CalFresh recertification with no formal income - how to report boyfriend's cash support?

they'll want you to list him as part of ur household if he lives with you and the kids. if he doesn't live with you, you need to report the cash as unearned income but ask for a "client statement form" where you can explain the situation. they might ask for a statement from him too. but def don't hide it cause that's fraud and they can check bank accounts.

For CalFresh recertification, you need to report all income, including cash gifts or support from non-household members. Since your boyfriend doesn't live with you, he's not part of your household, but the money he gives you counts as "unearned income" or "cash contributions." Here's what you should do: 1. On the recertification form (SAR7/SAWS2), report the cash as "other income" or "contributions" 2. Be ready to sign an affidavit (statement under penalty of perjury) explaining where the money comes from 3. The eligibility worker might ask your boyfriend to provide a written statement confirming the amount he gives you Being honest is important. The income might reduce your benefits slightly, but hiding it could lead to an overpayment case later which is much worse. They don't always ask for bank statements during recertification, but they can if they need to verify your information.

omg i literally went through this EXACT thing last year!!! except it was my baby's father giving me money while i stayed with my mom. they made me fill out a statement saying how much he gives me and how often and they counted it as "contribution income" but i still got benefits! just be honest because they can check ur bank statements if they want to and then you'd be in big trouble for fraud

be REAL careful with this! my sister got in trouble for not reporting boyfriend money and they cut her off for 6 months as a penalty. they said she committed fraud even tho she didn't know she had to report it. they made her pay back like $2000 in benefits too. the system is DESIGNED to catch people. they probably already know about your boyfriend from other government databases.

Just to clarify some information shared here. For CalFresh in 2025, when someone not in your household gives you money regularly, it's considered a "regular contribution" and must be reported. However, if your boyfriend isn't living with you AND isn't the father of your children, you don't need to include him in your household. At your recertification interview, explain your situation clearly. You'll likely need to complete a Statement of Facts (SAWS 2) and possibly a supplemental statement about the cash contributions. Be prepared with: 1. A written statement from you explaining your arrangement 2. A statement from your boyfriend confirming the amount and frequency 3. Any bank statements showing deposits (if requested) Also, since you mentioned WIC in your original post - remember that CalFresh and WIC have different reporting requirements, so make sure you're following the correct procedures for each program.

Have you tried calling the CalFresh office? I spent DAYS trying to get through about a similar situation and kept getting disconnected. Finally, I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person in like 15 minutes! You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8. Seriously saved me so much stress. Their website is claimyr.com - way better than waiting on hold for hours. The worker I talked to was actually super helpful and just had me write out a statement about my situation.

You need to tell them EXACTLY how much money your boyfriend gives you and how often. Don't round up or down. If it varies week to week keep a log for a month and calculate the average. They'll want you to fill out a "Statement of Financial Support" form. I'm pretty sure they can check your bank records even without asking you first - they have ways to verify everything these days.

hey btw dont forget u can also apply for calworks since ur taking care of kids with low income. its cash aid not just food benefits like calfresh. the income limits higher in 2025 too.

One more thing to consider: Make sure you're claiming all possible deductions during your CalFresh recertification. Since you have young children, you may be eligible for: 1. Child care deduction - even if a relative watches your children occasionally and you pay them 2. Medical expenses for the children if they exceed $35/month 3. Excess shelter costs if your rent/utilities are high relative to your income These deductions can significantly increase your benefit amount even after reporting your boyfriend's contributions. Remember to bring documentation of these expenses to your recertification appointment.

i didnt report my boyfriends money for like 2 years and nothing happened lol. they never checked my bank or anything. just sayin

I'm a case worker and wanted to add some practical tips for your recertification. When you go in, be upfront about your situation - tell them you're a stay-at-home mom receiving cash support from your boyfriend who doesn't live with you. They'll have you complete a client statement form explaining the arrangement. For the $500 weekly ($2,000/month), this will count as unearned income but likely won't disqualify you - it might just reduce your benefit amount slightly. The key is being honest from the start. If they do request bank statements later and see unexplained deposits, that's when you could face problems. Also, since you mentioned twins, make sure to ask about the dependent care deduction if you ever pay anyone to watch them, even family members. And with that high rent you mentioned in another comment ($1,850), you should definitely qualify for the excess shelter deduction which could help offset the income from your boyfriend's support. Good luck with your recertification!

I just went through my recertification last month with a similar situation! I'm also a single mom receiving regular cash from my ex (not through court-ordered support, just informal help). My caseworker was actually really understanding when I explained everything upfront. What helped me was keeping a simple notebook for about 6 weeks before my appointment where I wrote down every time he gave me money and the amount. Even though it wasn't always exactly the same, having that record showed I was being transparent about reporting it accurately. They had me fill out a client statement form explaining the arrangement, and they also sent a form to my ex to confirm the amounts. The whole process was way less scary than I thought it would be! My benefits did go down a little bit, but not nearly as much as I feared. And honestly, having everything documented properly gave me so much peace of mind. Don't stress too much - just be honest and bring any records you have. The caseworkers deal with situations like this all the time.