Will CalWORKs/CalFresh take back EBT money after reporting new job? How to handle remaining benefits?

Congrats on the new job! You're actually supposed to report income changes within 10 days if it puts you over the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT). For CalFresh, you need to report when your monthly income goes over 130% of the Federal Poverty Level for your household size. You won't have to pay back benefits that were correctly issued before you reported the change - the county has to give you 10 days notice before reducing or stopping your benefits. So if you report as soon as you start, you likely still get that month's benefits, which is completely legal to use. Benefits already on your card are yours to use even after your case closes. Just make sure to submit the change report form (SAR 3) as soon as you start working.

they WILL NOT take the money back!! u can keep using ur card until theres no $ left on it even after ur case is closed. just make sure u report ur job when u start. the benefits u get after reporting might need to be paid back if they still load them but anything before reporting is YOURS!!!!

I went thru the same exact situation last year! Report your change right away (you can do it through BenefitsCal online now) and you're good to use whatever benefits you have. They'll just stop future benefits once they process your report. BTW, for Calfresh there's something called Transitional benefits you might qualify for if you're leaving CalWORKs - it gives you 5 months of CalFresh even with higher income. Ask about it when you report!

everyones saying report but i waited til my SAR7 was due and no one said anything. if your SAR7 is due soon anyway just wait and report it then tbh.

Wait but isn't it different for CalWORKs and CalFresh? Do you get both or just one? Because i think they have different income limits and reporting requirements. I've been on both and get so confused with all the different rules!!

Something important to remember: BenefitsCal can be really hit or miss for reporting changes quickly. I've had many clients run into issues where their online reports didn't get processed for weeks. If you want to make sure your report is processed promptly, call your county office. However, I know getting through to a live person can be nearly impossible some days. Many of my clients have had success using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get connected to a worker without the endless waiting. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE Regardless of how you report, keep documentation showing when you reported the change (screenshots, confirmation numbers, etc). This protects you if there's any question later about whether you reported timely.

The official policy is that you need to report within 10 days of when your income exceeds your IRT (Income Reporting Threshold). When you start the job, you should report it with your estimated monthly income. Include your offer letter if you have one. For CalFresh, you're allowed to use benefits that were correctly issued. So anything on your card before you report the change is yours to use, even after your case closes. It's also worth checking if you might still qualify for a reduced benefit amount based on your new income. CalFresh has higher income limits than many people realize, especially if you have high housing costs that can be deducted.

One more thing - when you report your job, make sure to tell them your actual start date! I made the mistake of not being clear and they thought I had been working longer than I actually had and tried to say I had an overpayment. It took FOREVER to fix that mistake!

Congratulations on your new job! Just wanted to add that you should also keep track of your exact start date and first day of work when you report. The county will use this information to determine which month your benefits should be adjusted. If you start on the 3rd of the month, you'll likely still be eligible for that full month's benefits since you weren't working for most of it. Also, don't stress too much about the timing - as long as you report within the 10-day window after exceeding your IRT, you're following the rules. The key is being proactive and honest about the change. Good luck with your new position!

Great advice from everyone here! As someone who's been through this transition, I'd add one more tip: if your new job offers health insurance, make sure to report that too when you submit your income change. It can affect your Medi-Cal eligibility and you want to avoid any coverage gaps. Also, if you're worried about the timing, you can always call your county office to verbally report the change first, then follow up with the written SAR 3 form. That way you have documentation that you reported on time even if the paperwork takes a few days to submit. Keep the name of whoever you spoke with and the date/time of your call just in case! Wishing you all the best with your new job - it's exciting to be moving forward even though navigating these benefit changes can be stressful.

Just wanted to share my experience since I went through something similar a few months ago! I was so stressed about the same thing - got a new job that put me over the CalFresh limit and was worried about having to pay everything back. What I learned is that timing really matters. I reported my job on my actual start date (not when I got the offer) and included my offer letter showing my expected monthly income. The county worker was really helpful and explained that any benefits I had already received were mine to keep, but they would adjust future months based on my new income. One thing that surprised me was that I actually still qualified for a small amount of CalFresh even with my higher income because of my rent costs. The deductions can really make a difference! So definitely don't assume you'll lose everything - let them do the calculations. The whole process was way less scary than I thought it would be. Just be honest, report on time, and keep copies of everything. You've got this!

