Will CalWORKs/CalFresh take back EBT money after reporting new job? How to handle remaining benefits?
I just got hired at a new job starting next month and my income is definitely going to put me over the limit for CalFresh benefits. The thing is, my EBT card will probably still get loaded with benefits for next month before I can report the change (I start on the 3rd). Are they going to make me pay back the money once I report the new job? Should I just not use the money that gets loaded? I'm worried they'll say I committed fraud if I spend it, but also don't want to lose benefits I might still be entitled to. Do I need to report my job immediately or wait until I get my first paycheck? This is my first time dealing with this situation and I'm confused about the right way to handle it so I don't get in trouble.
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Grace Lee
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.
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William Rivera
AuthorThank you!! That's a relief. I wasn't sure about the 10 day thing. So I can submit the SAR 3 as soon as I start, even before I get my first paycheck? Or should I wait until I have a paystub to include with it?
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Mia Roberts
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!!!!
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The Boss
Just a small clarification - this is mostly right, but if the county doesn't have time to process your income change before the next month's benefits are issued, and those benefits are higher than what you should have received, they CAN establish an overpayment for that amount. It doesn't happen often, but it's possible, so just be aware.
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Evan Kalinowski
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!
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William Rivera
AuthorOh that's good to know about Transitional benefits! I'm not on CalWORKs though, just CalFresh. I'll definitely report right away on BenefitsCal, didn't know I could do it there instead of calling!
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Victoria Charity
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.
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Grace Lee
Please don't follow this advice. The IRT reporting requirement is different from the SAR7 schedule. If your income goes over the IRT (which they tell you on your approval letters), you legally have to report it within 10 days even if your SAR7 isn't due. Not reporting could lead to an overpayment that you'd have to pay back, or even potential fraud allegations in some cases.
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Jasmine Quinn
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!!
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Oscar Murphy
Yes, they do have different income limits, but both programs use the SAR7 for semi-annual reporting and both require you to report when income exceeds your IRT within 10 days. Your IRT is specific to your household size and the benefits you receive - it should be listed on your approval notices. Generally, CalWORKs has a lower income limit than CalFresh.
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The Boss
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.
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William Rivera
AuthorThank you for this! BenefitsCal does seem unreliable sometimes. I'll check out that service if I can't get through. Will definitely keep screenshots of everything!
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Oscar Murphy
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.
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Victoria Charity
wait so if im already over my IRT this month but my sar7 isnt due til next month im supposed to tell them now?? nobody ever told me that
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Evan Kalinowski
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!
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William Rivera
AuthorThat's a great point - I'll make sure to be super clear about my start date on the paperwork. Thanks for all the help everyone! I feel much better about how to handle this now.
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Chloe Mitchell
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!
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