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

Wow really? That sounds way better than I thought! I was scared they'd just take the full amount. So basically I'd be able to keep most of what I earn from working? That would be amazing for saving up. Do I need to report my job right away or can I wait until the next SAR7?

This is only partially correct. You DO need to report your new job within 10 days if your total monthly income goes over your Income Reporting Threshold (IRT). Your IRT amount is listed on your last approval notice. If you're under your IRT, you can wait until your next SAR7 to report the job. But ALWAYS report if you go over IRT or you might end up with an overpayment you have to pay back!

Thanks for mentioning the childcare hours! I didn't even think about that. My youngest is still not in school yet so that would be a huge help. And good point about the tax credit too!

This is an important point. Your IRT (Income Reporting Threshold) is the maximum gross income you can have before you need to report it mid-period. If your income exceeds this amount consistently, you could become financially ineligible. The exact amount depends on your household size and is listed on your approval notices. For a family of 3 in 2025, it's around $2,880/month in gross income.

I had the same issue trying to report my income change! After getting disconnected five times, I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real worker in about 15 minutes. It basically holds your place in line and calls you when a worker picks up. Saved me hours of frustration. I think their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE So much better than going in person or wasting your day on hold. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked.

Didn't know about the resource limit, thanks! Nowhere near $10k in savings right now but good to keep in mind as a goal. And you're right about the time limit... I have about 36 months left on my clock according to my last notice. Getting work experience now makes sense.

Good luck with the job search! One last tip: if you haven't already, check with your county about their Job Club or employment services. Many counties offer free resume help and even have relationships with local employers who are looking to hire CalWORKs participants. Sometimes they even have special programs that can help with car purchase assistance after you've been working for a while.

This is really helpful advice! I hadn't thought about deducting work expenses - that could make a big difference. Quick question though - do I need to keep receipts for everything or is there a standard deduction amount? Also, thanks for the encouragement about the job search timeline. I was getting discouraged thinking it should happen faster, but 6 weeks sounds realistic. Did you find your job through the county employment services or just regular applications?

You definitely need to keep receipts for work expenses! The county will want documentation for things like uniforms, required tools, transportation costs, etc. There isn't really a standard deduction - they calculate it based on your actual documented expenses. I keep a small envelope in my car for all work-related receipts and organize them monthly. As for the job search, I actually found mine through regular applications at local businesses, but I did use the county's job club to help polish my resume first. They also did mock interviews which really helped my confidence. The county employment services are actually pretty good - they know which employers in the area are CalWORKs-friendly and understand the scheduling challenges parents face. Don't sleep on asking them for help!

You definitely want to keep receipts for work expenses! There isn't really a standard deduction - they calculate it based on your actual documented expenses. I keep a small envelope in my car for gas receipts and take photos of uniform purchases with my phone. My caseworker said the most common deductible expenses are transportation costs (gas, bus fare), work uniforms, and required tools or supplies. Some counties are more generous than others with what they'll allow, so ask your worker specifically what expenses they accept. As for finding my job, I actually found it through regular applications online, but I did go to the county Job Club first and they helped me redo my resume which made a huge difference in getting callbacks!

You definitely want to keep receipts for work expenses - don't rely on standard deductions! Things like uniforms, safety equipment, and transportation costs can really add up. I keep a little envelope in my car for gas receipts and take photos of uniform receipts with my phone so I don't lose them. For my job search, I actually found mine through a mix - went to the county Job Club first which helped me fix up my resume, then applied to about 15 places online. The county had a job fair too where I met the manager who eventually hired me. It's worth doing both! The county services are free and they really know what employers in the area are looking for.

You definitely want to keep receipts for work expenses - the county will want documentation if they audit your case. Things like uniforms, safety equipment, and transportation costs can usually be deducted, but they need proof. Some counties have a standard mileage rate for driving to work, but actual receipts for gas/parking are usually better if you can track them. As for finding jobs, I actually had better luck with regular applications than the county services. The county job club was helpful for interview practice, but most of the actual job leads I found through indeed.com and by walking into places directly. Grocery stores and pharmacies were surprisingly good about hiring people with flexible schedules. Just be upfront about your availability from the start - saves everyone time!