Congrats on the new job! I went through this exact situation last year and was terrified I'd get in trouble. Here's what I learned: definitely report your job as soon as you start working (within those 10 days everyone mentioned), but don't panic about the benefits already on your card - those are yours to use. One thing I wish someone had told me earlier is to take screenshots of your BenefitsCal account before and after you report, showing your benefit amount and case status. This saved me when there was confusion later about when I reported vs when my benefits should have been adjusted. Also, even though your income might put you over the gross limit, you might still qualify for some CalFresh depending on your household size and expenses. I was shocked when I still got $50/month even with my new job because of my high rent and utilities. Don't assume you'll lose everything - let them run the numbers! The anxiety is totally normal but you're doing the right thing by asking questions and planning to report properly. Good luck with your new position!

Congrats on the new job! I just wanted to add something that helped me when I was in a similar situation - when you call or go online to report your income change, ask specifically about your IRT (Income Reporting Threshold) for your household size. They should be able to tell you the exact dollar amount that triggers the 10-day reporting requirement. I found this super helpful because it took away the guesswork - I knew exactly when I needed to report vs when I could wait until my next SAR7. Also, if you're nervous about calling the county office, many of them have walk-in hours where you can submit your SAR 3 form in person and get a stamped copy as proof you reported on time. One last thing - if your new income does put you slightly over the CalFresh limit, ask about the Able-Bodied Adult Without Dependents (ABAWD) work requirements. Sometimes working 20+ hours per week can actually help you maintain eligibility even with higher income. The rules are complicated but worth asking about! You're being really responsible by thinking this through ahead of time. Best of luck with the new job!

Congratulations on your new job! I went through this exact same situation about 6 months ago and was so anxious about doing something wrong. Here's what I learned from my experience: You definitely need to report within 10 days of starting work if your income will exceed your IRT. The good news is that any benefits already on your EBT card before you report are absolutely yours to use - no payback required! I was so relieved when my worker explained this to me. One thing that really helped me was reporting my job on my actual first day of work, not when I got hired. I included my offer letter showing my expected monthly income, and they calculated everything from there. Even though I thought I'd lose all my benefits, I actually still qualified for a small CalFresh amount because of my housing costs. My biggest advice is to keep detailed records of everything - when you report, who you talk to, confirmation numbers, etc. I took screenshots of my BenefitsCal submissions and it saved me later when there was a question about timing. Don't stress too much about the benefits that load before you can report - that's totally normal and expected. The county knows it takes time to process changes. You're being really responsible by planning ahead and asking the right questions. Good luck with your new position!

Congratulations on your new job! This is such a common worry but you're handling it exactly right by asking questions ahead of time. I just want to emphasize what others have said - you absolutely will NOT have to pay back any benefits that are already on your EBT card when you report your job. Those benefits were correctly issued based on the information they had at the time, so they're 100% yours to use even after your case changes. The key thing is to report your new job within 10 days of starting work (not when you got hired, but when you actually start). You can do this through BenefitsCal online, by phone, or in person with the SAR 3 form. Make sure to include your start date and estimated monthly income from your offer letter. Also, don't assume you'll automatically lose all benefits! Depending on your household size, rent, and other expenses, you might still qualify for some CalFresh even with higher income. The eligibility limits are higher than many people think, especially when deductions are factored in. You're being really responsible by planning this out in advance. Just report honestly and on time, keep documentation of when you reported, and don't stress about using benefits that are already on your card. Good luck with your new position!

Congratulations on your new job! This is such a common situation and you're absolutely doing the right thing by planning ahead. Just to add to all the great advice here - when you report your income change, make sure to mention if you'll have any work-related expenses like transportation costs, uniforms, or childcare. These can sometimes be deducted from your income for CalFresh calculations and might help you maintain some benefits. Also, if you're currently receiving CalWORKs cash aid along with CalFresh, the reporting requirements and timelines are the same, but the income limits are different. CalWORKs has stricter limits so you might lose cash aid while still qualifying for some food benefits. One more tip - if you end up losing CalFresh eligibility, you can always reapply in the future if your circumstances change. There's no waiting period or penalty for reapplying later if you need benefits again. You're handling this exactly right by being proactive and asking questions. The fact that you're worried about doing the right thing shows you're being completely responsible about it. Best of luck with your new position!

