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All County Letter No. 25-92 Page Six

Effective April 1, 2026, at application, CWDs must deny CalFresh eligibility for household members who do not meet the updated noncitizen eligibility criteria specified above. When the entire household is ineligible due to ineligible noncitizen status, a notice of action must be sent to the household informing them that the household was denied due to ineligible noncitizen status. In cases where some applicant household members are determined eligible but at least one household member is denied due to ineligible noncitizen status, a notice of action must be provided to the household informing them which household members were approved, and which were denied due to ineligible noncitizen status.

Any application received before April 1, 2026, must be processed under the pre-H.R. 1 criteria and will not be subject to the new noncitizen eligibility restrictions under H.R. 1 until their recertification.

ONGOING HOUSEHOLDS

Effective April 1, 2026, at recertification, CWDs must inquire with the household whether any noncitizen household members have experienced a change in immigration status (e.g., adjustment to LPR or other status). CWDs must document the household’s response, request verification when applicable, and determine whether household members remain eligible under the H.R. 1 noncitizen eligibility criteria. This applies to recertifications due in April 2026 with an effective date of May 1, 2026, and onwards. Consistent with existing program requirements, in all cases immigration status for noncitizens must be verified through the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system. Refer to the SAVE section of this ACL for further guidance.

When a currently aided household member is determined to be ineligible at recertification due to an ineligible noncitizen status, the CWD must issue a notice of action informing the ineligible household member of the denial. As with new applications, when the entire household is ineligible due to ineligible noncitizen status, a notice of action must be sent to the household informing them that the household was denied due to ineligible noncitizen status. In addition, if some household members are determined eligible at recertification but at least one household member is denied, a notice of action must be provided to the household informing them which household members were approved, and which were denied due to ineligible noncitizen status.

CHANGES DURING THE CERTIFICATION PERIOD

Households are not required to report a change in immigration status during the certification period. Voluntary reports of a change in immigration status made by a household during the certification period that would result in a decrease in the household’s benefits must result in the issuance of a no-change notice. CWDs must not request verification and must document the voluntarily reported information, including any verification submitted voluntarily, in the case record, and follow up at the household’s next recertification. When a household voluntarily reports a change in