CalWORKs cash income verification - what proof will they accept if I'm paid under the table?

Ugh they always make this so hard!! I had same problem when I was babysitting for cash. They made me write a statement saying how much I make each month, who pays me, and have the people I worked for sign it. Its called a affidavit or something? But some workers are pickier than others tbh

What you need is an "Affidavit of Income" form. Your eligibility worker should have provided this to you, but you can also download it from the county website or pick one up at the office. For cash work like house cleaning, you'll need to fill out this form stating: 1. The type of work you do 2. How often you work (weekly, monthly, etc.) 3. Your average monthly income 4. Why you can't provide traditional verification Ideally, have some of your regular clients sign it as verification, but if that's not possible, you can self-attest in many counties. Keep a simple log of your jobs - dates, amounts paid, and client name (first name only is usually fine) to show during your interview if asked. Some counties also accept written statements from your clients if they're willing to provide them. This is a common situation, so don't worry too much. They deal with cash income verification regularly.

i just wrote down all my jobs on a piece of paper with how much i made and they accepted it lol but my worker was pretty chill

They made me jump through SO MANY HOOPS for this exact situation last year. First they told me a handwritten note was fine, then they said no it has to be notarized (wtf), then they changed again and said I needed to have my "employer" fill out some form. I don't even HAVE an employer! I do gig work! The system is designed to fail people who don't have traditional jobs with paystubs. By the time I finally got approved, I was 2 months behind on rent. The whole thing is ridiculous. You might want to bring bank statements too if you deposit any of your cash - that helped me prove at least some of my income.

You need what's called a "CalWORKs Self-Employment Affidavit" or sometimes just "Income Affidavit." Since you're doing house cleaning as independent work, this is technically self-employment income. Here's exactly what you should do: 1. Contact your eligibility worker and request this specific form 2. Start keeping a simple income log NOW (date, client, amount) even if it's just a notebook 3. If you have any business expenses (cleaning supplies, transportation), track those too as they can be deducted 4. If possible, get at least one regular client to write a simple note confirming they pay you for housecleaning If you're having trouble reaching your worker to get the right form, try calling the general CalWORKs number at your county. I had so many issues reaching my worker I recently found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually get through to a real person at the county. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE - saved me hours of being on hold and getting disconnected.

this is why i always tell people to just get paid thru venmo or cashapp!! makes it so much easier to prove income when applying for benefits. just sayin for future reference

I work for a CBO that helps with CalWORKs applications and this is a very common issue. Here's what typically works: 1. Self-attestation form (your county might call it different things) 2. A simple income/expense ledger (can be handwritten) 3. Client statements (if possible) 4. Bank statements showing cash deposits If your worker is giving you a hard time, ask to speak with their supervisor. Some workers don't fully understand the verification rules for cash income. CalWORKs regulations specifically allow for alternative verification methods when traditional documentation isn't available. Also, if you're struggling to get through to your worker, be persistent and keep detailed notes of when you call and who you speak with. Many counties are severely understaffed right now, which makes communication difficult.

someone told me u can use text messages if u got any from clients talking bout the cleaning and payment??? might help if u got those

Update: I finally got through to my worker! She's emailing me a self-employment affidavit form and said I should bring any supporting documentation I have to my next appointment (receipts, client texts, calendar showing jobs, etc). She said even without perfect documentation they'll work with me. Such a relief! Thanks everyone for all the helpful suggestions.