Will my $2,000 savings disqualify me from CalWORKs Cash Aid? Resource limits explained

Yes, CalWORKs does have a resource limit, but it's actually $10,000 as of 2024 (it was raised from the old $2,000 limit). So you're fine with your $1,800 savings - you have plenty of room to build up more emergency savings without risking your benefits. This is part of the changes California made to help families build financial stability while receiving aid. They don't regularly check your bank accounts, but you do need to report your resources on your Semi-Annual Report (SAR 7) and during your annual redetermination. Always be honest about your savings because if they do an eligibility review and find unreported assets, you could face an overpayment situation.

ur friend is giving u old info. CalWorks resource limit is way higher now. i think they changed it like 2 yrs ago? i have like $3500 saved up and still get my benefits no problem. they want ppl to have some savings now.

The resource limit for CalWORKs is currently $10,000 per family (as of January 1, 2024), and it doesn't matter how many people are in your assistance unit. They also completely exempted retirement accounts, education savings accounts, and 529 college savings plans from counting toward the resource limit. Here's what counts toward your resource limit: - Cash on hand - Money in checking and savings accounts - Stocks, bonds, mutual funds - Second vehicles (your primary vehicle is exempt) - Property other than your primary residence Here's what DOESN'T count: - Your home (if you own it) - One vehicle per adult in the household - Retirement accounts (401k, IRA, etc.) - Education savings accounts - Personal property and household goods You report your resources on the SAR7 every six months and at annual redetermination. I always recommend keeping statements showing your account balances for the first of the month they ask about.

When I applied last year, they definitely asked for my bank statements and counted all my savings. My worker specifically told me not to go over the resource limit, but she never mentioned what the actual amount was! The system is so frustrating because different workers tell you different things. I ended up spending down my savings because I was scared of losing benefits, and then had a car emergency the next month with no safety net. 😡 If I had known the limit was $10K, I would have kept that money for emergencies! Does anyone know how to file a complaint about workers giving incorrect information?

i think everyone's confused because the rules are different for calfresh (food stamps) vs calworks (cash aid). food stamps i think still has a lower limit. i get both and its super confusing which rules apply to which program lol

When I tried calling the county office to ask about this exact question, I was on hold for over 2 hours and then got disconnected. Tried three more times with the same result. Finally I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me a callback from a caseworker within 20 minutes. The worker confirmed the $10,000 limit and explained exactly what assets count. Saved me days of frustration! They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE if anyone else is struggling to get through to their county office.

BE CAREFUL!!! They do random checks on bank accounts! My cousin had her benefits stopped because they found out she had $2,300 in a savings account she didn't report. This was last year so maybe the rules changed but they definitely do check and they can see accounts even if you don't tell them about them!!!

that $2000 limit was so stupid anyway!!!! how are we supposed to ever get ahead if we cant save anything??? its like they want to keep us poor forever. at least now with the higher limit we have a chance to save for things like car repairs or moving costs without losing benefits

my worker told me about a special savings program 4 calworks people where u can save even MORE and it doesnt count. its called IDA accounts i think? something about matching ur savings? anybody know about this?

Thanks everyone for all this helpful information! It's such a relief to know that I can save up to $10,000 without losing our benefits. I'm going to talk to my worker about the IDA program too - that sounds amazing if I can get matched savings. Really appreciate this community - my worker never explained any of this properly, and I've been unnecessarily stressed about my small savings. Going to start putting aside a little each month for emergencies without worrying now!

I'm so glad you found this helpful! It's really frustrating how many of us have been given outdated or incorrect information about the resource limits. I went through the same stress when I first started receiving CalWORKs - my worker made it sound like having any savings at all would disqualify me. Just wanted to add that when you do talk to your worker about the IDA program, make sure to ask about all the asset-building programs available in your county. Some counties also have financial counseling services that can help you create a savings plan and budget. And definitely keep good records of your account balances - I take screenshots of my bank statements on the first of each month just in case I need them later. It's awesome that you're thinking ahead about building an emergency fund for your kids. That's exactly what these policy changes were meant to encourage - helping families achieve financial stability instead of keeping us trapped in poverty. You're doing great as a mom! 💪