This thread has been incredibly helpful! I'm actually in the exact same situation - my 72-year-old mother needs to move in with us and I've been stressed about how IHSS would affect our CalFresh benefits. Reading everyone's experiences has really given me hope that this can work out. A few things I wanted to add based on my research: 1. **IHSS wages and taxes** - Don't forget that as an IHSS provider, you'll need to pay taxes on that income. The state takes out some taxes, but you might owe more at tax time. Factor this into your CalFresh planning. 2. **Respite care hours** - Some counties approve respite hours so you can take breaks from caregiving. These are additional hours beyond your mom's regular care needs, and they count toward your total IHSS income. 3. **CalFresh work requirements** - Being an IHSS provider counts as meeting work requirements for CalFresh if you're subject to ABAWD (able-bodied adult without dependents) rules, though that might not apply since you have a teenage son. The tip about starting a care log immediately is so smart. I wish I had known that earlier! Also, the suggestion about county coordinators who understand both programs is gold - I'm calling tomorrow. Thank you everyone for sharing your real experiences. It's making this transition feel much less scary knowing others have successfully navigated it.

I've been caring for my elderly father through IHSS for about 18 months while also receiving CalFresh benefits, so I can share some practical insights from my experience! First, yes - you absolutely can be your mom's IHSS provider while maintaining CalFresh. The key is understanding how the income affects your benefit calculation. When I started receiving IHSS wages, my CalFresh benefits did decrease, but adding my father to my household size actually helped offset some of that reduction. A few crucial tips from my experience: 1. **Start the IHSS application immediately** - The process can take 2-3 months from application to first paycheck, and you want coverage starting as soon as your mom moves in 2. **Be thorough during the assessment** - Document everything she needs help with, focus on her worst days, and have her attempt tasks in front of the social worker so they can see her limitations firsthand 3. **Report household changes promptly** - When your mom moves in, report this to CalFresh right away to avoid any overpayment issues later 4. **Track all deductible expenses** - Medical costs, work-related mileage for taking her to appointments, utilities - every deduction helps when CalFresh recalculates your benefits The income from IHSS has actually provided more stability than I expected, and being able to care for my father while earning money has been a blessing despite the CalFresh reduction. Feel free to ask if you need any specific guidance as you navigate this process!

As someone who just went through this same confusing situation, I want to share what I learned. The emergency allotments were basically a temporary "boost" that brought everyone up to the maximum benefit amount regardless of income - that's why so many of us saw our benefits cut in half when they ended in February 2025. The key thing is to make sure your caseworker has ALL your deductions correct. I was missing several deductions that cost me about $150/month in benefits! Don't just assume they have everything right - call and verify they're including your rent, utilities, childcare, medical expenses if you qualify, etc. Also, for anyone struggling to reach their caseworker, there are services that can help you get through faster. The phone system is terrible but there are ways around the endless hold times. It's worth the effort because even small corrections to your deductions can make a big difference in your monthly benefit amount.

I'm going through the exact same thing and this thread has been SO helpful! My benefits dropped from $740 to $268 for my family of 4, and I was completely panicking thinking something was wrong with my case. Now I understand it's because the emergency allotments ended and we're back to income-based calculations. Reading everyone's experiences, I'm realizing I probably need to check my deductions too. I pay $1,200 in rent and about $400 in childcare, plus I have high utility bills since we're in an older apartment with no insulation. My caseworker never asked about most of these expenses when I first applied last year. Has anyone had success getting their benefits recalculated after providing missing deduction information? I'm nervous about calling because every time I've tried to reach my worker it takes hours on hold, but it sounds like it could be worth hundreds of dollars per month if they're missing my expenses.

This thread is absolutely incredible - thank you all for sharing such detailed and helpful experiences! As someone who's been on CalFresh for about 2 years, I thought I understood the reporting requirements but clearly I was missing some key details about the IRT system. I've always been paranoid about reporting every tiny income change immediately, which has led to so many unnecessary calls to the county office. Learning that the 10-day rule only applies when you exceed your Income Reporting Threshold is honestly life-changing information for me. I do freelance work on top of my regular job, so my monthly income varies quite a bit, and I've been stressing myself out constantly thinking I needed to report every fluctuation. @Hunter Brighton you absolutely did the right thing by self-reporting through BenefitsCal! The fact that you took responsibility once you realized the oversight shows good faith, which really matters to the county workers. And everyone's advice about documenting calls, taking screenshots of online submissions, and keeping your approval letter accessible is so practical and smart. What really stands out to me is how much more educational this community discussion has been compared to any official CalFresh materials. The county really needs to do a better job explaining these nuances during the application process. Until then, we're lucky to have communities like this where people share real knowledge that actually helps! Thanks everyone for making the CalFresh system feel so much more manageable.

