Benefits-Cliff Check

More income is supposed to mean more money — but for people on income-tested benefits, a raise can cost more in lost help than it adds in pay. That's the benefits cliff, and it blindsides people into being worse off for working more. This maps how your benefits phase out, gives a rough read on whether a specific change helps or hurts net, and flags the hard cliffs — so you decide with eyes open and get a real screening before acting.

What This Skill Produces

• A phase-out map — which of your benefits taper gradually vs. cut off at a hard income line (food assistance, Medicaid/health subsidies, childcare help, housing assistance, EITC)
• A rough net read — for a specific raise/hours/new job, a plain estimate of whether you come out ahead, flat, or behind after benefit changes
• The hard cliffs to watch — the benefits that vanish suddenly at a threshold (often childcare, Medicaid, housing) where a small raise can cost a lot
• Cliff-softening moves — options like pre-tax contributions, timing, or transitional-benefit programs that ease a threshold
• A "get it screened" pointer — where a benefits counselor can run your actual numbers (this is a directional read, not a calculation)
• A decision frame — accept, negotiate differently, or plan the income increase in steps

Required Inputs