When to report new job to CalWORKs? Just started working 10/13 and confused about income reporting timeline

Congrats on the new job! You need to report this within 10 days because your income will definitely exceed your IRT (Income Reporting Threshold). CalWORKs requires you to report any income changes that put you over your IRT before your next SAR7. Your IRT amount is listed on your last approval notice - it's usually about 130% of your grant amount. Call your eligibility worker directly using the number on your approval notice. If you can't reach them, try the general CalWORKs number for your county. Make sure to get verification from your employer (job offer letter or hiring paperwork showing your start date and wages).

u need to report ASAP or they'll charge u with an overpayment later and might even acuse u of fraud. happened to my sister last yr and she had to pay back like $1800 plus go to some integrity meeting thing. they'll probobly reduce ur cash aid not cut it completely right away. childcare should continue for a while depends on ur income

You need to report this change immediately, but that doesn't mean your benefits will stop right away. When you report your new job, also tell your worker you need to continue your childcare benefits through the transitional childcare program (called TCC/Stage 1). This program can provide childcare for up to 24 months after your CalWORKs cash aid ends due to employment. Your cash grant will be reduced based on your income, following a specific calculation that disregards some of your earnings. Make sure to ask your worker about this calculation so you understand how your new income affects your benefits. Also important: Request to speak with a WTW (Welfare to Work) worker about transitional benefits you might qualify for, like the Work Bonus (extra money when you start working) and transportation assistance.

good lucj getting thru to anyone lol. i spent 3 days trying to reach my worker about a job change and kept getting sent to voicemail that was full!! ended up just going in person and wasted half a day waiting

I went through this exact situation in March!! Let me tell you what happened: 1. I reported my new job within 10 days 2. They reduced my cash aid the next month (didn't eliminate it completely) 3. My childcare continued through CalWORKs for 2 months 4. Then they transferred me to Stage 1 childcare Make sure you ask specifically about the Work Bonus too!! I got an extra $350 for the first 3 months after reporting my new job. And they gave me $125 for transportation costs. The system is actually pretty supportive when you start working, but you HAVE to report within the 10 days or you'll lose out on all these transitional benefits.

Wait is it 10 calendar days or 10 business days to report? And do u report from ur start date or from when u first get paid?? The rules are so confusing 😩

Update: I called the county office this morning and finally got through after being on hold for 45 minutes. My worker said I need to bring in my job offer letter AND my first paystub when I get it. She said my cash grant will be reduced but not eliminated for at least the first month, and I'll still get childcare. She's setting me up with a WTW worker to talk about transportation assistance and something called the 'Work Bonus.' Thanks everyone for your help!

my benfits got cut completely when i strated working last year anf they never told me about no bonus or disregard thing. they just said i made too much. i think it depends whcih county ur in maybe?

This is such great advice from everyone! I'm in a similar situation but haven't started work yet - just got offered a job that starts next week. Reading through all these responses, it sounds like reporting within 10 days is crucial to avoid problems AND to get all the transitional benefits like the Work Bonus and childcare continuation. One question I have - when you call to report, do they make you an appointment to come in or can you report everything over the phone? I'm trying to figure out if I need to take time off from my new job right away to go to the office in person. Also @Keisha Thompson - congratulations on getting through to your worker! That gives me hope that I'll be able to reach mine when the time comes.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might help - I work at a legal aid clinic and we help people navigate CalWORKs issues all the time. One thing I always tell clients is to document EVERYTHING when you report a job change. Keep a record of when you called, who you spoke with, and what they told you. Get reference numbers for any reports you make. Also, if you run into any issues with your worker not processing things correctly or denying benefits you think you should get, don't hesitate to ask for a supervisor or request a "fair hearing." You have rights in this process, and sometimes workers make mistakes or don't apply the rules correctly. The transitional benefits people mentioned (Work Bonus, childcare continuation, transportation assistance) are all part of the law - not optional favors from your worker. If someone tells you that you don't qualify for something, ask them to show you the specific regulation or policy. Knowledge is power when dealing with the system!