This thread has been absolutely amazing to read through! I'm a CalFresh recipient who works in customer service, and I've been dealing with inconsistent hours due to my company's seasonal schedule changes. I had no idea about the IRT system until reading everyone's experiences here - I thought ANY income change had to be reported within 10 days, which had me constantly stressed about whether my varying weekly hours would affect my benefits. @Hunter Brighton you handled this situation perfectly! Self-reporting through BenefitsCal was definitely the right move, and it's so reassuring to see that the county workers understand honest mistakes happen. The fact that you took responsibility once you realized the oversight really demonstrates good faith compliance. What really strikes me is how this community provides clearer guidance than any official CalFresh materials I've received. The explanations about IRT vs SAR reporting, when the 10-day rule actually applies, and practical tips like documenting calls and using BenefitsCal instead of phone systems - this is the kind of real-world knowledge that makes all the difference for people trying to navigate the system successfully. I'm definitely going to dig out my approval letter tonight and locate my IRT information. It's incredible how much unnecessary anxiety I've been carrying about routine schedule variations that probably don't even need reporting! Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and made this complex system feel so much more manageable.

Just wanted to add my experience as someone who helped my 71-year-old father navigate this process last year. One thing that really surprised us was that even though his income seemed "too high" at first glance, the medical deductions made all the difference. He spends about $300/month on medications alone, plus his Medicare Part B premium ($174.70/month in 2024), and regular doctor copays. Once we calculated all his eligible medical expenses, he easily qualified for CalFresh benefits. The key thing I learned is to be really thorough with documentation. We went back through 3 months of his bank statements and medical receipts to make sure we didn't miss anything. Also, don't forget about dental expenses, vision costs, and even mileage to medical appointments (you can deduct $0.22 per mile for medical travel in 2024). One more tip - if your mom has any chronic conditions that require special dietary needs, ask about therapeutic diet allowances during the application process. Some seniors with diabetes or heart conditions can get additional deductions for prescribed special foods. The whole process took about 6 weeks from application to getting the EBT card, but it was absolutely worth it. Dad now gets $194/month which has made a huge difference in his grocery budget. Good luck with your mom's application - sounds like she has a great advocate in you!

Reading through all these responses has been so educational! I work part-time at a senior center and see so many folks like your mom who could really benefit from CalFresh but don't know about all these special provisions for seniors. A few things I'd add from what I've observed helping our members: 1. The County can expedite CalFresh applications for seniors in emergency situations - if your mom is choosing between medications and food, mention this during the application process. 2. Many seniors don't realize that vitamins and supplements COUNT as medical expenses if they're recommended by a doctor, even if not formally "prescribed." My neighbor's doctor told her to take Vitamin D and calcium - those monthly costs add up! 3. If your mom banks online, most banks can generate a year-end summary of medical payments which makes gathering documentation much easier than going through individual receipts. 4. Once she's approved, sign up for text alerts about her EBT balance - saves the hassle of calling or trying to remember how much is left on the card. The fact that you're advocating for her makes such a huge difference. I've seen so many seniors miss out simply because they don't have someone to help navigate the system. Your mom is lucky to have you! Definitely call that Area Agency on Aging number - they're absolute lifesavers for situations exactly like this.

I'm a parent provider for my 14-year-old son who has Down syndrome, and we've been successfully receiving both IHSS and CalFresh for over two years now. One thing that really helped me was keeping a simple spreadsheet to track my IHSS hours and payments each month - it makes filling out the SAR7 forms so much easier and helps avoid any reporting errors. Something I wish someone had told me earlier is that you can also deduct any work-related expenses from your IHSS income when calculating CalFresh eligibility. Things like mileage for taking your child to medical appointments, special equipment you need to purchase for their care, or even uniforms if required. These deductions can help reduce the countable income and keep your CalFresh benefits higher. Also, don't be discouraged if your first few interactions with the county workers are confusing - many of them aren't familiar with how IHSS income should be handled for CalFresh calculations. I had to educate my worker using the CalFresh policy manual, but once we got it sorted out, everything has run smoothly. You're absolutely making the right choice pursuing both programs - the combination has been a lifesaver for our family's financial stability while ensuring my son gets the care he needs.

@Lissete Ramos The specific section you're looking for is in the CalFresh Eligibility and Benefit Calculation Manual, Chapter 6 about Income. Look for section 6.2.3 which covers "Earned Income from In-Home Support Services." It specifically states that IHSS payments to parent providers are considered earned income subject to the 20% earned income deduction. You can also reference section 6.4 about allowable deductions - this covers the work-related expenses I mentioned. The manual is available online through the California Department of Social Services website, or you can ask your CalFresh worker to show you the relevant policy sections. If your worker seems unfamiliar with these rules, you can also contact the CalFresh State Hearing Office for clarification. Having the actual policy language really helps when advocating for proper benefit calculations!