The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as CalFresh in California, provides monthly benefits via an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card to help low-income households purchase food. Removing someone from your SNAP case may be necessary due to changes in household composition, such as a person moving out, becoming ineligible, or passing away.
The process involves notifying your local SNAP office, providing documentation, and understanding potential impacts on benefits. This article outlines the steps to remove someone from your SNAP benefits, required documents, eligibility criteria, and the effects of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (signed July 4, 2025) on SNAP, as of August 26, 2025.
Why You May Need to Remove Someone from Your Food Stamps
Removing someone from your SNAP case is often required when their circumstances change, affecting household eligibility or benefit amounts. Common reasons include:
- Change in Household Composition: A person moves out (e.g., a child leaves for college, a roommate relocates, or a divorce occurs).
- Increased Income: The individual’s income rises, making them ineligible (e.g., exceeding 130% of the federal poverty level, or $1,735/month for one person in 2025).
- Incarceration: The person is incarcerated and no longer part of the household.
- Deceased Household Member: A death requires updating the case to reflect the current household.
- Non-Compliance or Fraud: The individual fails to meet SNAP rules (e.g., work requirements) or has committed fraud (e.g., misreporting income).
Failure to report changes within 10 days can lead to penalties, such as repaying overissued benefits or program disqualification. The “Big Beautiful Bill” introduces stricter work requirements (ages 18–64, parents with children 14+) and immigrant restrictions (effective October 2026), which may prompt removals due to ineligibility.
Steps to Remove Someone from Your Food Stamps
Removing someone from your SNAP benefits involves contacting your local SNAP office and providing evidence of the change. The process typically takes up to 30 days but can be faster with complete documentation. Below are the steps:
Step 1: Verify Eligibility for Removal
Confirm that the person no longer qualifies for your SNAP case:
- Ineligibility: They exceed income limits (130% FPL for SNAP, or $1,735/month for one person) or no longer live in your household.
- Program Violations: They failed to comply with rules, such as reporting income changes or meeting work requirements (20 hours/week for able-bodied adults without dependents, or ABAWDs, under the OBBBA).
- Special Circumstances: Incarceration, death, or fraud (e.g., lying about household size).
In California, CalFresh allows a higher gross income limit (200% FPL, or $2,878/month for one person), but the OBBBA’s restrictions may still apply. Use the California SNAP Calculator to check eligibility.
Step 2: Gather Required Documents
Collect evidence to support the removal:
- Proof of Household Change: Lease agreements, utility bills, or school enrollment records showing the person no longer lives with you.
- Income Documentation: Pay stubs, tax returns, or employer letters if the person’s income affects eligibility.
- Incarceration: Prison or jail records (e.g., booking documents).
- Death: A death certificate.
- Affidavit of Non-Assistance: In some cases, the person being removed must sign a form (e.g., California’s CF 37) confirming they no longer receive benefits from your case.
If the person is uncooperative, provide proof of your legal authority (e.g., guardianship, marriage dissolution papers). Contact your SNAP office for specific forms, such as the “Change of Household Composition” form.
Step 3: Contact Your Local SNAP Office
Notify your local SNAP office of the change:
- Phone: Call the USDA SNAP hotline (1-800-221-5689) to find your local office or use state-specific numbers (e.g., 1-877-847-3663 for CalFresh). Provide your name, the person’s name, and the reason for removal.
- Online: Some states, including California, allow updates via portals like BenefitsCal.com. Log in with your case number and submit a change report.
- In-Person: Visit your county human services office (find locations at www.cdss.ca.gov/county-offices for California). Bring identification and documentation.
- Mail: Send a written request with your signature, the person’s name, reason for removal, and supporting documents to your SNAP office.
In California, BenefitsCal.com streamlines updates, but phone or in-person visits ensure faster processing for complex cases.
Step 4: Submit the Request and Documentation
- Written Request: Include your case number, the person’s name, reason for removal, and your signature. For example: “I request to remove [Name] from my SNAP case due to [reason, e.g., moving out].”
- Supporting Documents: Attach proof (e.g., lease, death certificate) to verify the change.
- Submission: Upload via BenefitsCal.com, mail, or deliver in-person to your SNAP office. Keep copies of all documents.
If the person is incarcerated or deceased, provide specific proof (jail records or death certificate). For uncooperative individuals, submit evidence of your authority or household separation.
Step 5: Await Confirmation
- Processing Time: The SNAP office reviews your request within 30 days, but complete documentation can expedite it to 7–10 days.
- Confirmation: You’ll receive a letter or email confirming the removal and any benefit changes. In California, check BenefitsCal.com for updates.
- Appeals: If the removal is denied (e.g., insufficient proof), appeal within 90 days via your SNAP office or BenefitsCal.com, providing additional evidence.
