Does using credit cards for bills or getting cash advances count as income for CalFresh reporting?

Credit card charges and cash advances are NOT considered income for CalFresh. You're right that it's not income - it's debt that you have to pay back. You only need to report actual income sources like wages, unemployment, disability, child support, etc. The money you spend using credit cards doesn't need to be reported because you're not gaining any income - you're actually creating debt. What you DO need to report is your reduced work hours since that affects your actual income. Make sure you provide documentation of your current hours/pay so your benefits can be adjusted accordingly. You might actually qualify for more CalFresh benefits with your reduced income.

credt cards arent income its just a loan u have 2 pay back eventually. they only care about REAL income like paychecks or when someone gives u $ u dont have to repay

I had this same worry last year when I was using my credit card for everything after losing my job. My worker specifically told me that only actual income needs to be reported. Credit cards, loans, advances, etc. are all DEBT, not income. But be careful about the cash advances! Those usually have very high interest rates and fees. Have you checked if you qualify for CalWORKs (Cash Aid) since your hours were reduced? That might help you avoid taking on more credit card debt.

Others have already correctly answered your main question (credit card charges and cash advances are NOT income for CalFresh purposes), but I wanted to add that if you're struggling this much, you should definitely apply for CalWORKs as well. With your reduced hours, you might qualify for cash assistance. Also, if you're having trouble connecting with your CalFresh eligibility worker to discuss your situation, I recently discovered a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helps you get through to a live person at social services without waiting on hold for hours. There's a video demo at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE that shows how it works. It helped me reach my worker when I needed to report my job loss.

BE CAREFUL THOUGH!!! If you deposit that cash advance money into your bank account and then your worker sees a $200 deposit, they might think it's unreported income! This happened to my sister and she had to provide statements showing it was just a cash advance. So keep your bank statements that show where the money came from just in case they ask!!!

Everyone saying credit cards aren't income is right, but I wanted to check - are you putting SNAP benefits on your credit card somehow? Because that could potentially be an issue. You should only be using your EBT card to purchase eligible food items directly. Just making sure I understand what you're asking correctly.

Hey, a bit off topic but since you mentioned hours being cut - make sure you also check if you qualify for partial unemployment! Many people don't realize you can get some unemployment benefits when your hours are reduced, not just when you lose your job completely. This could help you avoid using credit cards altogether.

i kno evry1 says credit cards arent income but my cousin got in trouble for not reporting a cash advance but that was for caLworks not calfresh so maybe its diffrent?? the rules r so confusing sometimes

Just wanted to add some reassurance here - I've been through several CalFresh renewals and recertifications, and credit card usage has never been an issue. The key thing to remember is that CalFresh looks at your INCOME, not your spending or debt. Using credit cards is just shifting when you pay for things, not creating new income. Since your hours were reduced, focus on documenting that income change with recent pay stubs. That's what will actually affect your benefits. You might even qualify for higher CalFresh benefits now! And definitely look into the CalWORKs suggestion others mentioned - with 22 hours per week, you very well might qualify for cash assistance to help avoid taking on more debt. Don't stress about the credit card stuff during your renewal appointment. Just be honest about your current work situation and income. You're doing nothing wrong by using credit to get by during a tough time.