@Tasia Synder You definitely want to keep receipts for work expenses! The county will ask for documentation if they audit your case. For some things like mileage, you can use the standard IRS rate currently (67 cents per mile for 2024 ,)but for uniforms, tools, parking fees, etc. you need actual receipts. I found my job through a combo - went to the county Job Club first where they helped me with my resume and interview skills, then applied to places on my own. The Job Club actually gave me a list of employers in the area who regularly hire CalWORKs participants, which was super helpful. Some of them even have partnerships where they ll'work around your WTW activity schedule. Definitely worth checking out your county s'employment services before you start applying everywhere!

Hey @Tasia! You definitely want to keep receipts for work expenses - the county will ask for documentation when they verify your deductions. Things like uniforms, required shoes, gas for work commute, parking fees, and even some tools or supplies your job requires can usually be deducted. There's not really a standard amount since it varies by person and job type. As for finding work, I actually had better luck with regular applications than the county job services (though that might just be my area). I applied to places within walking distance or on bus routes first since I didn't have a car yet. Target, Dollar General, and local grocery stores were pretty understanding about my situation and flexible with hours. The key was being upfront about my availability during the interview - most managers appreciate the honesty rather than finding out later that you can't work certain hours because of kids.

You definitely want to keep receipts for work expenses! The county usually requires documentation for anything you want to deduct. There isn't really a standard deduction - they calculate it based on your actual expenses. Things like uniforms, safety equipment, gas for work commute, and even some childcare costs can often be deducted. As for finding jobs, I actually had better luck with regular applications than the county services at first. Applied at grocery stores, restaurants, and retail places within walking distance or on bus routes since I didn't have a car yet either. The county job club did help me practice interviewing though, which made a difference once I started getting calls back. @Noah huntAce420 is right about keeping realistic expectations - most places take time to get back to you, and some never do. But once you get that first job while on CalWORKs, you ll'see how much better your situation gets financially!

You definitely need to keep receipts for work expenses! There's no standard deduction - they calculate it based on your actual documented expenses. I keep a small envelope in my car for gas receipts and another one at home for uniform/work clothing receipts. Take photos of them with your phone too as backup. As for the job search, I actually found mine through regular applications online, but I did go to the county Job Club first and they helped me update my resume and practice interviewing. That made a huge difference in my confidence level! The Job Club also gave me a list of employers in my area who are CalWORKs-friendly and understand our situation. I'd definitely recommend checking with your county about their employment services even if you end up finding a job on your own.

You definitely want to keep receipts for work expenses! The county usually requires documentation for anything you want to deduct. Some common work-related expenses they'll allow include uniforms/work clothes, transportation costs, parking fees, and sometimes even childcare costs directly related to work hours. There isn't really a standard deduction - they calculate it based on your actual documented expenses. As for finding jobs, I actually had better luck with regular applications through Indeed and directly with employers than going through the county services. The county job club was helpful for resume tips, but the actual job leads were pretty limited in my area. I ended up getting hired at a local grocery store that was really understanding about my schedule needs with the kids. Don't be afraid to mention during interviews that you're reliable and motivated - a lot of employers actually prefer hiring parents because we tend to be more dependable!

You definitely need to keep receipts for work expenses - the county will want documentation if they review your case. There's no standard deduction, so actual receipts are important. I keep mine in a small accordion folder organized by month. For job hunting, I actually found mine through indeed.com, but the county Job Club really helped me write a better resume and practice interviewing. They also told me about some local employers who specifically like hiring people from their program, which was encouraging. The 6 weeks included a lot of "nos" but also helped me figure out what kind of schedule would actually work with my kids' school pickup times. Don't get discouraged - the right opportunity will come along!

You definitely want to keep receipts for work expenses! The county usually requires documentation for anything you want to deduct. Some common work-related deductions include uniforms, work shoes, transportation costs, and even childcare expenses directly related to working. There's usually not a standard deduction - they calculate it based on your actual documented expenses. As for finding jobs, I actually had better luck with regular applications at places like Target, McDonald's, and local grocery stores. The county job services were helpful for resume writing, but most of the actual job leads I found myself by just walking into places and asking if they were hiring. Don't be afraid to apply even if they don't have a "now hiring" sign - a lot of places have high turnover and are always looking for reliable people. Good luck with your search!