| Tehama County | 13.9% | 10.6% | 39.4% | 4.4% |
| Trinity County | 11.1% | 10.0% | 49.7% | 2.4% |
| Tulare County | 24.1% | 7.4% | 27.8% | 5.9% |
| Tuolumne County | 11.7% | 7.3% | 47.0% | 2.6% |
| Ventura County | 8.5% | 4.8% | 33.4% | 2.8% |
| Yolo County | 13.1% | 4.1% | 25.0% | 3.3% |
| Yuba County | 19.3% | 8.7% | 31.2% | 6.1% |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the SNAP income limit in California?
- For 10/01/2026 to 09/30/2027, a household of one in California can have gross monthly income up to $1,729, and a household of four up to $3,575. Net income after deductions must be at or below $1,330 and $2,750. Households with an elderly or disabled member only need to meet the net limit.
- Did California expand Medicaid?
- Yes. California covers adults ages 19 to 64 with incomes up to 138% of the poverty guidelines, or $22,025 a year for one person in 2026.
- What is the WIC income limit in California?
- A household of four in California can earn up to $61,050 a year (185% of the 2026 poverty guidelines) to qualify for WIC. A pregnant woman counts as two or more people.
- How many people in California live below the poverty line?
- About 4,632,248 people in California, or 12.0% of residents, had incomes below the poverty level in the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates.