California officials said this week that the state expects to be able to load new CalFresh exemption data into CalSAWS by mid-August, a timeline that would let the system automatically apply exemptions before possible October benefit discontinuances tied to federal work requirements.
At an Assembly Budget Subcommittee hearing on Tuesday, state officials said roughly two-thirds of adults ages 18 to 64 in CalFresh are already known to be exempt in the eligibility system, and that another 200,000 people may be exempted through data matching. Officials said the goal is to reduce the administrative burden on eligible Californians and avoid unnecessary benefit disruptions.
The hearing transcript shows officials describing the effort as a fast-moving implementation project involving policy guidance, data-sharing agreements, automation and testing at the same time. One department representative said the state needs time to make sure the automation works correctly before benefits are affected.
Officials also said the same CalFresh work is informing planning for Medi-Cal work-requirement exemptions, with programming for the health coverage program expected to be finalized and tested this fall for a January implementation target.
Lawmakers at the hearing asked for a clearer timeline, county guidance and more information about how many people could lose CalFresh or Medi-Cal coverage, including people who lose both.