Cash Assistance Earned Income Disregard for 2026-2027
Effective June 1, 2026, the earned income disregard for Cash Assistance (CA) households with earned income will be set at 65%.
All recipient households on CA who have earnings are allowed certain earned income disregards (EID) when calculating their cash grant: 65% earned income disregard and an additional $150 general disregard after.
The Office of Temporary Disability Assistance adjusts the EID annually on June 1st of each year.
Scenario 1: Here’s what a simple CA budget breakdown would look like (numbers reflect monthly amounts):
A CA household size of 3, with 2 children under 18. Head of household begins to work and earns $1,300 gross per month. CA will apply the following earned income disregards:
$1,300 x .65 earned income disregard = $845. $1,300 – 845 = $455.
$455 - $150 = $305, total countable earnings.
The full CA grant for HH size of three is $789 - $305 countable earnings = $484 the new CA grant amount.
Scenario 2: Single person earning $1,100 gross per month:
$1,100 x .65 earned income disregard = $715, is disregarded. $1,100 - $715 = $385 is counted. An additional $150 may be applied. $385 - $150 = $235, total countable earnings.
The full CA grant for HH size of one is $398.10 - $235 countable earnings = $163.10 the new CA grant amount.
Benefits Plus Online Subscribers can learn more about the CA earned income budgeting, as well as budgeting unearned income and more, go to Cash Benefits, Cash Assistance, Budgeting Income.
