Can CalWORKs recipients get tax refunds without working? EITC confusion
Question about tax season - I've been on CalWORKs all of 2025 with my two kids (ages 3 and 5) and literally had zero income from actual work. My friend who's also on Cash Aid told me she files taxes every year and gets money back even without working because of some tax credit for low income families with kids. Is this true?? I've never filed taxes when I wasn't working because I thought you only do that if you have a job. Has anyone received a tax refund while only getting CalWORKs? Not sure if I'm missing out on money I could be getting for my kids. TIA!
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Sean Doyle
Yes, you might qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit! The EITC does require some earned income though - CalWORKs benefits don't count as earned income for tax purposes. But if you had ANY work in 2025, even just a little, you should definitely file. Even without earned income, you should still consider filing to claim the Child Tax Credit which is partially refundable. Many free tax preparation services specifically help CalWORKs recipients with this kind of situation.
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StarStrider
•So if I literally had $0 in work income all year, I probably don't qualify for anything? My friend must have worked some hours at some point then. That makes sense. Thanks for explaining!
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Zara Rashid
i got mony back last year and i was on calworks most the year. but i did work like 3 months at walmart so thats probly why
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StarStrider
•Oh that makes sense. I think that's what my friend did too - she babysat on the side sometimes. I literally did nothing last year because of my youngest's health issues. Maybe I'll look into some part-time work this year so I can qualify next tax season!
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Luca Romano
The previous responses are mostly correct, but there's actually more to it. You absolutely should file taxes even with zero earnings! Here's why: 1. For 2025, there's still a partially refundable Child Tax Credit - you could get up to $1,800 per child even without earnings 2. Some states (including California) have their own credits for families that don't require earned income 3. Filing establishes important documentation of your situation Please visit a VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) site - they specialize in helping low-income families and can file your taxes for FREE. Many CalWORKs offices can direct you to the nearest location.
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StarStrider
•Wait, really?? So I might actually get something even without working? I had no idea! I'll definitely look into the VITA program. Do you know if I need to bring anything special to prove I'm on CalWORKs?
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Nia Jackson
ok but be careful cuz if u get money back on taxes and dont report it to ur caseworker it can cause problems with ur cash aid. happened to my sister and they had to pay money back
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Luca Romano
•This is incorrect. Tax refunds, including EITC and Child Tax Credit, are NOT counted as income for CalWORKs eligibility. They are specifically excluded by federal law. Your sister may have had a different issue, but properly received tax refunds do not need to be reported and will not reduce your benefits.
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Mateo Hernandez
I've been trying to reach my caseworker for 2 weeks with questions about this exact thing!!! The office keeps saying someone will call me back but NOBODY EVER DOES and the automated system is useless. So frustrating when we just need simple answers about our benefits!
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CosmicCruiser
•I was in the same boat last month trying to get my WTW hours question answered! After three weeks of waiting, I tried this service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual person at the county within 20 minutes. They basically call the office for you and then connect you when they reach a real person. Saved me so much time and frustration! Check out their video to see how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE or go to claimyr.com. Way better than waiting forever for a callback that never happens.
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Luca Romano
To clarify for everyone in this thread: For 2025 taxes (which you'll file in early 2026): 1. With ZERO earned income, you likely won't qualify for the federal EITC 2. However, you SHOULD still file because: - You may qualify for the refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit - California has the CalEITC and Young Child Tax Credit which have different rules - Some families can receive up to $1,000 per qualifying child in refundable credits Bring your ID, Social Security cards for everyone in your household, and any tax documents you received (even if you didn't work). The VITA volunteers will know exactly what to do for CalWORKs recipients.
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StarStrider
•This is SO helpful! I had no idea about the California specific credits. I'm definitely going to file this year. Thank you!
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Aisha Khan
WHY does nobody ever talk about how STUPID this system is???!! If ur poor ENOUGH to need CalWORKs then u should AUTOMATICALLY get the tax credits. But instead they make it SO COMPLICATED that half of us miss out on money WE DESERVE because we don't know all these special rules and credits!!! It's designed to keep poor people poor I swear.
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Zara Rashid
•preach!!! i always feel like theres money i could be gettin but dont know how to get it. the system is rigged fr
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Ethan Taylor
My cousin was on CalWORKs last year and she told me that when she filed her taxes, she got back almost $3,500! But she did have a part-time job for a few months, so that's probably why she qualified for the earned income thing. She said the tax place she went to was really good about explaining everything. I think it was one of those free tax help places.
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StarStrider
•Wow that's a lot! Did she say which free tax place she went to? I need to find one near me.
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Sean Doyle
For everyone in this thread - here's a simple breakdown: 1. If you had ANY earned income: File taxes to claim EITC and Child Tax Credit 2. If you had ZERO earned income but have dependent children: Still file to claim the refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit and California state credits 3. If you had ZERO earned income and NO dependents: You probably won't get a refund unless you had taxes withheld from some other income source To find free tax help: - Call 211 for VITA locations near you - Visit irs.gov/vita - Ask at your county CalWORKs office for referrals Most important: Tax refunds DO NOT count as income for CalWORKs and don't need to be reported!
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StarStrider
•Thank you SO much for breaking it down like this! I definitely fall into category #2. I'm going to call 211 tomorrow to find the closest VITA location. I appreciate everyone's help!
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Logan Scott
I'm in a similar situation - been on CalWORKs with my 4-year-old and haven't worked at all this year due to my own health issues. Reading through all these responses has been really eye-opening! I had no idea there were credits available even without earned income. Quick question for those who have gone through the VITA program - do they help you understand what documentation you need beforehand? I want to make sure I have everything together before I go so I don't waste anyone's time. Also, how long does the appointment usually take? This thread has been so much more helpful than trying to get answers from my caseworker. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!
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Wesley Hallow
•Hi Logan! I went through VITA last year and they were super helpful. When you call to make an appointment, they'll tell you exactly what to bring - usually just ID, Social Security cards for you and your child, and any tax documents you received (even if you didn't work, you might have gotten a 1099 for something). The appointment took about an hour for me, but they walked me through everything step by step and explained what credits I qualified for. They're really patient and used to working with people in our situation. Definitely worth it - I got back way more than I expected even though I hadn't worked much that year!
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