Can I qualify for CalWORKs or CalFresh after switching from full-time to on-call work?

Yes you can apply! I was in almost the same situation last year when my retail job cut my hours to like 8-10 per week. I applied for both CalFresh (food stamps) and CalWORKs (cash aid) through BenefitsCal website. They look at your income, not your employment status. Since your income is about to drop, you should apply ASAP. Make sure you have documentation from your employer about the change in status. They'll probably ask for pay stubs and maybe a letter explaining the change to on-call.

You should definitely apply for both CalFresh and CalWORKs. The county will evaluate your eligibility based on your current income situation. Since you're going from full-time to on-call, you'll need to report your expected monthly income. Be aware that with variable on-call hours, you'll need to keep track of your Income Reporting Threshold (IRT). For CalWORKs, you'll also need to eventually participate in Welfare to Work activities to maintain eligibility unless you qualify for an exemption. With 2 children and variable work hours, you might qualify for additional childcare assistance while you're working or participating in WTW activities. One important thing - once approved, you'll need to submit a SAR7 form every 6 months reporting your income. With variable on-call work, keep ALL your paystubs to report accurately.

u can apply now dont wait!!!! just tell them your situation is changing. i lost my job completly and it took 3 WEEKS to get approved for calfresh and over a month for the cash aid. the system is slow AF so get started asap. bring a letter from your boss saying ur hours are being cut if u can.

The IRT (Income Reporting Threshold) is SUPER IMPORTANT when you have variable income! When you get approved, they'll give you a specific dollar amount that's your IRT. If your monthly income ever goes ABOVE that amount before your next SAR7 report, you MUST report it within 10 days even if it's not your regular reporting month. I learned this the hard way and ended up with a $1,200 overpayment I'm still paying back. My hours increased for two months but I didn't report it until my regular SAR7. Big mistake! They count it as fraud if you don't report going over your IRT.

I've been trying to reach my worker for WEEKS about a similar situation (got my hours cut at the hospital). Every time I call the CalWORKs office I get stuck on hold for hours and then disconnected. So frustrating!!!! I finally used Claimyr.com to get through and actually talked to a person in less than 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE It was the only way I could get someone to update my case with my new work hours. Just sharing because the phone system is absolutely terrible right now.

When I wen't from full-time to part time last year the lady at my county office told me I had to wait till I had an actual paystub showing the lower income before they would process my application. But that might just be my county being difficult cause they're always giving me the runaround. Bring whatever proof you can get about the schedule change. And yeah the WAIT TIMES on the phone are horrendus, like 2+ hours sometimes if u can even get through.

To answer your question about child support - yes, when you apply for CalWORKs, you typically must cooperate with child support enforcement unless you qualify for a good cause exemption (like history of domestic violence). They will attempt to establish formal child support from your children's father. Regarding your original question about on-call work: make sure you understand how income reporting works. You'll need to report ALL income monthly if it varies significantly. Keep a detailed log of your hours and pay. On-call work is actually very common among CalWORKs recipients, so the county workers understand how to calculate benefits with variable income. For your children, apply immediately - they might approve CalFresh faster than CalWORKs, and there are expedited options if you have very little income and resources.

Your benefits don't stop immediately when you work - they're reduced based on a formula. For every dollar you earn from work, your CalWORKs grant is reduced, but not dollar-for-dollar. They have an "earned income disregard" where they don't count the first $225 of earnings, and then they only count 50% of earnings above that amount. Example: If you earn $600 in a month: $600 - $225 = $375 $375 × 50% = $187.50 Only $187.50 would be counted against your grant. This creates an incentive to work because you're always better off financially by working more hours. Your CalFresh/food stamps will also adjust but with a different formula. Just remember that with variable on-call income, you MUST report if you go over your IRT (Income Reporting Threshold) which they'll tell you when you're approved.

I just wanted to add something important - when u apply make sure u ask about expedited calfresh!! If ur income drops enough u can get food stamps within 3 days instead of waiting weeks. They dont tell u about this option unless u specifically ask about it!!!