CalWORKs discontinued after incomplete SAR 7 - how to fix ASAP?

You don't need to completely reapply! You have 30 days from when your benefits stop to submit a complete SAR 7. This is called "curing" the SAR 7. Just go to your county office ASAP with all the income verification they need (pay stubs, written statement for cash income, etc). Make sure you fill out EVERY section of the form, even if it's just to write "N/A" or "0". They're super picky about blank spaces on the SAR 7.

omg same thing happened to me in january!! i hate those sar7 forms, theyre so confusing. make sure u sign the back page too, thats what i forgot and they cut me off without even calling me first

I work with CalWORKs recipients and this happens all the time. Here's exactly what you need to do: 1) Get a new SAR 7 form (from the office or download from BenefitsCal) 2) Complete it FULLY including the signature section 3) Bring ALL income verification: - Pay stubs - Written statement for cash income (include dates, amounts, source) - Bank statements if they request them Bring it in person and ask for a receipt. This gives you proof you submitted it. If you submit it before the end of the month, your benefits should be restored without interruption. If you wait until after they're cut off, there might be a gap before they're restored.

Try calling ur worker directly but good luck w that lol. Ive been on CalWORKs for 3 yrs and NEVER got through on those county phone lines. Always busy or they put u on hold then hang up after an hour. Total BS how they treat us.

wathc out when u resubmit that they dont mess up and lose it again!!! happened to me TWICE an i nearly got evicted. take a picture of every page with ur phone before u turn it in and get a receipt with a date stamp. these county workers dont care about us

Wait do u also get calfresh or just cash aid? Becuz if u get both they might of cut off both programs for the same resun. Check ur EBT balance to make sure.

Just to clarify some misinformation - if you cure your SAR 7 within the 30-day period, your benefits will be restored RETROACTIVELY to the beginning of the month. So even though there might be a few days where you can't access benefits, you will get the full month's amount once it's fixed. Also, the county is required to tell you EXACTLY what's missing on the SAR 7. Look at your discontinuance notice carefully - it should specify what information they need. This helps you fix only what's actually missing without creating new issues.

make sure ur address is updated with them too cause sometimes they send important notices to old addresses even if u told them u moved!!!

Hey Keisha, I went through this exact same situation last year and it was so stressful! Just want to add that if you're having trouble getting to the county office during regular hours (since you mentioned having 2 kids), some counties have drop-off boxes where you can submit your corrected SAR 7 after hours. Just make sure to take a photo of everything you're dropping off and get a receipt if possible. Also, if your county has online submission through BenefitsCal, that might be faster than waiting in those long lines. The key thing everyone's mentioned is true - you have that 30-day window to fix this, so don't panic! You've got time to gather everything and get it submitted properly. Hang in there mama, you've got this! 💪

I just wanted to add something that might help - if you're dealing with cash income from your job, ask your employer if they can provide you with a written statement too. Sometimes having documentation from both you AND your employer makes the county more likely to accept it without questioning. Also, if you have any text messages or emails from your boss about work/payment, screenshot those as backup evidence. I learned this the hard way when they initially rejected my self-written statement but accepted it when I came back with employer verification. The county workers seem to trust it more when it comes from multiple sources. Good luck getting this sorted out quickly!

I work at a nonprofit that helps families navigate CalWORKs issues, and I see this SAR 7 problem constantly. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you're really struggling to get everything together in time, you can request what's called a "good cause" extension. You have to show that there were circumstances beyond your control that prevented you from completing the SAR 7 on time (like not receiving proper notice, medical emergency, etc.). It's not guaranteed, but it can give you extra time to gather documents. Also, consider reaching out to your local legal aid office - many have CalWORKs specialists who can help advocate for you if the county gives you any pushback. Don't let them intimidate you - you have rights in this process!