Will CalWORKs close my case immediately if I request to end benefits, or will I still get March Cash Aid?

congrats on the job!!! when i closed my case last yr they still gave me the benefits for that month but then nothing after. so i think youll still get march but def not april

Your benefits won't stop immediately. When you voluntarily request case closure, CalWORKs has to give you a 10-day notice before taking action. Since we're already past the 10th of March, your March benefits should be safe. Your case will likely close effective April 1st. However, you do need to be careful about your new income. If your job starts before the end of March and your income goes over the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) for your household size, you're required to report that within 10 days, even if you've already requested case closure. If you don't report it and they find out later, they could potentially charge you with an overpayment.

they take FOREVER to do anything so youll probly get april too lol

I requested to close my case back in November when I got a job offer, and they STILL didn't close it until January!!! Had to keep calling them because they were trying to make me do my SAR7 even though I told them to close it. The whole system is a mess!!! BUT - don't spend that March money until you're sure. If your income is too high for March they might count it as an overpayment and come after you later. They LOVE to create overpayments!

When you voluntarily close your CalWORKs case, they must provide you with a Notice of Action (NOA) at least 10 days before the effective date of closure. Since it's already past the 10th of March, your March benefits should not be affected. However, there are some important things you should know: 1. You should receive a written NOA confirming your case closure date 2. You're still required to report if your income exceeds your IRT before your case closes 3. If you're also on CalFresh, that case may continue separately even if CalWORKs closes 4. Make sure they didn't just end your WTW participation but keep your case open I'd recommend getting written confirmation of your case closure request and the effective date. If you don't receive a NOA within a week, follow up with your worker.

I would definitely call to follow up. BenefitsCal sometimes has delays in posting notices. When you call, ask specifically for the effective date of closure and request that they email or mail you confirmation. Also ask them to explain what happens with your Medi-Cal coverage, as that should continue under Transitional Medi-Cal even after your CalWORKs ends.

That's exactly what they do! They never tell you about Transitional Medi-Cal or that your kids can still qualify even if you don't. They just cut everything off and hope you don't know your rights. ALWAYS ask specifically about each benefit when closing a case!

Update: I called today and finally got through to someone who confirmed they'll process my case closure effective April 1st, so I will still get March benefits! They also said my Medi-Cal will continue under the Transitional program for at least 6 months. Thanks everyone for the help!

That's great news! So happy everything worked out for you. Just wanted to add for anyone else reading this - make sure to keep all your paperwork from when you close your case. I had to prove my case was properly closed about 8 months later when they tried to say I had an overpayment that never existed. Having that documentation saved me a huge headache! Best of luck with your new job!

Congratulations on the new job! Just wanted to add something that might help - when you do get that written confirmation of your closure date, make sure it specifically states that your case is being closed due to "voluntary withdrawal" or "client request." Sometimes workers will code it differently (like "excess income" or "failure to comply") which can affect things like your ability to reapply quickly if you need to later. Also, since you mentioned CalFresh - that program has different rules and might stay open even after CalWORKs closes, especially if your new income is still within CalFresh limits. Definitely ask about that when you follow up!

Just wanted to share my experience since I went through something similar last month! I requested case closure when I got a job offer and was really worried about the timing too. The good news is they did honor the March benefits since I requested closure after the 10th, just like everyone is saying here. One thing that really helped me was asking my worker to send me an email confirmation of our conversation about the closure request - that way I had something in writing right away while waiting for the official NOA. Also, definitely keep track of your exact start date and first paycheck amount because if they ever question anything later, having those details documented will save you so much stress. The whole process took about 3 weeks for me from request to actual closure, so you should be all set for March! Congrats on the new job - it's such a relief to be moving forward!