Income Limits
From CalWORKs | Welfare Resources
The amount of money an applicant family is allowed to receive each month and still be eligible for CalWORKs depends upon how many people are in the family and the source of the income. Certain income is excluded in determining a family's eligibility. Commonly seen examples include:
- SSI benefits (Note 15) (the SSI recipient will not be included in the CalWORKs "Assistance Unit," and will not receive CalWORKs benefits). WIC § 11005.5; MPP 44-133.21; ACL 97-59 (see errata).
- Earned Income Tax Credits. 7 CFR § 273.8(e)(12).
- Federal and state student loans, public and private scholarships, and work-study income. WIC §§ 11008.9, 11008.10, and 11157; MPP 44-111.25; ACL 98-85.
- Federal Relocation or Disaster Relief benefits. 7 CFR §§ 273.8(e)(7); WIC § 11008.6.
Other income sources that are not counted are listed at MPP 44-111, et seq., and Appendix III: Excluded Income or Property of this manual.
Determining Whether an Applicant is Eligible
In determining whether an applicant is eligible, all other sources of countable income, aside from wages, are deducted dollar for dollar from the CalWORKs "minimum basic standard of adequate care" for a family of that size. WIC § 11450.12(a). This "needs standard" and the maximum aid grant are set forth in the Monthly Needs Standard, Maximum Benefit Rates, and Earned Income Eligibility Limits table. The "needs standard" amount is higher than the maximum grant the family would receive if it had no other income.) Thus, if a client with two children living in Region 1 receives $1000 from State Disability benefits in a month, she is ineligible for CalWORKs because the $1000 is greater than the $953 per month needs standard.
An applicant's monthly income from wages or salary is counted dollar for dollar after a $90 earned income disregard has been deducted. If the amount left over exceeds the need standard for a family of the same size, the family is ineligible. For example, if an applicant with two children living in Region 1 receives $1000 in wages each month, she is eligible for CalWORKs because the $910 in countable income is less than the $953 needs standard for a family of three. WIC § 11450.12(a); see MPP 44-133.54 for other examples of how income is counted in determining eligibility.
Once an applicant is found to be eligible for benefits, the actual amount of the CalWORKs grant the applicant will receive is calculated differently.
Notes
15. A person who “receives SSI/SSP” or who is an “SSI/SSP recipient” is someone who is considered to be receiving Supplemental Security Income benefits and has special SSI eligibility status under 42 U.S.C. § 1382h(b). ACL 01-35.
