Will getting approved for CalWORKs Cash Aid lower my CalFresh benefits?

Yeah it does affect it. Idk the exact calculation but when i got approved for cash aid my calfresh went down by like half. They count cash aid as income for calfresh.

Yes, CalWORKs Cash Aid is counted as income when calculating your CalFresh benefits, but it's not a dollar-for-dollar reduction. The basic formula is that for every $1 of countable income, your CalFresh benefits are reduced by about 30 cents. CalWORKs will almost always leave you better off financially overall - you might lose some CalFresh, but the Cash Aid amount is usually more than what you lose. For example, if you get approved for $800 in Cash Aid (ballpark for a family of 3), your CalFresh might go down by around $240. So you'd still be ahead by $560 per month. Plus, CalWORKs often comes with other benefits like childcare assistance and transportation help if you participate in Welfare to Work (WTW) activities.

When I got approved for cash aid last yr my calfresh went from $573 to $380 but the cash aid was $694 so I was stil better off!! The worker told me about the decrease during my interview. BUT THEY DIDN'T UPDATE MY CALFRESH FOR LIKE 2 MONTHS SO I GOT FULL AMOUNTS OF BOTH FOR A WHILE!!! Then they sent an overpayment notice saying I owed them back the extra calfresh money. BE CAREFUL!!! Even if it looks like they're giving you both full amounts, they'll eventually catch it and make you pay it back!!!

They took like 10% of my calfresh each month until it was paid back. Such a headache!!! make sure u report your cash aid to calfresh right away even if u think they already know!

I spent 2 hours yesterday trying to get through to my caseworker to ask this EXACT question!!! The phone system kept disconnecting me after 20 minutes on hold. SO FRUSTRATING. My interview was on Monday and they said I was approved for $714 Cash Aid but didn't tell me about CalFresh adjustments at all. I'm currently getting $578 for me and my daughter.

nobody answrred the original question... CalWorks DEFINITELY affects calfresh but ur always better off with both. i get $735 cash and $312 calfresh for me + 2 kids. Before cash i got $673 calfresh. Do the math, im better off by like $400!

One important thing to remember is that when you get approved for CalWORKs, you're automatically eligible for expedited CalFresh processing if you weren't already receiving it. So if there's any delay in your CalWORKs approval, you can still potentially get CalFresh benefits quickly. Also, make sure you submit your Semi-Annual Report (SAR 7) on time for both programs. Even though they're connected, you need to maintain eligibility for each program separately. Missing a SAR 7 deadline can cause both benefits to stop, which creates a much bigger problem than just the reduction in CalFresh. I always tell clients to think of total resources rather than focusing on one benefit decreasing. Your overall buying power will increase with CalWORKs even with reduced CalFresh.

Good question! In California, you'll use the same SAR 7 form for both CalWORKs and CalFresh. The form will have sections for reporting income, property, and household changes that apply to both programs. When you submit it, you're reporting for all your benefits at once, which makes things easier. Just make sure you complete all sections thoroughly and provide any requested verification documents.

Also want to mention that when you get CalWORKs, your children automatically qualify for free school meals without having to complete a separate application. And you might qualify for reduced-cost internet and phone services through California LifeLine. These additional benefits add even more value beyond just comparing the Cash Aid amount to the CalFresh reduction.

Just wanted to add that you should also ask your worker about the CalWORKs housing assistance programs when you get approved. Some counties offer additional rental assistance or help with security deposits that can make a huge difference alongside your Cash Aid and CalFresh benefits. Also, if you're looking for work or need job training, the Welfare-to-Work (WTW) program can provide childcare vouchers and transportation assistance - these aren't counted as income so they won't affect your CalFresh calculation. The whole CalWORKs package is really designed to help you get ahead financially, not just replace one benefit with another.