Is a 'no income statement' just a signed letter for CalFresh verification?

Yes, a no income statement is usually just a self-written letter explaining how you're supporting yourself with no income. Make sure to include: 1) Your name and case number 2) Statement that you have no income 3) Explanation of how you're covering basic needs (family help, savings, etc) 4) Time period covered 5) Your signature and date. Some counties have a form, but most accept a simple letter. Don't wait for mail - write this up today and submit through BenefitsCal or drop it off at your county office to avoid delays.

OMG I went thru this exact situation last month!!! They are SO SLOW with mailing forms. I waited 2 weeks and finally called to ask about it. The worker said I could just write it myself but never told me that initially?!!? So frustrating. I wrote a letter saying "I have no income from any source including employment, self-employment, unemployment, disability, child support or any other source" and signed it. Got approved 4 days later. Hope this helps!!

The 'No Income Statement' is just a self-attestation document that you write yourself. It should include: 1. Your full name and case number 2. Clear statement that you have no income from any source 3. Explanation of how you're meeting basic needs (who's supporting you) 4. Signature and date If you're receiving help from your cousin, you should mention that, but be careful - if your cousin is buying food specifically for you, that could be considered income. If they're just covering rent/utilities and you buy your own food, make that clear. No need for notarization - just a signed statement. Upload it to BenefitsCal ASAP or call your worker to confirm receipt. If you're having trouble reaching your worker by phone, I recommend trying Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they'll get you through to a live person at the county office without the endless hold times. They have a quick video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/eZ19FHRETv8?si=_CXnXqNXbLl26WB8

I had to do this for my recertification in January. I wrote a letter saying I had no income and was living off my savings. They denied me anyway because they said I didn't explain HOW I was paying my bills with no income! Had to appeal and explain everything all over again. Make sure you're VERY specific about how you're covering ALL expenses - housing, utilities, phone, transportation, everything. The more detail the better.

u dont need fancy letter just write it on regular paper n sign it thats what i did. they just need something in your file to cover their a** if theres an audit later. as long as u sign and date it ur good

I think the general consensus is clear - yes, it's just a self-written statement. But I want to point out something important: this document is legally binding. If you state you have no income but are actually working under the table or have other unreported income, that's fraud and can result in serious penalties including paying back benefits and potentially legal consequences. CalFresh regularly matches their records with tax filings, unemployment data, and other systems. Always be 100% honest on these statements.

Update: I wrote the letter with all the details everyone suggested and uploaded it to BenefitsCal yesterday. Just got a text message that my application was approved! The no income statement worked. Thanks everyone for your help! For anyone else reading this later - definitely include how you're covering ALL your expenses (rent, utilities, food, phone, etc) and be specific about who's helping you if applicable.

Congrats on getting approved! This is such a helpful thread - I'm bookmarking it because I'm sure I'll need to do this when my recertification comes up. One question for the group: if someone is helping with groceries occasionally (like a parent buying groceries once a month), does that need to be reported as income? I want to make sure I'm prepared and don't run into issues like some of the experiences shared here.

This is such a comprehensive thread! I'm currently dealing with a similar situation and this has been incredibly helpful. One tip I'd add for anyone else going through this: if you're uploading your no income statement through BenefitsCal, make sure the image is clear and all text is readable. I had to resubmit mine twice because the photo was too blurry and they couldn't read my signature. Also, keep a copy for your records - you might need to reference it later during recertification or if any questions come up. The whole process is stressful but knowing what to expect really helps!

Just wanted to add my recent experience since this thread has been so helpful! I went through this process last week and want to emphasize something that wasn't mentioned yet - if you're receiving any kind of assistance from charities, food banks, or churches, you should probably mention that too in your statement. I initially didn't think to include that I get meals from a local food pantry twice a month, but my worker asked about it during the interview. It didn't disqualify me (food assistance isn't counted as income), but she said it was good that I mentioned it because it showed how I was supplementing my food needs. Also, if you have any documentation like bank statements showing your savings balance, it can help support your claim that you're living off savings rather than unreported income. The whole process took about 2 weeks from when I submitted my statement to approval.