Do I need to report plasma donation income to CalWORKs? Worried about losing benefits

Yes, you do need to report plasma donation income to CalWORKs. It counts as income because you're being paid for it. Any money you receive needs to be reported on your SAR7 when it's due or within 10 days if it puts you over your IRT (which they should have told you what that amount is in your approval letter). If you're close to your IRT already, you might want to calculate carefully how much the plasma donation would put you over. Sometimes it's worth earning a bit more even if your cash aid gets reduced because you end up with more money overall.

I did plasma for like 6 months last year and didn't report it 🤷‍♀️ nobody ever said anything. they pay in pre-paid visa cards at my place so its not like a regular paycheck that shows up anywhere

I'm in the same boat! Car repairs are THE WORST when ur on a tight budget. Have you tried calling 211? They sometimes have emergency assistance programs that can help with car repairs especially if its needed for work. That way you don't risk your benefits.

The county is so frustrating!! Why can't they just let people EARN SOME EXTRA MONEY without taking everything away??? It's like they want to keep us poor!! I tried doing Instacart last year and as soon as I reported it they cut my cash aid almost to NOTHING. System is broken!!!!

If your husband has a job already why dont you qualify for CalFresh instead of CalWORKs? we used to get cash aid but once my boyfriend got even a parttime job we got switched to just calfresh and medi-cal

This might sound weird but have you thought about trying to reach your worker to ask them directly? I had a similar question about babysitting money I was making on the side. I tried calling for THREE WEEKS and kept getting the automated system but couldn't get through to an actual person. So frustrating! I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that somehow gets you through the phone system to a real worker. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE. My worker confirmed that yes, I had to report the side income, but also told me about the income disregard that someone else mentioned here. The peace of mind from getting a straight answer from my actual worker was worth it. Better than risking an overpayment later!

I wanted to add some accurate information here. Plasma donation payments are indeed considered earned income for CalWORKs and must be reported. However, as someone else mentioned, CalWORKs has a work incentive called the "earned income disregard." Here's how it works: - The first $225 of earned income doesn't count at all - After that, 50% of your remaining earned income is disregarded So if you earned $400 from plasma donations in a month, only $87.50 would count against your grant ($400 - $225 = $175, then 50% of $175 = $87.50). Also, remember that going over your IRT doesn't automatically mean losing benefits. It means you must report it within 10 days (instead of waiting for your next SAR7), and then your benefits may be recalculated. Sometimes it's worth earning more even if your cash aid goes down some. Finally, definitely look into the county's Welfare to Work supportive services - they sometimes can help with car repairs if the vehicle is needed for work!

When I was in WTW they actually helped me fix my car once! I totally forgot about that until just now reading these comments. It was under something called "supportive services" and they paid like $600 for repairs because I needed my car for my job training program. Ask your worker about that!!

Hey! I totally understand your situation - car repairs are so stressful when you're already tight on money. I've been on CalWORKs for about 2 years now and had to navigate similar questions about extra income. Just wanted to add that if you do decide to go the plasma donation route, make sure to keep really good records of how much you earn each time. I learned the hard way that the county wants documentation for everything, and those prepaid cards can be tricky to track if you don't write it down. Also, have you looked into any local churches or community organizations that might help with car repairs? Sometimes they have funds specifically for working families who need transportation. I know it's not always easy to ask for help, but it might be worth checking out before risking any changes to your benefits. Good luck with whatever you decide! It's tough out here but you're doing your best for your family.

I just went through something similar last month! My car's alternator died and I was panicking about how to pay for it. I ended up calling 211 like someone mentioned, and they connected me with a local nonprofit that helped with $300 toward the repair. I also found out my county has an emergency assistance program through CalWORKs that I never knew about - they covered the rest! Before you do plasma donation, definitely try calling your county's main number and ask specifically about "emergency supportive services" or "transportation assistance." Some counties have different programs than others. Also, try reaching out to local food banks - I know it sounds weird but the one near me actually keeps a list of organizations that help with car repairs and other emergencies. The whole plasma thing is tempting but honestly the income reporting stress isn't worth it if you can get help another way. Plus those plasma centers can be pretty draining on your body if you're already dealing with the stress of everything else. Just my experience though!

