Update: I called the county and reported my income change. The worker said my benefits will be reduced but not completely cut off. They're sending me a notice with the new amount. Thanks everyone for the help! And they did say I was right to report since I was over the IRT.

Great that you reported it and everything worked out! For anyone else reading this thread, I want to add that if you're having trouble finding your IRT amount, it's usually printed right on the front page of your CalFresh approval notice under a section that says something like "You must report if your income goes over $X.XX per month." You can also find it on your SAR7 form. If you can't locate either document, you can always call and ask your worker what your current IRT is - they should be able to tell you right away. Better to ask than risk an overpayment later!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm currently on CalWORKs and have been applying for jobs, so I'm bookmarking this for when I hopefully find myself in the same position soon. What really stands out to me from everyone's experiences is how important the specific language is - saying "voluntarily discontinue CalWORKs Cash Aid" rather than just mentioning income changes or new employment. I had no idea these were treated as completely different processes by the county offices. The consensus seems crystal clear: use BenefitsCal for written documentation, follow up with a phone call for confirmation, wait for actual paychecks before setting the effective date, and be specific about keeping other benefits if you want them. The stories about overpayment issues from phone-only cancellations are definitely eye-opening. @Connor - you've sparked such a helpful discussion here! It's inspiring to see someone approaching this transition so thoughtfully. With all the detailed step-by-step advice from people who've successfully navigated this process, you're definitely going to handle it properly. Congratulations on your new job and best of luck with your move toward financial independence - you've got this!

I just went through this process successfully about 6 weeks ago! The advice everyone's giving here is absolutely solid - I wish I'd had this thread when I was figuring it out. Here's what worked perfectly for me: 1. Used BenefitsCal to submit a written request with the exact phrase "I request to voluntarily discontinue my CalWORKs Cash Aid effective [specific date]" 2. Called the same day and got confirmation number 3. Set the effective date for after my second paycheck so I was 100% certain about my income level 4. Made it clear I wanted to keep CalFresh and Medi-Cal The whole thing was processed within about 10 days and I got my Notice of Action confirming everything was cancelled properly. No overpayment issues whatsoever! One thing I'd add - when you call for that confirmation number, ask the rep to repeat back exactly what they have on file regarding your request. This way you can catch any miscommunication right away. The rep I spoke with was really helpful and even explained that the "voluntarily discontinue" language triggers a different process than just reporting income changes. @Connor - you're being so smart about planning this out properly! The fact that you're asking these questions shows you'll handle the transition perfectly. Congratulations on the new job - it's such an amazing feeling to reach that point of financial independence!

This thread has been incredibly informative! I'm currently receiving CalWORKs in San Joaquin County with my daughter (family of 2) and had no idea about these regional payment differences until reading everyone's experiences. I'm getting $685 per month and now I'm wondering if that's correct. Based on what I've learned here, San Joaquin should be Region 2, so I should be getting $733 for a family of 2, right? That would mean I'm missing out on about $48 each month! I'm definitely going to call tomorrow and request that detailed benefit calculation breakdown everyone keeps mentioning. The phone system struggles you all describe sound all too familiar - I've had my share of long hold times and disconnections too. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and creating such a supportive community. It's amazing how much I've learned just from reading through everyone's experiences!

This entire discussion has been so incredibly helpful! I'm new to CalWORKs and currently in the application process in Tulare County with my 3-year-old son (family of 2). Reading through everyone's experiences has taught me more about the system than any of the official materials I received. Based on what I've learned here, Tulare County should be Region 2, so I should expect around $733 for a family of 2 if I get approved, right? The application process has been pretty overwhelming - between gathering all the required documents, attending the interview, and trying to understand all the different requirements and deadlines. But seeing how supportive and knowledgeable this community is gives me so much confidence that I can successfully navigate this system! I'm definitely going to save this thread and refer back to it once I start receiving benefits to make sure I'm getting the correct amount. I especially appreciate everyone sharing practical tips like requesting detailed benefit calculations, keeping copies of everything, and being persistent with the phone system. Thank you all for creating such a valuable resource for people like me who are just starting this journey and trying to figure everything out!

