Monterey County CalFresh recipients get a waiver on a federal work requirement until fall.

Monterey County recipients of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known in California as CalFresh, are getting a reprieve from a work requirement in order to receive food benefits until Oct. 31, thanks to a federal waiver granted to seven counties based on economic reasons. The rest of the state must follow the requirement beginning June 1.

The waiver was granted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to those counties that could show certain criteria. In Monterey County’s case, officials proved the county experienced an average unemployment rate of over 10 percent for a three-month period from January to March 2025. The county’s rate for that period was 10.2 percent.

Only “able-bodied adults without dependents” – known as ABAWDs – are directly impacted by the work requirements. Of the more than 55,000 CalFresh recipients in the county – over half are children – about 8,700 will be subject to the requirements, said Department of Social Services (DSS) Director Roderick Franks, during a press briefing on Tuesday, May 5.

Starting Oct. 31, those considered ABAWD will have to prove they are either working every month for at least 80 hours, be engaged in volunteer work or be enrolled in school or a training program. Those with ABAWD status who do not meet the work requirement will be limited to three months of assistance.

DSS is already preparing recipients who are seeking renewals, or people applying for new benefits, when they are interviewed. A formal notice will be sent 30 days before the requirements officially begin.

“It’s not going to be abrupt – one day you wake up and it’s cut off,” said Aaron Callihan, a DSS eligibility supervisor.

In addition, DSS is ramping up its collaboration with the state CalWorks program, which helps recipients gain training, assists with job searches and even provides paid work experience, among other services.