Tips
- Report changes within 10 days to avoid penalties.
- Use the ebtEDGE app to monitor your EBT balance post-removal.
- Contact your county office (e.g., 1-877-847-3663 for CalFresh) for assistance.
What Happens After Someone Is Removed from Your Food Stamps?
Removing someone from your SNAP case triggers several outcomes:
- Benefit Adjustment: Benefits are recalculated based on the new household size and income. For example, removing one person from a California household of four could reduce CalFresh benefits from $975 to $733 monthly for three people.
- Overpayment Recovery: If benefits were overissued due to unreported changes, you may need to repay the excess. The SNAP office will notify you of repayment plans.
- Recertification Impact: If the removed person was a primary applicant, your household may face earlier recertification to verify eligibility.
- Eligibility for Other Programs: The removed person may qualify for other assistance (e.g., Medicaid, food banks). Refer them to 211ca.org in California.
- Impact on School Meals: If the household loses CalFresh due to OBBBA changes (e.g., work requirements), children may lose automatic eligibility for free school meals, requiring manual applications.
The OBBBA’s $186 billion SNAP cuts and work requirements (effective 2026–2028) may reduce benefits further, with 645,000 Californians at risk of losing CalFresh.
Potential Consequences of Not Removing Someone
Failing to remove an ineligible person can lead to:
- Penalties: Repayment of overissued benefits (e.g., $500–$1,000 for unreported changes).
- Program Disqualification: Temporary or permanent SNAP bans for fraud.
- Legal Action: In cases of intentional misrepresentation, fines or prosecution may apply.
Report changes promptly to avoid these risks.
Special Considerations
- Incarceration: Provide jail records to confirm the person’s absence. Benefits stop for the incarcerated individual but continue for the household if eligible.
- Death: Submit a death certificate to update the case. Benefits adjust based on the new household size.
- Uncooperative Individuals: If the person refuses to cooperate, provide proof of household separation (e.g., lease, utility bills) or legal authority (e.g., divorce decree).
- Adding Someone Back: To reinstate a removed person, submit a new SNAP application via BenefitsCal.com or your county office, meeting all eligibility criteria.
Impact of the “Big Beautiful Bill” on SNAP Removals
The OBBBA, with $186 billion in SNAP cuts through 2034, introduces changes that may necessitate removing individuals:
- Work Requirements: Expanded to ages 18–64 and parents with children 14+ (effective 2026–2027), requiring 20 hours/week of work, volunteering, or training. Non-compliance may require removal of non-exempt individuals.
- Immigrant Restrictions: Starting October 2026, noncitizens (except lawful permanent residents, Cubans, Haitians) lose eligibility, affecting 60,000–125,000 people.
- State Cost-Sharing: From 2028, California must fund $705 million annually for CalFresh, potentially tightening eligibility and prompting removals.
- Utility Allowance Cuts: Starting 2026, 600,000 households lose $100/month on average, which may reduce benefits after removals.
Check your status on BenefitsCal.com to navigate these changes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I remove someone from my food stamps?
Contact your local SNAP office (e.g., 1-877-847-3663 for CalFresh) or use BenefitsCal.com. Submit a written request with the person’s name, reason for removal, and proof (e.g., lease, death certificate). Processing takes up to 30 days.
What documents are needed to remove someone?
Provide proof of household change (lease, utility bills), income (pay stubs), incarceration (jail records), or death (death certificate). An Affidavit of Non-Assistance may be required.
What happens after removal?
Benefits adjust based on new household size/income (e.g., $975 to $733 for a family of four to three in California). You may repay overissued benefits. Check status on BenefitsCal.com.
Can I remove someone who is incarcerated or deceased?
Yes, provide jail records for incarceration or a death certificate for deceased individuals. Submit to your SNAP office or via BenefitsCal.com.
How will the “Big Beautiful Bill” affect removals?
The bill’s SNAP cuts ($186 billion) and work requirements (2026–2027) may require removing non-compliant or ineligible individuals (e.g., noncitizens post-October 2026), affecting 645,000 Californians.
Conclusion
Removing someone from your SNAP food stamps involves verifying their ineligibility, gathering documents (e.g., lease, death certificate), and contacting your local SNAP office (e.g., 1-877-847-3663 or BenefitsCal.com in California). The process takes up to 30 days, adjusting benefits based on household size/income.
The “Big Beautiful Bill” may necessitate removals due to stricter work requirements and immigrant restrictions, impacting 645,000 CalFresh recipients. Report changes within 10 days to avoid penalties, and use the SNAP Eligibility Calculator or California SNAP Income Limits to assess eligibility. Contact your county office (www.cdss.ca.gov/county-offices) for support.