Working part-time with CalWORKs: Will they reduce my Cash Aid if I get a job?

You can ABSOLUTELY work while getting CalWORKs! They actually have something called the "earned income disregard" that helps you keep some of your earnings. The first $500 of income you earn each month is completely disregarded. Then they only count 50% of anything you earn above that amount toward your CalWORKs grant calculation. So let's say you earn $1000/month at your part-time job: - First $500 is disregarded completely - Of the remaining $500, only 50% ($250) counts as income - So only $250 of your $1000 would count toward reducing your grant This is designed specifically to encourage work and help people save up like you're trying to do. You'll definitely come out ahead financially by working part-time.

i worked while on CalWorks last year and they didnt take it all but they did reduce my cash aid some. the other person is right about the 500$ thing. its actually good cuz u end up with more money total when u work. just make sure u report it!!

Adding to what others have said: working part-time while on CalWORKs is one of the BEST ways to transition to self-sufficiency. Not only do you keep most of your earnings with the income disregard, but working also counts toward your Welfare to Work (WTW) hours requirement. Another benefit people don't realize: when you work, you might qualify for more childcare hours through the CalWORKs childcare program. And working can help you qualify for a higher Earned Income Tax Credit when you file taxes. Definitely go for that part-time job. Just make sure you get pay stubs for everything and keep them organized for when you need to report.

be carefull tho, if u make 2 much they will cut u off completely. happened 2 my sister when she got a job at target. they didnt tell her there was a limit and then suddenly no more calworks. make sure u know ur IRT

when i started my job i had the WORST time trying to report it. called the county for THREE DAYS straight and kept getting disconnected. ended up just going to the office and waiting for 4 hours in person. waste of a sick day i could have used for something else

One thing to consider that hasn't been mentioned - if you're planning to save for a car, be aware of the CalWORKs resource limits. Currently, you can have up to $10,000 in assets (including savings) and still remain eligible. For a vehicle you intend to purchase and use, the equity value can be exempt if you'll use it for work/daily living activities. Thinking long-term, working part-time while on CalWORKs is beneficial because: 1. You gain work experience and recent job history 2. You increase your total income through the earned income disregard 3. Your CalWORKs time clock (48-month limit) continues running whether you work or not, so working helps you prepare for when benefits eventually end Just be diligent about reporting income correctly to avoid overpayments.

my caseworker told me that if ur using ur calworks to meet ur wtw hours u might also qualify for the transportation allowance too which could help before u get ur car

Thanks everyone for the helpful answers! I'm definitely going to apply for some part-time jobs now. Sounds like I'll be able to keep enough of what I earn to make it worthwhile. I'll make sure to check my IRT before I start and report properly if I go over it. Really hoping to save enough for a car by the end of the year!

Great advice from everyone here! Just wanted to add that when you do start working, keep track of ALL your work-related expenses like uniforms, gas, parking, etc. You can deduct some of these from your earned income when calculating your CalWORKs grant, which means you get to keep even more of what you earn. My county worker helped me figure this out and it made a real difference. Also, if you're looking for part-time work, retail and food service jobs are usually pretty flexible with scheduling around your kids' needs. Don't give up if the first few applications don't work out - it took me about 6 weeks to find the right fit but it was so worth it!

Just wanted to share my experience as someone who's been working part-time with CalWORKs for about 8 months now. Everything people are saying about the income disregard is true - you really do come out ahead financially! I work about 25 hours a week at a grocery store and between my job and reduced CalWORKs, I'm bringing in about $400 more per month than I was on benefits alone. One thing that really helped me was asking my caseworker to calculate exactly how my grant would change before I started working, so there were no surprises. They can run the numbers for you based on your expected earnings. Also, don't forget that working might make you eligible for additional benefits like expanded CalFresh (food stamps) or help with childcare costs through the Alternative Payment Program. The hardest part for me was juggling the work schedule with everything else, but having that extra income has made such a difference. I was able to get my car after about 6 months of saving, and it's opened up so many more job opportunities. You've got this!

I've been working part-time while on CalWORKs for about a year now and it's definitely worth it! The earned income disregard really does help - I make about $800/month and only about $150 of that counts against my grant. What really helped me was starting small with just 15-20 hours per week so I could get used to balancing everything with my kids' schedules. One tip that saved me a lot of stress: when you do find a job, ask your employer if they can be consistent with your schedule. I told mine upfront that I'm a single parent and need predictable hours, and they've been really accommodating. Also, keep ALL your pay stubs organized from day one - you'll need them for reporting and it makes everything so much easier when SAR7 time comes around. The transportation struggle is real before you get that car, but many counties have bus vouchers or rideshare assistance for people starting new jobs. Ask your caseworker about it! Good luck with your job search - you're making a smart move that will pay off in the long run.

I'm in a similar situation and this thread has been so helpful! I've been hesitant to look for work because I was afraid of losing my benefits, but hearing everyone's real experiences with the earned income disregard makes me feel so much more confident about taking that step. One question I haven't seen addressed - for those who are working while on CalWORKs, how do you handle it when your hours vary from week to week? Like if some weeks you work 15 hours and other weeks you work 25 hours? Do you report based on your average monthly earnings or do you have to report every time your weekly hours change significantly? I'm looking at retail jobs and most of them seem to have pretty variable scheduling, so I want to make sure I understand the reporting requirements before I start. Don't want to accidentally mess up my benefits by not reporting correctly!

This thread is amazing - thank you all for sharing such detailed, real-world experiences! As someone who's been on CalWORKs for about 6 months now, I was also really nervous about how working would affect my benefits. Reading everyone's actual examples with dollar amounts and time frames makes it so much clearer than the confusing paperwork they give you. I'm especially grateful for the tips about asking your caseworker to run the numbers beforehand and keeping organized pay stubs from day one. Those are the kind of practical details that can save so much stress later on. One thing I'm curious about - for those who've been working part-time while on CalWORKs, have you found that having that work history helped when you eventually applied for full-time positions? I'm thinking long-term about building toward complete self-sufficiency, and I'm wondering if employers view part-time work experience while receiving benefits positively or if it even matters to them. Either way, you've all convinced me that working part-time is definitely the right move. Time to update my resume and start applying! Thank you for creating such a supportive and informative discussion.