IRT for CalFresh stands for Income Reporting Threshold. It is the income level at which a CalFresh household must report a change in income to the county, separate from their regular periodic reporting. When the household's total monthly gross income exceeds this threshold, they are required to report it within 10 days. This helps the county recalculate benefits accordingly. Key points about IRT for CalFresh:
- IRT is based on household size and is listed on the SAR 2 form sent to recipients.
- If your monthly income goes above your IRT, you must report this mid-period to avoid receiving more benefits than you qualify for.
- Reporting income over the IRT may lead to a reduction in benefits but does not usually lead to immediate termination of benefits unless the income consistently exceeds eligibility limits.
- If income stays below the IRT, you report changes only during regular reporting periods.
- The purpose is to ensure benefits are adjusted timely and accurately.
- You can report by phone, mail, or in person to your county agency.
- Not reporting income changes that exceed your IRT may result in an overpayment that you must repay and potential penalties for fraud if done intentionally.
In summary, the IRT is a threshold that triggers a mandatory income report to CalFresh outside of regular reporting periods to keep benefit amounts accurate and fair based on current income levels. Benefits might be reduced if income goes over this limit but typically will not be terminated immediately for a single month over the threshold. This system ensures timely updates to benefit eligibility and amounts. This is a federally mandated rule implemented in California's CalFresh program to manage income reporting and benefit adjustments efficiently. Your specific IRT amount depends on your household size and income situation and is communicated to you by your county through official notices.
