CalWORKs discontinued after incomplete SAR 7 - how to fix ASAP?
My CalWORKs Cash Aid just got cut off because I apparently didn't fill out my SAR 7 completely. I got the discontinuance notice yesterday saying my case was closed effective end of this month! I'm freaking out because my rent is due next week and I was counting on that money. The notice mentions something about missing income verification but honestly I thought I included everything. My job pays me in cash sometimes and I might have messed up those calculations. Has anyone been through this? Can I just submit a new SAR 7 form with the correct info, or do I have to reapply for CalWORKs completely? I'm a single mom with 2 kids and can't afford to lose these benefits right now.
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GalaxyGuardian
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.
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Keisha Robinson
•Thank you so much! Do I need to make an appointment or can I just walk in? The county office is always so packed...
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Paolo Ricci
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
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Amina Toure
•The county workers are REQUIRED to attempt contact before discontinuing benefits for incomplete SAR 7s, but most don't bother. They just send the notice and cut people off. It's ridiculous. They should at least call when someone's benefits are at risk!
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Oliver Zimmermann
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.
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Keisha Robinson
•This is super helpful! I don't have all my pay stubs because sometimes my boss just gives me cash. Will a written note from me explaining that be ok?
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Oliver Zimmermann
•Yes, for cash income you can submit a written statement. Include: - Who paid you - Dates you worked - Amount paid - Sign and date it But be consistent with what you report! If they find income you didn't report later (through tax records, etc.), you could face an overpayment and potential fraud investigation.
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Natasha Volkova
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.
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Javier Torres
•I found a service called Claimyr that really helped me get through to my worker when I had a similar SAR 7 issue. It holds your place in line and calls you back when a worker is available. Saved me hours of holding! Check out their demo at https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE - their website is claimyr.com. Seriously helped when I was desperate to get my case fixed.
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Natasha Volkova
•For real?? Im gonna check that out, been trying to reach my worker for weeks about my WTW hours
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Emma Davis
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
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GalaxyGuardian
•This is actually great advice. Always document EVERYTHING when dealing with the county. Take photos of all documents before submission, get receipts, write down names of who you spoke with and when. It's saved me many times when they claimed they "never received" something I submitted.
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CosmicCaptain
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.
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Keisha Robinson
•OMG I didn't even think to check my CalFresh! Just checked and you're right - they cut that off too. Now I'm really worried because we need food AND rent money.
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Oliver Zimmermann
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.
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Amina Toure
•Good point! And if the notice DOESN'T specify what's missing, that's grounds for an appeal. They legally must tell you exactly what information they need to process your eligibility.
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Paolo Ricci
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!!!
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Keisha Robinson
•My address is correct but I wonder if that's why I didn't get any warning before the discontinuance notice. Usually they send a reminder about the SAR 7 first, right?
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