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I had the same question last month!!! I ended up going IN PERSON to my county office (hate doing that but nothing else worked) and they printed out the current benefit chart for me. Turns out my family of 4 WAS getting the correct amount. If BenefitsCal isn't working for you and phone calls are useless, sometimes physically going there is the only way to get answers. Bring something to do though because the wait times are ridiculous.
To clarify what others have said: 1. COVID emergency allotments were for CalFresh only and ended in March 2023 2. CalWORKs has regular annual cost-of-living adjustments (usually small increases) 3. The most recent CalWORKs increase was in July 2024 4. Los Angeles is a Region 1 county (higher payment standard) Aside from checking BenefitsCal, you should have received a Notice of Action about 30 days before any change to your grant amount. The notice explains the change, when it happens, and shows the calculation. If you didn't get one, that could be a problem with your contact information on file. Also, while your SAR7 is due next month, remember that updates to CalWORKs payment standards don't require any action from you - they're automatic. You only need to report changes to your income, household composition, or other circumstances on the SAR7.
This is such a clear explanation, thank you! I think I might have missed the Notice of Action because I moved in December and even though I updated my address for everything else, maybe they still sent it to my old place. I'll double check they have my correct address when I finally get through to them.
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I went through this exact thing in January! My check came on the 4th, about 3 days late. The worker told me it takes time to 'process through the system' but never warned me about the delay. I got hit with a late fee too and CalWORKs wouldn't help cover it. After the 3rd month it finally started going directly to my bank account, and now it's actually better because I get it a day earlier than I used to with the EBT card.
That's helpful to hear about your experience. Did you have to do anything to follow up, or did it just eventually start working? I'm worried because my worker isn't very responsive.
Honestly no I just waited and complained a lot lol. But after the 3rd month it just started working perfectly. I did call like every month to make sure they were sending the check though.
Just checking back - were you able to reach someone about your check? If you can't get through by phone, you can also go in person to your county office. Bring your ID and case information. They can sometimes issue an emergency replacement check if you explain about your rent situation.
I actually used that Claimyr service that someone mentioned and finally got through! The worker confirmed my check was mailed on the 30th, so it should arrive any day now. She said I can request a replacement if it doesn't come by the 5th. I explained about my rent and she said I might qualify for an emergency payment, but I'd have to come into the office with documentation from my landlord. At least now I know what's going on! Thanks everyone for the help!
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To actually answer your question more specifically: For a family of 3, there are three income tests for CalWORKs: 1. Gross income limit (around $2,813/month for 2025) 2. Net income after deductions must be under the Minimum Basic Standard of Adequate Care (MBSAC) 3. Net income after deductions must be lower than the Maximum Aid Payment (MAP) For deductions, they allow: - $450 for work expenses for each employed person - 50% of remaining earned income - Child care costs (with limits) After these deductions, your net countable income must be below the MAP for your family size, which for a family of 3 is about $1,057 if you live in a higher-cost county (Region 1) or $1,008 in a lower-cost county (Region 2). This is public information they absolutely should have shared with you!
Thank you SO MUCH for breaking this down! This is exactly what I needed. So it sounds like if both my partner and I work, we'd each get the $450 deduction plus half our remaining income wouldn't count? That's way more generous than I thought. Do you know if the child care deduction is before or after the 50% reduction?
The childcare deduction is taken after the 50% earned income deduction. And yes, you both would get the $450 deduction if you're both working! The system actually has decent work incentives built in, which is why it's so frustrating when workers don't explain it properly.
I've been through this exact situation. The reality is that the income limits for CalWORKs are complicated because there are different tests, and sometimes workers don't want to give a simple answer that might not apply to your specific situation. But they SHOULD have explained that to you instead of just refusing to answer! Are you just trying to figure out if you should apply, or are you already receiving benefits and worried about income changes? The rules are slightly different depending on your situation.
We're not on CalWORKs yet but considering applying. My partner just got a job offer and we're trying to figure out if we should accept it or ask for fewer hours so we can still qualify. We're in a really tough spot financially right now with rent increasing, and the childcare assistance through CalWORKs would be a huge help while we get back on our feet.
In that case, I would absolutely apply regardless! The initial income limits are actually pretty generous with the deductions, and the childcare benefit is incredibly valuable. Even if you're close to the limit, it's worth applying because they'll do the exact calculations for your situation. Don't turn down work hours before knowing for sure - you might qualify anyway with the deductions.
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When my husband got that construction job last summer our benefits just automatically stopped the month after his big check. I didn't report anything. Nobody ever said anything about overpayment. Maybe they just figured it out through the system? But maybe I just got lucky idk
You probably did get lucky. The county has data matching with EDD (unemployment) so they can sometimes catch income changes automatically through wage reporting. But relying on that is risky - if the system misses it and catches it months later, you could end up with a large overpayment claim.
Thanks everyone for the helpful replies! I'm going to fill out a Mid-Period Report form explaining that my husband's income will exceed our IRT but only temporarily due to holiday overtime. I'll make sure to still submit our SAR7 next month too. Better safe than sorry! Really appreciate all the guidance - the CalFresh rules can be so confusing sometimes.
Aiden Chen
Your child starting kindergarten shouldn't affect your CalWORKs amount. The grant is based on family size and income, not school status. However, if you were also receiving childcare assistance through CalWORKs and now need fewer hours of coverage, that's a separate benefit that could change. One other possibility - did you receive any child support recently? CalWORKs deducts child support from your grant (though you should get the first $100 for one child or $200 for two or more children without it affecting your grant). Your best bet is still to contact your worker for a detailed explanation. Ask specifically for your "Assistance Unit's Maximum Aid Payment" and any deductions they're applying.
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Daniel Price
•I don't get any child support payments, and my childcare is through a different program. I'm going to try calling first thing tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestion about asking for the Maximum Aid Payment - that's helpful language to use.
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Olivia Evans
After you figure this out, make sure to request a "Benefit Verification Letter" that shows your exact benefit amount. You can keep this as proof for future reference. Also, if you find out there was a mistake and they owe you money, make sure to ask for retroactive payments to cover any months they underpaid you. They won't automatically offer this!
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