A CalWORKs beneficiary took to her social media platform to share her experience after receiving a paycheck of $1,300 while being out of work due to pregnancy. However, this payment was still not enough, as she went further to express her frustration. In her words, “I’m still very poor.” Her post quickly gained attention, with other netizens chiming in about their own struggles with public assistance programs in California. Her story highlights the challenges of relying on government aid while trying to become financially stable.
What is CalWorks, and who qualifies?
CalWORKs (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids) is a state program that provides cash aid and services to eligible low-income families with children. It is designed to help people become self-sufficient through work, training, and education.
To qualify, you must:
- Have a child under 18 (or be pregnant).
- Meet income and resource limits.
- Be a California resident.
- Participate in work-related activities unless exempt.
Why did her paycheck affect her CalWorks benefits?
Many people assume that any income helps, but for those receiving public assistance, even a small paycheck can reduce their benefits. In the case of the woman who shared her frustration online, her $1,300 paycheck was enough to lower her CalWORKs cash aid, making it harder for her to cover basic expenses.
Here is why this happens:
- CalWORKs calculates benefits based on total income, not after-tax earnings.
- The program gradually reduces cash aid when you start earning money.
- If your income goes above the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT), you must report it, which may result in losing benefits.
What is the income reporting threshold (IRT), and why does it matter?
The Income Reporting Threshold (IRT) is the income level at which you must report earnings to your county. If your income exceeds this amount, your CalWORKs benefits may be reduced or stopped.
- A single-person household’s IRT is often around $1,184 (though it can vary).
- Exceeding the IRT can result in losing food assistance (CalFresh) along with cash aid.
- Some recipients may qualify for Transitional CalFresh, which temporarily maintains food benefits.
Can you still get help after losing CalWORKS benefits?
If you’ve lost your cash benefits, don’t fret because there are other programs out there that can help you such as:
- Transitional CalFresh: Preserve food assistance for five additional months if CalWORKs was terminated due to increased income.
- Post-aid Services: Transportation assistance may enable former recipients to get to work.
- Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program: For pregnant women and children who are under 5, WIC provides food and nutrition assistance.
Why are people frustrated with CalWorks?
Most beneficiaries end up in a worse position. While the program is intended to make families independent, the design of benefits creates a situation where it is hard to transition in a smooth manner into financial independence. Some of the biggest frustrations are:
- A little more money as income can mean a big loss in benefits.
- Cash aid is so low that even the maximum of $795 for one person is not enough to pay for rent, food, and other necessities.
- Many are unaware of other forms of assistance, such as Transitional CalFresh or transportation assistance.
This woman’s story is just one example of how difficult it can be to live on public assistance while trying to earn a lot more.