I'm in a similar situation and have been researching this exact question! From what I've learned, plasma donation income definitely needs to be reported as earned income to CalWORKs. But here's what might help ease your worries - you mentioned you're about $200 under your IRT of $2,470. Even if you earned $400/month from plasma (which would put you over the IRT), remember that CalWORKs uses the earned income disregard. So they'd only count $87.50 of that $400 against your benefits ($400 - $225 first disregard = $175, then 50% of $175 = $87.50). That means you'd net about $312.50 in actual extra money while only having your grant reduced by $87.50. But honestly, after reading all these suggestions about 211, emergency assistance programs, and church help, I'd try those routes first! The plasma donation will always be there as a backup option, but if you can get the car fixed without dealing with income reporting complications, that seems like the less stressful path. Plus some of these emergency programs can cover way more than what you'd make from a few plasma donations. Good luck - car troubles are the worst when you're already stretched thin!

I've been dealing with similar financial stress lately, and this whole conversation has been really eye-opening! I had no idea about the earned income disregard calculation or that there were so many assistance programs available. One thing I wanted to add - if you do end up needing to contact your CalWORKs worker about any of these options (emergency assistance, supportive services, etc.), you might want to try going to the office in person early in the morning if calling isn't working. I know it's a hassle, but sometimes showing up in person gets better results than trying to get through on the phone. Also, regarding the plasma donation - I've heard from friends who do it that the first few times can be pretty rough physically (feeling dizzy, tired afterward), especially if you're already dealing with stress and not eating perfectly. Just something to keep in mind if you're already running on empty with everything else going on. Really hoping one of the emergency assistance programs works out for you! It sounds like there are more options than any of us realized before this discussion.

I'm new to CalWORKs and this whole discussion has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea about the earned income disregard rules or that there were so many emergency assistance programs available. The way everyone broke down the actual calculations and shared their real experiences is exactly what newcomers like me need to understand how the system actually works. @PrinceJoe - before you decide on plasma donation, definitely try the 211 route and ask your worker about emergency supportive services first. It sounds like several people here have had success getting help with car repairs through those programs, which would save you from having to navigate the income reporting complications. One question for the group - when people mention "emergency supportive services" through CalWORKs, is that something you have to be in a specific program like WTW to access, or can any CalWORKs recipient request it? I'm trying to understand what resources might be available if I ever face a similar emergency. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge here. This is exactly the kind of practical information that makes such a difference when you're trying to navigate these systems!

As someone who's been through similar financial tight spots, I really feel for your situation with the car transmission. The stress of needing repairs when you're already budgeting carefully is so real. After reading through all these responses, I'd strongly encourage trying the emergency assistance routes first before plasma donation. The 211 suggestion and CalWORKs emergency supportive services sound really promising - it's amazing how many resources people have shared here that I didn't even know existed! If you do end up considering plasma donation later, at least now you have a clearer picture of how the earned income disregard works thanks to everyone's explanations. But honestly, getting $600+ in direct assistance for car repairs (like some people mentioned) sounds way better than earning it $50-75 at a time while dealing with the physical toll and income reporting stress. One practical tip - when you call 211 or try to reach your worker about emergency assistance, have your car repair estimate ready. They'll probably want to know the specific amount needed and what the repairs are for. Having that documentation upfront might speed up the process. Really hoping one of these assistance programs comes through for you! Your family shouldn't have to choose between keeping benefits stable and having reliable transportation for work.

This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who's relatively new to CalWORKs, I had no idea about the earned income disregard calculation or all the emergency assistance programs that are available. @PrinceJoe - I really hope you're able to get help through one of the emergency assistance routes people mentioned rather than having to do plasma donation. The 211 option and CalWORKs emergency supportive services sound really promising, and it would be so much less stressful than worrying about income reporting and benefit calculations. One thing that stood out to me from everyone's advice - it seems like there are way more help programs out there than most of us realize. Churches, nonprofits, county emergency assistance, 211... it's encouraging to know there's actually a network of support available for situations like car repairs when you really need transportation for work. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and broke down the rules so clearly. This is exactly the kind of real-world knowledge that makes such a difference when you're trying to navigate these systems!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might help! My sister went through almost the exact same situation last year - her car needed transmission work and she was on CalWORKs. She called 211 and they connected her with a local organization that covered $800 of the repair costs! What really helped her was being specific when she called - she explained that the car was essential for her husband's work and that losing transportation could affect their ability to maintain employment. They prioritized her case because it was work-related. Also, she found out her county had a "transportation assistance" program specifically for CalWORKs recipients that she never knew existed. Her worker told her about it when she finally got through to ask about reporting some side income (similar to your plasma question). I know it's frustrating when you're stressed about money and just want a quick solution like plasma donation, but from everything I've read here, it really sounds like there are better options available that won't complicate your benefits. Plus you won't have to deal with the physical exhaustion of donating twice a week when you're already dealing with so much stress. Definitely try calling 211 first thing Monday morning - they seem to have the most comprehensive list of emergency assistance programs. Good luck with your car situation!