Nearly 13,000 San Diegans Could Lose CalFresh Benefits

New federal rules cut off non-citizens from food assistance program.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 1:43pm

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Starting today, changes to federal rules will make non-citizens ineligible for CalFresh benefits in San Diego. This will impact close to 13,000 people, including refugees, asylum seekers, and others who previously qualified for the food assistance program. While those already enrolled can continue using their CalFresh cards, their benefits will be cut off when they recertify for the program.

Why it matters

CalFresh benefits have been a critical lifeline for low-income families in San Diego, helping them afford groceries and put food on the table. With the rising cost of living and inflation, local food banks are already seeing increased demand, and these benefit changes will further strain the social safety net for thousands of vulnerable residents.

The details

The new federal rules are part of a phased rollout that will make non-citizens ineligible for CalFresh. Those already enrolled can continue using their benefits, but will lose them when they recertify for the program. Officials with Feeding San Diego, a local food bank, say they are urging people to update their information in case their immigration status has changed, as some may still qualify. However, the food bank does not have citizenship requirements and does not ask about immigration status.

  • The new federal rules take effect on April 1, 2026.

The players

Feeding San Diego

A local food bank that is focused on helping those directly impacted by the CalFresh benefit changes and providing assistance without citizenship requirements.

Carissa Casares

A representative from Feeding San Diego who says the benefit changes could be "potentially devastating" for low-income residents who rely on CalFresh.

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What they’re saying

“This is really potentially devastating for people who live on low incomes, you know, have relied on those benefits, need those benefits, and now all of a sudden are, you know, not going to have them and are going to have to fall into that nonprofit social safety net because the government's no longer going to be providing those benefits for them.”

— Carissa Casares, Representative, Feeding San Diego

What’s next

Officials with Feeding San Diego are urging people to update their information because some may still qualify if their immigration status has changed.

The takeaway

These CalFresh benefit changes will significantly impact low-income families in San Diego, forcing them to rely more heavily on local food banks and nonprofits to meet their basic needs. It highlights the ongoing challenges faced by vulnerable populations as federal policies shift.