Thousands of Santa Barbara Residents Set to Lose Food Assistance

Major Changes Take Effect Monday

Thousands of Santa Barbara County residents will face new restrictions on food assistance starting Monday, as federal changes to the CalFresh program take effect across California. The rollout marks the first phase of sweeping reforms included in H.R. 1, known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," that President Trump signed into law on July 4, 2025.

The changes expand work requirements for CalFresh recipients—California's version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—and eliminate exemptions for several vulnerable groups. Recipients must now work, volunteer, or attend training for at least 80 hours per month to maintain benefits.

Santa Barbara County's Department of Social Services estimates 5,400 people could lose their eligibility over the next year, based on when their benefits come up for renewal. Currently, more than 55,000 people in the county receive CalFresh benefits, with 40 percent of recipients being children.

Who Will Be Affected

The new requirements target "Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents" (ABAWDs) between ages 18 and 64. Under previous rules, work requirements only applied to those ages 18 to 54, and several groups were automatically exempt.

Starting Monday, the following changes take effect:

• The work requirement exemption for seniors moves from age 55 to age 65
• Parents with children ages 14-17 must now fulfill work requirements (previously, those with dependents under 18 were exempt)
• Veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and young adults who aged out of foster care lose their automatic exemptions
• Refugees and asylum seekers become ineligible unless they have a green card

The Trump administration estimates about 1 million people nationwide will become subject to work requirements, with approximately 560,000 expected to lose benefits after three months if they cannot meet the requirements.

Financial Impact on Recipients

For those who remain eligible, CalFresh benefits average about $6.20 per day in Santa Barbara. Recipients who fail to meet work requirements can only receive benefits for three months within a three-year period.

The changes come as food insecurity remains high in California. The California Association of Food Banks reported that one in four adults in the state experienced food insecurity, according to a survey by the Urban Institute. The federal government canceled its food insecurity research program in September 2025.

Local Response and Preparation

The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, the region's largest food assistance nonprofit, is preparing for increased demand. According to the Santa Barbara Independent, the organization has budgeted $2.5 million for food purchases—its biggest budget increase outside of COVID-19.

"Some of this food is currently being stockpiled for those who find they no longer qualify for SNAP," the Foodbank stated. The organization also plans to advocate for relief from federal funding shifts that require states to pay more into the program and impose penalties for error rates.

Statewide Trends

California has already seen declining SNAP participation ahead of these changes. The Center on Budget and Policies reported a more than 6 percent decrease in participants from February 2025 to 2026. Nationally, SNAP participation dropped from 42.8 million people in January 2025 to fewer than 38.6 million by January 2026, largely due to stricter work requirements implemented in other states.

Seven California counties have received waivers from the new work requirements through October 31, but Santa Barbara County is not among them. The waived counties are Alpine, Colusa, Imperial, Merced, Monterey, Plumas, and Tulare.

Looking Ahead

Additional changes to federal nutrition programs are scheduled to take effect later this year. Starting in October, the federal government will reduce its contribution to administrative costs from 50% to 25%, requiring states and counties to cover a larger share of program operations.

The Foodbank emphasized its commitment to the community despite the challenges: "We stand ready to whatever is needed to ensure that no one in S.B. County goes hungry."