I just wanted to add to this amazing thread of support! I went through this exact situation about 5 months ago when I started a seasonal job that put me over my IRT by about $140. Like so many others here, I was absolutely terrified that my CalFresh would get cut off immediately. Here's what happened in my case: - I reported on day 6 of my 10-day window (I called as soon as I worked up the courage!) - The worker was really patient and explained that the IRT is like an "early warning system" - it alerts them to review your case, but doesn't automatically disqualify you - I kept receiving my full benefits for about 5 weeks while they processed everything - They eventually reduced my benefits by only $31/month because they factored in my rent, utilities, and the fact that my job was seasonal with variable hours What really helped me was when the worker explained that they're looking at your long-term financial stability, not punishing you for getting a job. Since you mentioned this is new employment, they'll definitely consider that jobs often have adjustment periods with varying schedules or pay rates. The most reassuring thing was learning that your EBT continues working normally throughout the entire review process - there's no sudden cutoff. Don't let fear delay your reporting! You're being responsible by staying within that 10-day window, and based on everyone's experiences here, the outcome is usually much more reasonable than we imagine. This community really shows how many people successfully navigate this process!

I'm so grateful I found this thread! I was in almost the exact same situation about 2 weeks ago when I started a new job that put me over my IRT by about $240. Like everyone else here, I was absolutely panicking thinking my CalFresh would stop immediately when I reported. Here's what just happened in my case: - I reported on day 7 of my 10-day window (after reading horror stories online that made me super anxious!) - The worker was incredibly understanding and explained that going over IRT is just a "review trigger" - not an automatic disqualification - I'm still receiving my full benefits now (it's been 2 weeks since I reported) while they process my case - They sent me paperwork asking for pay stubs and information about whether this income will continue consistently What really helped ease my anxiety was when the worker explained that new jobs often have adjustment periods - sometimes training pay is different, or hours vary while you're getting established. They said they look at your projected ongoing income, not just one high paycheck. She also emphasized that I was doing exactly the right thing by reporting within the 10-day window, and that my EBT would continue working normally while they review everything. No sudden surprises or immediate cutoffs! Based on everyone's experiences in this thread, it sounds like I can expect to keep my current benefits for another 3-4 weeks while they finish processing, and then hopefully just a reasonable reduction rather than losing everything. This community has been such a lifesaver for understanding that this is a normal process thousands of people navigate successfully!

This is such a terrible situation and I'm really sorry you're going through this! The system is absolutely broken when it comes to families who are already handling things responsibly. The fact that they don't clearly explain that Medi-Cal has completely different cooperation rules than CalWORKs is honestly criminal - you should never have had to find out about losing your healthcare through a termination notice. Based on everything I'm reading here, you need to act FAST on requesting that fair hearing with "aid paid pending" - this will keep your Medi-Cal active throughout the entire hearing process while you explore your options. Even though good cause exemptions usually require safety concerns, documenting how well your 2-year arrangement has worked for your kids might still make a difference with the hearing officer. The advice about talking to your ex first is absolutely crucial - explain that this isn't your choice and you're being forced to cooperate just to keep healthcare coverage. Your co-parenting relationship sounds like it's been working really well and you can't let the county destroy that by blindsiding him. It's so backwards that they'll pursue child support for the kids anyway even though that's exactly what you were trying to avoid! But don't give up - there are people here who've successfully navigated this nightmare while keeping both their healthcare and family relationships intact. You've got this!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this - it's incredibly frustrating how the system works against families who are already doing things right! I went through almost the exact same thing last year and was completely blindsided by how differently Medi-Cal treats child support cooperation compared to CalWORKs. The advice everyone's giving about requesting that fair hearing with "aid paid pending" is absolutely critical - do this FIRST THING tomorrow morning! You only have 90 days from your notice date and this will keep your Medi-Cal active during the entire hearing process, which could buy you several months to figure things out. I also want to echo what others have said about talking to your ex immediately. When I had to go through this, I called my ex right away to explain that the county was forcing this cooperation just so I could keep my healthcare - it wasn't me going back on our agreement. That conversation was awkward but it saved our co-parenting relationship when the LCSA eventually contacted him. One thing that helped me was putting together a really detailed packet showing how well our informal arrangement worked for the kids - texts about shared expenses, our custody schedule, even photos of family events showing how stable everything was. The hearing officer actually seemed impressed that we'd maintained such a functional system for years. The whole thing is backwards and unfair, but there IS hope. You can get through this while protecting both your healthcare and your family relationships. Stay strong!