New work requirements for CalFresh recipients, stemming from H.R. 1, are set to take effect this month in Kern County, potentially impacting thousands.
Adults aged 18 to 64 will now need to work 20 hours per week to qualify for benefits, unless they have a child under 14. Previously, the requirement applied to adults aged 18 to 54 without a child under 18.
Angela Roman-Garcia, Kern County DHS program director, said, “With the HR 1 impacts for Kern County in regards to CalFresh we potentially believe that 18,000 CalFresh clients could be impacted based on the current work requirements.”
Currently, over 200,000 people in Kern County receive CalFresh benefits. H.R. 1 also restricts benefits to lawful permitted residents, excluding refugees, asylees, battered non-citizens, and trafficking victims.
Roman-Garcia noted that approximately 2,000 people could be affected in the coming months.
“This will be a time you’ll see a significant amount of increase in our community based organizations within Kern County,” she said.
New work requirements could impact thousands of CalFresh recipients in Kern County. (KBAK/KBFX)
Some recipients, like Dolores Chapman, express frustration. “If you’re working, why would you even need it? It’s for people who can’t get jobs,” Chapman said.
Gabriel Trujillo, a Bakersfield resident, added, “The CalFresh, you’re giving us $294 in food stamps. I mean, it’s not enough.”
Kern DHS assures that no recipient has lost benefits yet and advises contacting their office for guidance.