Should I report my increasing DoorDash/mini mart income for CalWORKs recertification? Worried about losing benefits too soon

In the exact same boat. Been working at amazon warehouse and slowly building hours. My worker warned me that even tho i need time to get stable, once my income goes over the IRT (income reporting threshold) they HAVE TO cut me off. They find out eventually through tax records and employer reporting. wish the system had some kinda grace period for ppl getting back on their feet!!!! its like they punish u for doing better 😣

You HAVE to report your income changes - it's not optional. California has income matching systems that absolutely will catch unreported income. When they do, you'll face an overpayment that you'll have to pay back, possibly with penalties, and potential fraud charges for intentional non-reporting. That said, CalWORKs does have some transition supports. Look into these options: 1. Income Disregard - they don't count the first $225 of earned income plus 50% of the remainder 2. Transitional Medi-Cal - continues for 6-12 months after cash aid ends 3. Transitional CalFresh - may continue after cash aid ends 4. Request a supportive services assessment before your benefits end Better to report accurately and work with your worker on transition planning than risk serious consequences.

dont listen 2 these people tellin u to report everything!!!! the county ALWAYS messes up income calculations. my cousin only reported part of her income 4 like 2 years and nobody ever found out. its ur call but i think the system is broke anyway so u gotta do what u need 2 survive

I work with benefit recipients, and I strongly recommend being honest about your income. Here's why: 1. CalWORKs has a fairly generous earned income disregard ($225 + 50% of remaining earned income doesn't count against your grant) 2. Even if your cash grant ends, you may qualify for transitional benefits 3. California uses multiple systems to detect unreported income including employer reporting databases, tax return matching, and bank account verification 4. If caught (and people usually are), you'll face: - Repaying ALL overpaid benefits - Potential cash penalties - Possible disqualification from future benefits - In serious cases, fraud charges Instead, talk to your worker about Work Incentive Nutritional Supplement (WINS) and transitional benefits. There are legal ways to ease off benefits gradually.

When my income went up I was honest about it but I called Claimyr (claimyr.com) first to actually reach a person at the county instead of getting stuck in the phone system for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE The worker helped me understand exactly what would happen with different income levels and how to plan for the transition. Turns out I was eligible for transitional CalFresh for 5 months and kept my Medi-Cal for a year. Being honest worked out WAY better than worrying about getting caught.

I'm in a simlar situation - been on cash aid for almost 3 years while dealing with health issues. Started working part-time at Target last month and I'm terrified of reporting it on my SAR7. I already had a panic attack thinking about losing my benefits before I'm ready. Does anyone know if there's a minimum number of hours you can work before it affects your CalWORKs? Or is it strictly based on income?

I been on CalWorks for 6 years and trust me THEY KNOW EVERYTHING. my friend didnt report her boyfriends income and they made her pay back like $7000!! not worth it!! And they banned her from getting benefits for like a year which meant no medi-cal for her kids. Dont risk it!!!!!

Something important no one's mentioned yet: if you've been receiving CalWORKs due to disability/health barriers, make sure you've documented your condition with your worker. There are special exemptions and extended supports for people transitioning to work after disability. Also, the transitional benefits are significant: 1. Transitional Medi-Cal - continues for up to 12 months regardless of income 2. Transitional CalFresh - 5 months of continued benefits 3. Childcare assistance can continue (if you have children) 4. You might qualify for EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) with your new income Be honest about your current situation, but emphasize your ongoing health challenges and ask specifically about transition assistance programs. The system is designed to help people transition to self-sufficiency, even if it doesn't always work perfectly.

Based on what you've shared, here's what I recommend: 1. Report your income accurately - the risks of not doing so are too high 2. At your recertification interview, explain your health challenges and that you're gradually building capacity - ask about available transition supports 3. Request information about the "Welfare to Work Specialized Service" programs which can provide additional support during your transition period 4. Ask about the exact calculation of your new benefit amount with your current income - you might still be eligible for partial benefits 5. Request information on all transitional benefits you'll qualify for when cash aid ends Remember that the goal of CalWORKs is to help you become self-sufficient. Your story of gradually increasing work capacity is exactly what the program wants to see, and there should be supports to help you complete that journey without falling backward.

Your situation resonates with me so much. I'm also dealing with chronic health issues while trying to get back to work. One thing that really helped me was asking my worker about the "good cause" exemptions for people with ongoing health conditions - they can extend your time limits and provide additional flexibility during your transition. Also, if you haven't already, document EVERYTHING about your health conditions and how they affect your work capacity. Keep all your medical records updated in your case file. This can help you qualify for extended supports even as your income increases. The income disregard calculation others mentioned is real - for someone with no dependents, they don't count the first $225 of your monthly earnings, then only count 50% of anything above that. So if you're earning $800/month, they'd only count $512.50 toward your income eligibility ($800 - $225 = $575, then $575 x 50% = $287.50, plus the first $225 = $512.50). This might mean you can keep some benefits longer than you think. Definitely be honest but advocate hard for yourself during recertification. Explain your health journey and ask specifically about every transition program available. You've worked so hard to get where you are - don't let fear make you risk losing everything by not reporting.