Do CalFresh homeless aid payments require motel receipts as proof in California?

For the CalFresh homeless assistance special payment, California has a few different options for verification. Motel receipts are definitely one way to prove expenses, but they're not the only way. If you've been paying friends for staying with them, you might be able to get a written statement from them describing what you paid. Some counties also accept a self-declaration form where you explain your housing situation. Depending on your circumstances, you might qualify for the homeless shelter deduction ($171.88 for 2025) even without receipts. This is different from the special payment but still helps increase your benefits.

i went thru this last yr... u dont NEED motel receipts but they make everything easier. my worker was cool and let me write out where i'd been staying and how much i spent aproximately. but my friend had to get receipts. depends on ur worker i think

The homeless assistance through CalFresh (officially called the homeless shelter deduction) doesn't necessarily require motel receipts as proof. California regulations allow for various forms of verification: 1. Motel receipts are accepted, but not mandatory 2. Written statements from people you've paid to stay with 3. Self-declaration in some counties 4. Statements from homeless shelters if you've used them You also have the right to request a different verification method if the one they're asking for is difficult for you to provide. This is called "verification flexibility" and is part of CalFresh policy specifically to help homeless individuals.

I work with homeless clients applying for benefits, and I can tell you the rules are SUPPOSED to be flexible for housing verification when you're homeless, but in reality many workers don't know this or choose to ignore it!!! Ask specifically for a "self-attestation form" for your homeless situation. If they say no, ask to speak to a supervisor. The homeless shelter deduction ($171.88) should be added to your case even without receipts if you explain your situation properly. DON'T let them deny you this deduction!!!

When I was facing this situation last year, I had trouble reaching my worker for weeks. I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual person at the CalFresh office without waiting on hold forever. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8 Once I actually talked to someone, I explained my homeless situation and they accepted a written statement from me describing where I'd been staying. Didn't need motel receipts at all, though I did have a couple that I submitted. The key is actually getting someone on the phone who can help.

california is sooooo inconsistent with this! i got approved for the homeless thing without ANY receipts just by telling them i was couch surfing, but my sister (different county) had to provide all kinds of proof and paperwork. maybe try the online portal to upload a statement instead of calling? sometimes that works better

btw make sure ur actually asking for the right thing cuz theres like 3 different homeless programs... the calfresh homeless deduction is different from the emergency housing payment from calworks and also different from the homeless assistance program... i got super confused about this when i applied

Update: I called using that Claimyr service someone suggested and finally got through! The worker I spoke with said I could use a self-declaration form since I don't have consistent receipts. She's sending it to me to fill out. She also mentioned that the homeless shelter deduction is automatically applied if you have no permanent address. Thanks everyone for your help!

Congrats on getting through! That's such a relief when you finally connect with someone who knows what they're talking about. For anyone else reading this thread - the self-declaration form Evelyn mentioned is sometimes called a "CF 285" or "Statement of Facts" form depending on your county. You can usually find it on your county's human services website too if you want to get ahead of the process. The key thing is being honest and detailed about your housing situation. Even if you're staying with friends irregularly or sleeping in your car sometimes, that still qualifies you for the homeless shelter deduction.

This is such valuable information for anyone dealing with homelessness and CalFresh applications! I went through a similar situation about 6 months ago and wish I had known about the self-declaration option earlier. My worker initially told me I needed official receipts too, but when I pushed back and mentioned the verification flexibility rules, they were able to work with me. One thing I'd add is that if you're staying in your car, that also counts as homeless for CalFresh purposes and you can still get the shelter deduction. Don't let them tell you otherwise! Also, some counties have homeless liaisons specifically trained to help with these applications - it might be worth asking if your county has one.

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now and this thread has been incredibly helpful! I had no idea about the verification flexibility options. My case worker kept insisting I needed official motel receipts, but after reading all these responses, I'm going to call back tomorrow and specifically ask about the self-declaration form and mention the CF 285 form that Emma mentioned. It's frustrating how inconsistent the information is between different workers - seems like some know the rules and others don't. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the tip about asking for a supervisor if the worker says no to alternative verification methods. This gives me hope that I won't lose out on the homeless shelter deduction just because I don't have a pile of receipts!

I'm currently going through the CalFresh application process and this entire thread has been a lifesaver! I had my interview last week and when I mentioned being homeless, my worker said I'd need to provide receipts for any housing expenses to get the "extra homeless money." I didn't even know what that meant at the time, but now I understand it's the homeless shelter deduction. Like others have mentioned, I've been staying with different people and sometimes sleeping in my car when I can't find a couch to crash on. I have maybe 2 motel receipts from the past month but that's it. Reading about the self-declaration option and verification flexibility gives me so much hope! I'm going to call back tomorrow and specifically ask about the CF 285 form and mention the verification flexibility policy by name. One question for those who've been through this - if you're approved for the homeless shelter deduction, does it get added to your benefits immediately or does it take effect the next month? I'm really hoping to get this sorted out soon because every little bit helps when you're in this situation. Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences and knowledge!

