Adding my sister to CalWORKs SAR7 without custody - what verification do I need beyond SSN?

You're doing the right thing by reporting her on your SAR7 since she's living with you. For a non-related child or teen, you generally need to provide: 1. Their Social Security Number (which you have) 2. Some proof they live with you (school records showing your address, medical records, or a statement from someone who knows your situation) 3. Information about any income she might have You don't necessarily need legal guardianship to include her on your CalWORKs case. You can be considered a "caretaker relative" if you're her sister. The county might ask for a statement explaining why she's living with you and how long you expect the arrangement to last. They'll likely want to see her school enrollment too, since teens under 18 need to be attending school regularly to qualify for benefits.

Ur supposed to report ANY household changes within 10 days not wait for the SAR7 js

When my nephew came to live with me, I had to provide a "Statement of Facts" form explaining our situation. They also asked for a letter from his mom, but when I explained she was unavailable (she was in rehab), they had ME write a statement explaining why I couldn't get her to sign anything. It was a HUGE hassle getting through to anyone who could actually help me through the process. Make sure you explain that adding her should INCREASE your grant amount since you'll be going from a household of 3 to a household of 4. Sometimes they miss that and don't adjust the payment.

I had similar situation with my cousin's kid living with me. The county gave me so much trouble because they kept saying I needed "formal guardianship" which isn't true! I ended up using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to actually get through to a real eligibility worker who knew the rules. They have this service where they connect you to a worker in minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. There's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE After I finally talked to someone knowledgeable, they explained I just needed to complete a CW 25 form (Statement of Facts to Support Eligibility) explaining our living situation. Since your sister is actually related to you, it should be even easier than my situation was.

make sure u report any income ur sister gets like if she has a part time job or gets child support or anything. they count all household income. also they might ask about your mom's situation since technically shes still legally responsible for ur sister. whn they added my little brother they wanted to know why my dad wasnt supporting him even tho he wasnt in the picture for years

THE COUNTY IS GONNA WANT TO KNOW WHY YOUR MOM ISN'T APPLYING FOR BENEFITS HERSELF AND WHY SHE'S NOT TAKING CARE OF HER KID!!! They'll probably report you to CPS for having a minor without proper documentation. BE CAREFUL what information you give them!!!

One thing nobody mentioned - if your sister is already on your mom's case, adding her to YOUR case could cause problems. The county might think you're double-dipping. Make sure your mom reports that your sister moved out if she hasn't already.

ur doin a good thing takin care of ur sis ❤️ the system makes everything so complicated when ur just tryin to help family. hope u get the extra benefits u deserve!

I went through something similar when my teenage brother came to stay with me. Here's what helped me get through the process smoothly: 1. **School records are your friend** - Get a letter from your sister's school showing she's enrolled with your address. This proves she lives with you and meets the school attendance requirement. 2. **Write a simple statement** explaining the situation - something like "My sister has been living with me since [date] due to our mother's health issues. This is expected to be a long-term arrangement." Keep it factual and brief. 3. **Don't stress about legal custody** - You're family, which makes you a qualified caretaker relative. The county deals with these situations all the time. 4. **Be prepared for questions about your mom's case** - If she's getting benefits for your sister elsewhere, the system will catch it. Just be honest about what you know and don't know. The good news is adding her should increase your grant amount since you'll be a larger household. Just make sure to emphasize on your SAR7 that she's been living with you full-time. The county wants to help families in situations like yours - you're not doing anything wrong by taking care of your sister during a difficult time.

Just wanted to add something that helped me when I went through this with my nephew - keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit. The county has a habit of "losing" paperwork, and having your own copies saved me from having to restart the process multiple times. Also, when you get that school letter, ask them to include the date she enrolled at your address. That creates a clear timeline showing when she moved in with you. Some schools will also note in the letter that she's been attending regularly, which shows stability. One more tip - if your worker seems confused about the caretaker relative rules or gives you wrong information, don't be afraid to ask to speak with a supervisor. Not all workers are familiar with these situations, but supervisors usually know the policy better. You have every right to include your sister on your case as long as she's living with you full-time.

I work with families in similar situations and wanted to share some additional resources that might help. The California Department of Social Services has a specific handbook section (MPP 82-823) that covers adding household members who are caretaker relatives - you can reference this if your worker seems uncertain about the process. One thing I'd recommend is asking your sister if she has her birth certificate or any medical records that show your family relationship. While not always required, having documentation that proves you're siblings can make the process smoother. Also, don't worry too much about your mom's current benefit status. When you add your sister to your case, the county's computer system will automatically check for duplicate enrollment across cases. If there's an overlap, they'll work with you to resolve it - it's not something that will get you in trouble. The most important thing is that you're providing a stable home for your sister during a difficult family time. The CalWORKs program is designed to support exactly these kinds of situations. Make sure to emphasize on your SAR7 that this is a long-term living arrangement, not just temporary babysitting.