Are the new federal rules threatening your CalFresh benefits? I want to hear your story.

To Lake County readers:

Recently, I reported on how federal H.R. 1 cuts threaten our local health care, food aid, and county fiscal stability. Now that the new CalFresh eligibility rules and work requirements have officially taken effect, I am working on a follow-up story to document what this looks like on the ground in our community.

Locally, about a quarter of Lake County residents rely on CalFresh and more than a thousand are at risk of losing benefits, according to Lake County Social Services Director Rachael Dillman-Parsons. 

Under the new regulations, many Californians are facing stricter recertification processes and new work requirements to maintain their food assistance. I am looking to speak directly with people in Lake County who are dealing with this firsthand.

Please reach out if:

• You have received a notice that your CalFresh benefits will be reduced or terminated.
• You are struggling to navigate the new paperwork or exemption rules.
• You are impacted by the new 80-hour monthly work requirement.

Sharing your experience helps our community understand exactly what is at stake for our neighbors and our local food systems.

How to connect:

You can email me at lchen@lakeconews.com or reach me at 415-286-1422.

Your privacy is paramount, and I will never publish your name or personal details without your explicit permission.

Thank you for reading, and for trusting me with your stories.

Lingzi Chen is a staff reporter at Lake County News and a 2024-2026 California Local News Fellow. Email her at lchen@lakeconews.com.