I'm a newcomer to this community and just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this thread has been! I'm currently in a similar situation - recently became homeless and applied for CalFresh about two weeks ago. My eligibility worker mentioned something about "additional assistance for homeless applicants" but was very vague about what documentation I'd need. Reading through everyone's experiences here has given me so much valuable information I didn't know before - especially about the self-declaration option and the CF 285 form. I had no idea there was something called "verification flexibility" or that the homeless shelter deduction was an actual policy with a specific dollar amount ($171.88). I've been staying in my car most nights and occasionally with friends when possible, but like many others here, I don't have a collection of official receipts. The fact that vehicle dwelling counts as homeless for CalFresh purposes is something my worker never mentioned! I'm going to call my county office tomorrow armed with all this knowledge - specifically asking about the self-declaration form, mentioning verification flexibility by name, and requesting to speak with a homeless services coordinator if they have one. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and knowledge. It's amazing how much more confident I feel about advocating for myself now!

I'm new to this community and currently going through a CalFresh application as a homeless individual. This entire thread has been incredibly eye-opening! My worker initially told me I needed motel receipts for any "homeless assistance," but after reading everyone's experiences, I realize there are so many options I wasn't told about. I've been staying in my car and occasionally with friends who let me crash on their couch, but I rarely have official receipts. The information about self-declaration forms, verification flexibility, and the specific CF 285 form is exactly what I needed to know. I had no idea that vehicle dwelling qualified as homeless for CalFresh purposes or that there was a specific homeless shelter deduction amount. What really stands out to me is how inconsistent the information seems to be between different workers. Some people get approved easily with just a written statement, while others are told receipts are mandatory. It's frustrating that getting the help you're entitled to often depends on which worker you happen to get. I'm planning to call tomorrow and specifically ask about the homeless shelter deduction, mention verification flexibility by name, and request the self-declaration option. If they push back, I'll ask to speak with a supervisor or homeless services coordinator. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences - it's given me the confidence to advocate for myself properly!

I'm new to this community and just went through a very similar experience! I applied for CalFresh about a month ago while homeless, and my initial worker also insisted I needed motel receipts for any homeless assistance. After reading this thread, I wish I had known about all these options earlier - it would have saved me weeks of stress! What finally worked for me was calling and specifically asking for the "homeless shelter deduction" by name, rather than asking about general "homeless assistance." That seemed to help the worker understand exactly what I was requesting. I also mentioned that I had been "residing in temporary accommodations" (using the official language someone mentioned) and asked about verification flexibility. The worker was much more helpful once I used the proper terminology. They sent me a self-declaration form to fill out, and I was approved for the $171.88 deduction without needing any receipts. I just had to describe my housing situation - staying with friends sometimes, in my car other times, occasional motel stays when I could afford it. One tip I'd add: when you fill out the self-declaration form, be as specific as possible about dates and locations, even if approximate. I wrote things like "stayed with friend on Main Street 3-4 nights in January, paid $20 for gas money" or "slept in vehicle at 24-hour parking areas approximately 10 nights this month." The detail seemed to help even without official receipts. This community has been such a valuable resource - thank you all for sharing your experiences and knowledge!

I'm new to this community and currently in the process of applying for CalFresh while homeless. This thread has been absolutely invaluable - I had no idea about most of these options! My worker told me the same thing about needing motel receipts, but I've been primarily staying in my car and occasionally with friends who let me use their couch. I rarely have official receipts for anything. Reading about the self-declaration form (CF 285), verification flexibility policy, and the specific homeless shelter deduction amount ($171.88) has given me so much hope. I was starting to think I'd have to give up on getting the additional assistance because I don't have a stack of motel receipts. The tip about using specific terminology like "homeless shelter deduction" instead of vague "homeless assistance" seems crucial - it sounds like workers respond much better when you know the exact terms. I'm also going to ask about homeless services coordinators since my county might have specialized workers who actually know these policies. One question for those who've been through this process: if I fill out the self-declaration form, should I include times when I've slept in public places like parking lots, or focus mainly on the times I've stayed with people or paid for shelter? I want to be thorough but also want to make sure I'm presenting my situation in the most helpful way possible. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and knowledge - this community has been a lifeline for understanding my rights and options!