Thousands of Kern County residents will lose access to food assistance in the coming months and years as new federal rules narrow eligibility for CalFresh recipients.
According to Kristy Torres, Public Information Officer for the Kern County Department of Human Services, California began implementing the new rules on April 1, 2026.
The changes are expected to ripple through households, raising concerns about how families will make up for the loss of monthly grocery support. According to Torres, approximately 4,000 Kern County residents currently receiving CalFresh are expected to lose eligibility over the next 36 months as their cases come up for renewal.
Torres said the changes stem from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which was signed into law on July 4, 2025. Under this new policy, several groups that were previously eligible will no longer qualify for benefits, including asylees, refugees, most parolees, and survivors of trafficking. Certain Afghan and Ukrainian nationals granted humanitarian parole during specific timeframes are also impacted.
Those who are still eligible are now limited to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, Cuban and Haitian entrants, and some lawful permanent residents who meet specific criteria. This criterion includes Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) who have met the five-year waiting period, or those with an exemption from the five-year waiting period, as listed below:
- Are under 18 years old
- Have 40 qualifying work quarters
- Are blind or disabled
- Were lawfully residing in the U.S. and 65 or older on August 22, 1996
- Have a U.S. military connection
- Are admitted to the U.S. as an Amerasian immigrant
- Are an American Indian born abroad
- Certain Hmong or Highland Laotian tribal members
- Certain other categories of humanitarian noncitizens
For new applicants, the rule change took effect immediately in April, with individuals in newly ineligible categories now being denied benefits upon applying.
Current recipients, however, will not lose benefits right away. Instead, eligibility will be reassessed during each household’s recertification process, which occurs every 12 to 36 months depending on household circumstances. Benefits will continue until that review, as long as recipients complete the required paperwork and meet other eligibility rules.
The policy change may also affect mixed-status households, where some members remain eligible while others do not. In those cases, benefits are calculated based only on eligible individuals, and households receive notice explaining who qualifies.
For some families, the changes are already creating anxiety about what comes next.
Ruby, a Bakersfield mother of four U.S.-born children, said her household depends on CalFresh to help cover the cost of groceries each month. While her children will remain eligible, she expects to lose her portion of the benefits after her recertification in August.
“Everything is already so expensive,” Ruby said. “Even with CalFresh, it’s hard to keep up with groceries for four kids. Losing part of that is going to hurt us.”
She said the reduction may force her family to make difficult choices about food and other necessities.
“You start thinking about what you can cut back on, but when it comes to your kids eating, there’s not much room,” she said.
Other residents who are not directly affected say they remain concerned about how the changes will affect their community.
Delia, a mother of two in Bakersfield who will not lose her benefits, said she worries about families who are already struggling.
“I can’t imagine having that taken away,” Delia said. “A lot of people rely on that help just to get through the month. Even if it’s not happening to me, it affects all of us when families don’t have enough to eat.”
While the county has not detailed specific community-level impacts, officials referred questions about broader effects on food insecurity to Community Action Partnership of Kern, a local nonprofit that provides food distribution and other support services.
For those losing eligibility, alternative support options may be limited. Some noncitizens may qualify for the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP), a state-funded program, but most individuals losing CalFresh under the new federal law will not be eligible for CFAP.
Torres noted that individuals who later adjust their immigration status — for example, becoming lawful permanent residents or citizens — may regain eligibility. County workers are expected to reassess eligibility if a resident’s status changes.
County officials emphasized that affected residents should continue to comply with program requirements to maintain their benefits for as long as they remain eligible. This includes submitting Semi-Annual Eligibility Reports and completing renewal paperwork with required verification.
Residents with questions about their eligibility or case status can contact the Kern County Department of Human Services at (661) 631-6000. Those in need of immediate food assistance are encouraged to call 211, contact local food banks, or seek support through community organizations.
