CalWORKs Success! Self-declaration form worked for in-laws' income verification & increased benefits
Just wanted to share a win with everyone here! My in-laws have been on CalWORKs for about 7 months, and last month they got this notice saying they needed to verify their income or benefits would stop. My father-in-law works odd jobs (landscaping mostly) and gets paid in cash, so he doesn't have regular paystubs. I was freaking out because they really rely on the Cash Aid to make ends meet. Thank goodness I found this group! Someone here suggested I could submit a self-declaration form for their income instead of formal documentation. I typed up a simple letter stating how much he makes per month and how the income varies based on available work. We submitted it through BenefitsCal, and I honestly didn't think it would work... But it did!! Not only did their benefits continue, but they actually got an INCREASE of $60/month because his reported income was actually less than what they had on file before. Just wanted to share in case anyone else is dealing with cash income verification issues. Forever grateful for the advice here! 🙏
14 comments
Join the conversation
NeonNova
So happy to hear this worked out! Yes, self-declaration forms are totally valid for CalWORKs income verification when you don't have standard documentation. The EW (Eligibility Worker) can accept written statements for exactly these kinds of situations. For anyone else reading this who might need to do the same thing: - Make sure to include specific amounts earned - Note frequency of payment (weekly, monthly, etc.) - Explain why standard documentation isn't available - Have the person earning the income sign and date it Also, remember they might need to complete a similar statement every SAR7 reporting period, so keep a copy of the format you used!
0 coins
Fatima Al-Hashimi
•Thank you for the additional tips! We didn't know about potentially needing to do this each reporting period. Do you know if we'll need to provide any additional verification at their annual redetermination? That's coming up in a few months and I want to be prepared.
0 coins
Dylan Campbell
That so awsome they got more cash aid! My case worker NEVER tells me bout these options and I feel like they want us to just give up sometimes. When my ex had cash jobs they kept saying I needed paystubs and I ended up losing benefits for 2 months cuz I cudnt provide them. Wish I knew bout this self declrtion form back then!!!
0 coins
Sofia Hernandez
•This is exactly why these forums are so valuable. The county workers are overloaded with cases and sometimes don't have time to explain all the options. For future reference, CalWORKs regulations specifically allow for self-attestation when traditional verification isn't available - it's in MPP Section 40-115.22. Don't give up if this happens again!
0 coins
Dmitry Kuznetsov
I tried using a self-declaration for my boyfriend's income last year and they denied it saying we needed third-party verification. Made us get a letter from his employer even though he gets paid under the table. Maybe it depends on which county you're in? I'm in San Bernardino.
0 coins
Ava Thompson
•Each county handles things differently sometimes. I'm in LA county and they made me do a sworn affidavit that had to be notarized!! Cost me $15 I didn't have to spare. The whole system is so frustrating.
0 coins
Miguel Ramos
BTW if anyone is having trouble getting through to their CalWORKs worker on the phone (which is like ALL THE TIME lol), I found this service called Claimyr that gets you through the phone queue. Saved me HOURS of waiting last month when I had to fix an issue with my WTW hours. Their website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE
0 coins
Fatima Al-Hashimi
•Oh this is good to know! We actually tried calling 3 times before submitting through BenefitsCal because I wanted to make sure we were doing the self-declaration correctly. Got disconnected every single time after waiting 45+ minutes. Will definitely check this out for their redetermination!
0 coins
Zainab Ibrahim
Question about the $60 increase - did they recalculate based on the new income amount or was this also because of the CalWORKs grant increase that happened in January 2025? My benefit went up by $45 automatically even though nothing changed with my situation.
0 coins
Fatima Al-Hashimi
•That's a good point! I'm not entirely sure. The worker didn't specify if part of it was from a general increase. All she said was that based on the new income verification, they qualified for more benefits. Maybe it was a combination of both?
0 coins
Ava Thompson
Congrats! But be careful cuz they might come back asking for more proof later. happened to my sister. She did the self declaration thing for her babysitting money and they approved it but then 3 months later they said she needed to provide statements from the parents she babysat for. Just saying keep any documentation you can just in case.
0 coins
NeonNova
•This is somewhat accurate but needs clarification. While they can request additional verification if they have reason to question the self-declaration, they can't just arbitrarily request it without cause. If this happens, you have the right to ask what specific inconsistency or information triggered the additional verification request. You also have the right to request a hearing if you believe they're not following proper procedures.
0 coins
Sofia Hernandez
I'm glad this worked out for your in-laws! Just wanted to add one important tip: make sure they report any significant changes in your father-in-law's income if it goes above the Income Reporting Threshold (IRT). Your approval notice should list what their specific IRT amount is. If his cash income ever exceeds that amount in any month, they need to report it within 10 days - even outside the regular SAR7 reporting period. Failing to report income over the IRT can result in an overpayment that they'd have to pay back.
0 coins
Fatima Al-Hashimi
•Thank you for this warning! I just checked their approval notice and their IRT is $2,800. His income varies month to month but it's typically around $1,500-1,800. Good to know we need to report if it ever goes above that amount. The cash aid is really helping them get back on their feet while he looks for more stable work.
0 coins