CalFresh work hours limit? Will I lose benefits with my new job?

CalFresh doesn't actually have an hours limit - it's based on your total household income compared to your household size. For a family of 3 in 2025, the gross monthly income limit is around $3,250 (130% of the federal poverty level). So at $2,100/month, you should still qualify for some benefits, though the amount might decrease. Make sure to report this change within 10 days since it's over the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT). You can do this through your BenefitsCal account or by calling your county office.

congrats on the new job!! i was stressed about the same thing when i started working again last yr. they dont care about hours just the money you make each month. my benefits went down like $75 when i started part time but i still get help

It's not about hours!!!! It's about INCOME!!! They calculate based on total household income minus deductions. Most ppl don't know u get a 20% earned income deduction automatically which HELPS. also they deduct childcare costs if u have receipts. The county workers never tell u this stuff on purpose!!! I switched from unemployed to working and they only reduced my benefits by $103 a month even tho I was making like $1800/month.

You need to be careful with this. I thought I was fine working 32 hours at my job, but then I got some overtime one month and went over my IRT by like $50. I didn't report it because I didn't realize, and they gave me an overpayment notice 4 months later saying I owed $430 back! Make sure you report ANY changes to your income right away.

If ur kids r school age, make sure u tell CalFresh u have childcare expenses during summer and school breaks, those count as deductions!! My friend works at Target too and she still gets CalFresh for her and 2 kids even tho she works 35 hrs a week. Depends on what they pay u and total household size. Most important thing is REPORT THE CHANGE asap so they don't say u committed fraud.

im confused on something. i thought calfresh had that abawd rule about only 3 months of benefits if your not working 80 hours a month? or does that not count for parents?

One suggestion - when you need to report this change, I'd recommend using Claimyr to get through to a live person quickly. Their service connects you to CalFresh workers without the usual hold times, which is super helpful when you have an important change to report. Just go to claimyr.com or check out their demo video at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 I used it last month when I needed to update my address and it saved me literally hours of waiting. You'll want to get this income change documented correctly to avoid any potential overpayment issues down the road.

btw be SUPER careful if they ask u to do recertification right when u start the new job. my recert was due right when i started working and they calculated my benefits based on my FIRST paycheck which had training pay AND regular hours so it looked like i made way more than normal. took MONTHS to get it fixed!!!!!

Just to follow up on your paystub question - yes, you should have verification of your new income ready. They'll typically want to see at least your first paystub once you start working. Until then, you can submit your offer letter showing your expected hours and pay rate. They'll probably estimate your benefits based on that until you can provide actual paystubs. And definitely report any childcare expenses you'll have - those are deducted from your income before they calculate your benefits. For a family of 3 at $2,100/month, you should still qualify for a significant amount of CalFresh.

Congratulations on the job offer! Just to add to what others have said - make sure you keep detailed records of everything when you start working. I'd recommend taking screenshots of your BenefitsCal account before and after reporting the income change, and keep copies of all documents you submit. Also, don't panic if your benefits calculation seems off the first month - it sometimes takes a pay period or two for them to get an accurate picture of your actual monthly income, especially if your hours vary week to week. Target schedules can be pretty flexible, so your actual monthly income might be different than what you estimate initially. The most important thing is staying on top of reporting requirements. Good luck with the new job!

Congrats on landing the Target job! That's awesome after 6 months of searching. Just wanted to add that as a single parent with kids 7 and 10, you might also qualify for additional deductions that could help keep your CalFresh benefits higher. Besides the standard earned income deduction (20% of gross earned income) and potential childcare costs others mentioned, you may also get a dependent care deduction if you pay for after-school programs or summer care while you're working. Even small amounts like $50/month for after-school snacks or activities can be deducted. Also, when you report the new job, ask about the Standard Utility Allowance (SUA) if you pay any utilities - even just a phone bill. This can give you around $400+ monthly deduction which really helps your benefit calculation. You're doing great providing for your family - don't stress too much about losing all your benefits at that income level. You'll likely still receive meaningful assistance!

Hey Kaylee! Congratulations on getting the Target job - that's fantastic news! I can totally understand your anxiety about how it might affect your CalFresh benefits, but you're going to be okay. Just wanted to echo what others have said about it being income-based, not hours-based. At $2,100/month for a household of 3, you'll definitely still qualify for benefits, though the amount will be reduced from what you're getting now while unemployed. One thing I'd suggest is calling your county office BEFORE you start the job to give them a heads up about the upcoming change. That way they can walk you through exactly what documentation they'll need and when. Some counties are more helpful than others, but it's worth trying to get ahead of it. Also, keep in mind that your first few paychecks might be smaller while you're in training or getting up to full hours, so your actual monthly income might ramp up gradually. Make sure they understand your expected ongoing income versus what your first paycheck shows. You're doing an amazing job taking care of your kids and yourself - this new job is going to be a great step forward for your family!

Kaylee, first off congratulations on the new job! That's such great news after 6 months of searching. I totally get your worry about losing benefits - I went through the exact same anxiety when I started working again. The good news is that CalFresh is designed to support working families, not punish them for getting jobs. At $2,100/month for a family of 3, you're still well under the income limits and will continue receiving benefits, just at a reduced amount. A few practical tips from my experience: - Report the change within 10 days like others mentioned, but don't stress if you're a day or two late - If you can, submit your offer letter showing expected hours/pay rate before you even start, then follow up with actual paystubs - Target schedules can vary week to week, so your monthly income might fluctuate - they'll usually average it out over a few months The most important thing is staying in communication with your caseworker. I found that being proactive and honest about changes actually made the whole process smoother. You're doing an amazing job providing for your kids, and this new income combined with continued CalFresh support is going to make things so much more stable for your family. You've got this!