Congratulations on your new job! This is actually a really smart question to ask ahead of time. I went through this exact situation about a year ago and was so worried about doing something wrong. The main thing to remember is that you need to report your job within 10 days of your start date (March 3rd in your case), not when you got hired. Any benefits that are already on your EBT card before you report are completely yours to use - no payback required! This was such a relief when I learned it. When you report, make sure to include your exact start date and your estimated monthly income from your offer letter. Even though you think you'll be over the limit, don't assume you'll lose everything - I was surprised that I still qualified for some CalFresh because of my high rent and other deductible expenses. You can report through BenefitsCal online, by phone, or with a SAR 3 form in person. Whatever method you use, keep screenshots or documentation showing when you reported - this protects you if there are any questions later. The anxiety is totally normal, but you're being really responsible by planning this out. Just be honest, report on time, and don't stress about using the benefits that are already on your card. Good luck with your new position!

Congratulations on the new job! This is exciting news and you're being really smart by thinking through the reporting process ahead of time. Just to reinforce what others have said - you absolutely do NOT need to worry about paying back any benefits that are already on your EBT card when you report your job change. Those were issued correctly based on your circumstances at the time, so they're 100% yours to use even after your case is updated. The key is reporting within 10 days of your actual start date (March 3rd). You can submit your SAR 3 form online through BenefitsCal, call your county office, or visit in person. Make sure to include your start date and expected monthly income from your offer letter. One thing I'd suggest is don't stress too much about the exact timing of when benefits load versus when you report - the county expects there to be some overlap and it's completely normal. What matters is that you report honestly and within the required timeframe. Also, like others mentioned, you might be surprised and still qualify for some reduced CalFresh benefits depending on your household size and expenses like rent, utilities, and work-related costs. Let them do the math rather than assuming you'll lose everything. You're handling this exactly right by being proactive and asking questions. Best of luck with your new position!

Congratulations on your new job! This is such great news and you're absolutely right to plan ahead for the reporting process. I just wanted to add one more perspective as someone who works with people going through benefit transitions regularly. The most important thing to remember is that California's benefit system is designed to support people as they move toward self-sufficiency, not to penalize them for getting jobs. When you report your new employment on March 3rd (your start date), make sure to ask about any transitional support programs you might qualify for. Even if you don't qualify for ongoing CalFresh, there are sometimes programs that can help with the transition period as you adjust to your new income. Also, I'd recommend calling your county office a day or two after you submit your online report just to confirm they received it. Sometimes there can be technical glitches with BenefitsCal, and a quick follow-up call can save you from potential issues later. You're being incredibly responsible by thinking this through in advance. The benefits already on your card are definitely yours to use, and reporting promptly when you start work shows you're following the rules properly. Best of luck with your new position - this is a really positive step forward!

Congratulations on your new job! This is such an exciting milestone and you're being really thoughtful by planning ahead for the reporting process. I wanted to share my recent experience since I just went through this exact situation a couple months ago. Like you, I was really worried about the timing and whether I'd get in trouble for benefits that might load before I could report my job change. Here's what I learned: definitely report within 10 days of your March 3rd start date, and any benefits already on your EBT card before you report are completely yours to use - no payback required! I was so relieved when my caseworker explained this to me. One thing that really helped me was taking screenshots of my BenefitsCal account before and after reporting, showing my benefit amounts and case status. This gave me documentation of exactly when I reported and what my benefits were at that time. Also, don't assume you'll automatically lose all your CalFresh benefits! I thought I would too, but I still qualified for a reduced amount because of my rent and utility costs. The income limits are higher than many people realize once deductions are factored in. When you report, include your exact start date and estimated monthly income from your offer letter. You can do this through BenefitsCal online, but I'd recommend following up with a phone call to make sure they received it since the online system can sometimes be unreliable. You're handling this exactly right by being proactive and asking questions. This is a really positive step forward and the system is designed to support transitions like this, not penalize them!