Working and Keeping Benefits

At the end of 2022, I completed my master’s degree in counseling. The next step after completing my degree was to apply for my associate number. After waiting a few weeks, it finally came in, and I started job searching. I started sending out my resume and got a few interviews. This would typically be great news, but I quickly realized I should have considered the income I would make and how that would impact my current benefits. As the jobs were discussing the pay and benefits, they offered, I forgot that when I started working, my benefits would change or I would lose them altogether. I have worked so hard to earn this degree. These past nine years, I have gone to school without breaks to get my bachelor's and master's degrees.

I was injured at 15 years old and started receiving SSI after my injury. I finished high school and graduated with my class and friends. I was adamant about not taking a year off and getting held back because I wanted to graduate with all of my friends. When I finished high school, I went straight into my bachelor's, which I got in Human Services. After finishing my degree, I went straight into my master’s program. I have worked really hard to get where I am today. Now that I am ready and excited to work, I forgot to think about the restrictions of working and keeping my Medi-Cal insurance. I qualify for this insurance because I have a life-long disability and am considered low-income. I get In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) through Medi-cal, which helps pay for my caregiving. I can't afford to lose my caregiving hours. Even with my current job, I wouldn’t make enough to support myself and a caregiver. I’m okay with losing my SSI, it isn’t that much anyways, but I need my caregiving benefits.