Partner practice · CalFresh / AJCC coordination
CalFresh Changed Its Work-Rules Notice. Partners Should Check Their Scripts.
A revised form can create a confusing referral even when the underlying rules have not changed. The October 6 update to CF 886 is a good reason for AJCC and CalFresh teams to compare the words they use with participants.
Official notice: ACL 26-67, October 6, 2026 · Reviewed: October 25, 2026 · Who administers it: county welfare departments
What the notice actually changed
CDSS updated the CalFresh Notice of Work Rules, CF 886, because its Exemption File is automated. The revised form still identifies which household members are exempt, but it no longer prints each person’s specific exemption reason. This applies to the general work-registration and ABAWD sections. The explanation of the rules remains on the form.
The reference to people who are applying for or receiving disability benefits moved from the general work-registration exemption area to the ABAWD section. That is a change to how the form presents the information, not a directive for AJCC staff to reclassify an applicant. ACL 26-67 says the notice’s purpose and intent did not change.
Why AJCC partners should care
A participant may arrive at a job center with a notice that says they are excused from a work rule, but no longer spells out why. An AJCC staff member might read the notice as an instruction to participate in a specific program. That would be a mistake. The county determines and explains CalFresh work requirements; the AJCC provides employment and training services within its own authority.
Three useful partner checks
- Compare scripts: Ask the county CalFresh team which CF 886 version staff now use and whether partner-facing materials describe the two different kinds of work rules accurately.
- Agree on the handoff: Where should a participant be directed when they disagree with an exemption or need a work-rule explanation? Give staff one current county contact and a plain-language response.
- Protect language access: Ask how the county provides translated notices, interpretation, and accessible formats. CDSS places these obligations on county welfare departments. AJCC staff should connect the participant to those services rather than guess at legal meaning.
Example at the service counter
A job seeker says, “My CalFresh letter says I am excused, but my friend told me I must work 20 hours a week.” The useful AJCC response is to ask which work rule the county notice refers to, connect the person to county CalFresh staff for clarification, and offer voluntary employment services that fit the person’s goals. It is not to decide that the person is subject to an ABAWD time limit.
Try this at your next partner meeting
Ask, “When a participant brings CF 886 to an AJCC, how do we help without taking over the county’s eligibility role?” A shared answer, two contacts and updated scripts can prevent many avoidable referrals.