SNAP Waived Areas in California

Waived areas in California

New waiver: November 1, 2026 to October 31, 2027 (USDA letter dated August 24, 2026). 7 areas:

Counties

• Colusa County
• Imperial County
• Kings County
• Merced County
• Monterey County
• Plumas County
• Tulare County

How these areas qualified: USDA approved all seven counties based on a three-month average unemployment rate over 10% for January to March 2026. (The rate table in the letter does not extract cleanly, so we do not list each county’s rate.)

Previous waiver: November 1, 2025 to October 31, 2026

Counties

• Alpine County (10.1% unemployment)
• Colusa County (13.0% unemployment)
• Imperial County (18.7% unemployment)
• Merced County (10.2% unemployment)
• Monterey County (10.2% unemployment)
• Plumas County (10.1% unemployment)
• Tulare County (10.4% unemployment)

How they qualified: Colusa, Imperial and Tulare had a 12-month average over 10% (July 2024 to June 2025). Monterey and Plumas qualified on a three-month average for January to March 2025, and Alpine and Merced on May to July 2025.

What the waiver means if you live there

• The 3-month time limit does not apply while the waiver is in effect. Months you get CalFresh while living in a waived area do not count toward your 3 months, even if you do not work 80 hours.
• It depends on where you live, not where you work. If you live outside the listed areas, the time limit applies to you even if your job or training is inside one.
• The general work rules still apply. A waiver does not cover them. If you are 16 to 59 and not excused, you must still register for work, accept a suitable job offer, not quit a job or cut your hours without good cause, and take part in a job program if your state refers you.
• Your state keeps counting the calendar. USDA tells states to keep tracking the 36-month period even in waived areas so they can restart the time limit when the waiver ends.
• Some people are exempt anywhere. American Indian, Alaska Native, Urban Indian and California Indian people, and anyone with another exemption, are not subject to the time limit wherever they live.

When the waiver ends

Alpine County is not on the new list, so from November 1, 2026 the time limit can apply there. Kings County is newly waived from that date. The other six counties stay waived through October 31, 2027 unless California ends the waiver early.

When a waiver ends, months before it ended still do not count. Starting the month after, any full month you get CalFresh without meeting the 80-hour rule or an exemption counts toward your 3 months in the current 36-month period. Your state should send you a notice first. To keep benefits, work, volunteer or train 80 hours a month, or check whether an exemption fits you.

Check your own situation

Check if the time limit applies to you Count your months

For start dates, your 36-month period and how to report hours in California, see SNAP work requirements in California. For every state’s list, see all SNAP waived areas.