CalWORKs proof of income requirements - confused about what to include on statement?

they want evry single money u get, not just paystubs. like if u get child support or side jobs or cash gifts from family. they made me list every dollar i got for 30 days b4 i applied. its super annoying

For a CalWORKs proof of income statement, they typically need documentation of ALL income received in the 30 days prior to your application date. This includes: - Pay stubs (which you've already provided) - Self-employment income documentation - Child support payments (received or paid) - Unemployment benefits - Disability payments - Cash gifts over $30 - Any other money received If you have income sources without formal documentation (like cash jobs), you'll need to write a statement listing: 1. Source of income 2. Amount received 3. Dates received 4. How often you receive it Sign and date this statement. For your employer, you might need to get a letter on company letterhead verifying your employment, hourly rate, and hours worked if your pay stubs don't show this clearly.

I went through the EXACT same thing last month!! It's so frustrating how they don't explain what they need clearly. I ended up having to write a self-declaration statement because I do some babysitting that's paid in cash. I just wrote it on notebook paper - date, who paid me, how much, and why (babysitting). Then I signed it and dated it. My worker accepted that + my regular job paystubs. But then they called me back asking about a $200 deposit in my bank account that was actually just my sister paying me back for groceries! 🙄 Had to explain that too.

Yes, you should definitely include the pet sitting income! Even if it's irregular, all income must be reported. You don't need to proactively provide bank statements unless specifically requested, but be aware they may ask for them later if they need to verify deposits. For the pet sitting, create a simple statement like: "I, [your name], earn occasional income from pet sitting. In the 30 days before my application dated [date], I earned the following amounts: - $XX on [date] from [client name] - $XX on [date] from [client name]" Sign and date it, then submit it with your other documentation.

ive been on CalWORKs for 3 yrs and I HATE dealing with workers over the phone. alwyas on hold forever then they transfer u and u get disconnected. u know what saved me so much time? Claimyr. it gets u thru to a real worker in like 5-10 mins instead of waiting hours. i used it to talk to someone about my income verification last month when they were asking for pay stubs from a job i already quit. u can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE and the site is claimyr.com

it totally works! saved me from getting cut off when i had problems with my SAR7 too. my case was about to close and i couldn't get thru to anyone until i used it

Pay stubs sometimes aren't enough because they only show GROSS income. CalWORKs needs to know your NET income (what you actually take home). Make sure you're providing proof of all deductions too - taxes, health insurance, retirement, etc. And they need ALL income sources verified, not just your main job. Also, if your hours/pay fluctuate, they need to establish a pattern. So even if you sent 2 pay stubs, they might need more to determine your average income. I work for a community assistance org and I always tell clients to just overshare documentation rather than undershare - send everything you have for the last 30-60 days.

Your worker should have given you a form called CW 2200 (Income Report) to fill out. Did they mail you any forms? This is the typical form they use for income reporting. If they didn't send it, ask for it specifically when you call back.

just so u know they might also want bank statements not just proof of income!! they made me submit 3 months of statements because they were looking for "unreported income" after i submitted my proof. such a pain

One more tip: When you submit your income documentation, include a cover sheet that lists exactly what you're providing and what income sources each document covers. This helps prevent confusion and additional requests. For example: "Income Documentation for [Your Name]: 1. Main job: ABC Company pay stubs (4) for dates XX-XX 2. Pet sitting income: Self-declaration statement for dates XX-XX 3. One-time gift: Self-declaration for $XX received on [date]" This clear organization has helped many clients avoid the back-and-forth of multiple requests.

I work as a CalWORKs eligibility specialist and want to clarify something important that might help everyone here. When we ask for "additional documentation for proof of income," we're often looking for verification of income that shows up in your application but isn't fully documented. For example, if you mentioned on your application that you sometimes do side work or receive help from family, we need proof of that too - even if it's just a handwritten statement from you with dates and amounts. Also, Brooklyn, since your rent is due soon, you can ask your worker about expedited processing if you qualify for emergency aid. If your household has less than $150 in cash/checking and your monthly rent/mortgage is more than your monthly income, you might be eligible for aid within 3 days instead of the usual 30. Make sure to ask specifically about emergency CalWORKs when you call back!

Hey Brooklyn! I went through this exact same situation a few months ago and it was so stressful. What really helped me was calling the county office and asking to speak with a supervisor when my worker wasn't being clear. The supervisor was able to explain that they needed a complete income breakdown for the 30 days before my application date. I ended up creating a simple chart with columns for: Date | Income Source | Amount | How Received (cash/check/direct deposit). Then I listed EVERYTHING - my regular job, the $25 I got from selling some old clothes on Facebook Marketplace, even the $40 my neighbor paid me for watching her dog one weekend. The key is being thorough and honest about every single dollar. They'd rather have too much information than too little. And definitely ask about that emergency aid that Freya mentioned - I wish I had known about that option when I was waiting for approval! You got this! The process is confusing but once you get all the documentation together, it should move pretty quickly.

I'm dealing with something similar right now! My worker asked for the same thing and I was so confused at first. What helped me was making a list of literally every penny that came into my household in the past month - even small amounts like $10 my aunt gave me for gas or the $15 I made selling something on Craigslist. I wrote it all on a regular piece of paper with the date, who gave it to me, and why. Then I signed and dated it. My worker accepted that along with my pay stubs. They really do want to see EVERYTHING, no matter how small it seems. Also, if you're struggling with rent due next week, definitely ask about that emergency aid option that was mentioned! I didn't know that existed either. Good luck - this process is overwhelming but you'll get through it!

Hey Brooklyn! I just went through this same exact thing last month and I totally get how frustrating it is when they don't explain clearly what they need. What worked for me was creating a comprehensive income statement that covered every single source of money for the 30 days before my application. Here's what I included: - All pay stubs from my regular job - A handwritten statement listing ANY cash income (even $20 from babysitting my cousin) - Documentation of any gifts over $30 - Any money from selling items online - Basically every dollar that came into my household For the handwritten part, I just used regular paper and wrote: "I, [my name], received the following additional income in the 30 days prior to my CalWORKs application dated [date]:" Then I listed each amount with the date and source. The key thing is they want to see that you're reporting EVERYTHING honestly. Don't leave out small amounts thinking they don't matter - they do! And definitely ask about emergency CalWORKs since your rent is due soon. That 3-day processing could really help your situation. You've got this! The process is confusing but once you get all the documentation together it should move quickly.

Just wanted to add something that might help - if you're having trouble getting through to your worker by phone, try going to the office in person if you can. I know it's a pain, but sometimes showing up with all your documentation in hand can speed things up. Bring multiple copies of everything too! Also, keep detailed notes of every conversation you have with your worker - date, time, what they told you, what they're asking for. I learned this the hard way when my worker forgot they had already asked me for something and wanted me to resubmit it. For your income statement, make sure you also include any regular monthly expenses that might affect your net income calculation - like if your job deducts for health insurance or if you pay child support. They need the full picture of money coming in AND going out. Hope this helps and that you get approved quickly! The emergency aid option sounds like it could really save you given your rent deadline.