CalWORKs income limits for family of 7 in Stanislaus County? Can't find info on county website
Hi everyone! I've been struggling to find information about CalWORKs income eligibility for my family. We're a household of 7 (me, my husband, and 5 kids ages 3-14) living in Stanislaus County. I've checked the county website multiple times but can't find any clear chart or explanation about the income limits. We both work part-time jobs with fluctuating hours, making around $3,200-3,500 combined monthly. Does anyone know what the maximum income threshold is for a family our size to qualify for Cash Aid? Any help would be super appreciated!
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Ellie Kim
The income limits for CalWORKs are the same across all California counties since it's a state program, though the actual benefit amounts can vary slightly based on region. For a family of 7, the gross income limit (before deductions) is $2,868 per month in 2025. However, there's something called the Earned Income Disregard where they don't count the first $225 of earned income plus 50% of the remaining earned income when determining eligibility. So your actual countable income would be lower than what you're bringing in. With your combined income of $3,200-3,500, you might still qualify after those disregards. The only way to know for sure is to apply!
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Luis Johnson
•Thank you so much for this info! I had no idea about the Earned Income Disregard. That gives us more hope! So if I understand correctly, they would subtract $225 from our income first, then take only 50% of what's left as countable? So if we made $3,300, they'd subtract $225 = $3,075, then only count $1,537.50 as our income for eligibility? Am I calculating that right?
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Fiona Sand
just apply anyway!! i was soooo confused bout the income limits 2 and almost didnt apply cuz i thought i made to much but my worker said they do all kinds of deductions. they take out childcare costs and stuff 2 so ur actual "countable income" is way less than what u actually make. The website is confusing AF and even the workers give diff answers sometimes lol
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Luis Johnson
•Thanks for the encouragement! You're right, I should just apply instead of stressing. Did you apply online through BenefitsCal or go in person to the county office? Was the process difficult?
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Mohammad Khaled
The income limits depend on what region you're in too, Stanislaus is Region 2 I think. Also, they look at how much you made in the last 30 days not what you make usually. So if you had a slow month at work that might be the best time to apply! That's what I did. Good luck!!
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Ellie Kim
•Just a small correction - while CalFresh benefits vary by region, CalWORKs income limits are actually standard across California. The benefit amounts can vary slightly by region but the eligibility income thresholds are the same statewide. But you're absolutely right about them looking at the last 30 days of income, which is very important for workers with fluctuating hours!
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Alina Rosenthal
The exact monthly income limit for a family of 7 on CalWORKs is $2,868 (as of January 2025). But like others mentioned, they don't count all your income. If both you and your husband are working, they apply the Earned Income Disregard. Also, if you have any childcare expenses for your younger children, those can be deducted too. One thing nobody mentioned - if your family applies and is found over-income for CalWORKs, they'll automatically check if you qualify for the CalWORKs Diversion Program instead. This provides a lump sum payment to help with immediate needs rather than ongoing monthly assistance. It's worth asking about if you're close to the income limits. By the way, I struggled for WEEKS trying to reach someone at Stanislaus County by phone to ask questions before applying. Kept getting disconnected or waiting hours. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a real worker in about 15 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE - it seriously saved me so much time and frustration.
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Luis Johnson
•Thank you for this detailed information! I hadn't heard about the Diversion Program - that's really good to know. And thanks for the tip about Claimyr. I tried calling the county office earlier this week and gave up after being on hold for 45 minutes, so that might be worth trying.
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Finnegan Gunn
OMG applying for CalWORKs was the WORST experience ever. They made me submit the same documents like 5 different times and then denied me saying I didn't cooperate!!!! I had to appeal and finally got approved but it took almost 3 months. My advice is document EVERYTHING you submit and get workers names when you talk to them. The income limits change all the time too so what people tell you here might already be outdated.
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Miguel Harvey
•This is really unhelpful and just seems designed to scare the poster. I've been a CalWORKs recipient for 3 years and while there can certainly be challenges, most workers really do try their best to help. And no, the income limits don't "change all the time" - they're typically adjusted once a year with cost of living increases. Let's try to provide accurate information instead of venting about bad experiences.
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Ashley Simian
Does anyone know if they count unemployment benefits as income for CalWORKs? My husband just got laid off and will be getting UI while looking for a new job. We have 4 kids so we'd be a family of 6. Sorry to piggyback on your post OP but figured it's related to income questions!
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Ellie Kim
•Yes, unemployment benefits do count as unearned income for CalWORKs eligibility. Unlike earned income (from a job), unearned income doesn't get the same disregards. However, with your husband losing his job, you're much more likely to qualify now. You should definitely apply if you haven't already. With a family of 6 and only one income plus unemployment, you're likely within the limits.
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Luis Johnson
Update: I went ahead and applied through BenefitsCal yesterday! It took about an hour to complete the application. Thankfully I had all our documents ready (pay stubs, birth certificates, etc). The system estimated we might be eligible for both CalWORKs and CalFresh. I have an interview scheduled for next week. Thanks everyone for your help and encouragement!
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Alina Rosenthal
•That's great news! For your interview, make sure to mention any childcare costs, housing costs, and medical expenses. All of these can impact your eligibility and benefit amount. Also, be sure to ask about the CalWORKs Welfare to Work program - since you mentioned you both work part-time, your current employment might already satisfy the WTW requirements. Good luck, and let us know how it goes!
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