CalWORKs worker demanding 1099 forms during redetermination - is this normal?

Yes, unfortunately they can ask for 1099s if they think you have self-employment income. The SAR7 and redetermination forms both ask about all income sources including self-employment. If your husband mentioned the handyman work during an interview or on any forms, they're required to verify that income even if it's minimal. They need to see the 1099 to calculate how much countable income to add to your household. If he doesn't have an official 1099, you can submit a written statement with a good faith estimate of his earnings from the side work. Include details like how often he does this work, average payment per job, and estimated monthly earnings. Have him sign and date it.

Oh that makes a little sense now. He did mention on one form that he sometimes does repairs for neighbors but it's so random - maybe $100-200 some months and nothing other months. But we didn't think it counted as actual income since it's not a real job with paystubs. So I guess we need to write up this statement? Will they accept that instead of an actual 1099?

they always making up new rules!! my worker tried to tell me i needed bank statements from my KIDS accounts. like wtf my 9 year old has a savings account her grandma set up that has like $75 in it why they need to see that?? the whole system is designed to frustrate u so much u give up. stand ur ground!!!

Actually, they do have the right to request bank statements for all household members, even children. Any assets in your child's name count toward the household resource limit of $10,000 for CalWORKs. But you're right that a worker shouldn't be rude or unprofessional regardless of what they're requesting - that part isn't okay.

I had a similar issue during my redetermination last month. Worker kept asking for additional verification after I'd already submitted everything on their list. What worked for me was calling the CalWORKs office and asking to speak with a supervisor about the repeated requests for documents that weren't originally requested.But honestly, getting through to anyone was a nightmare until I tried Claimyr (claimyr.com). They got me connected to a real person at the office in about 10 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours or getting disconnected. There's a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwEOnce I got through to a supervisor, they reviewed my case and confirmed which documents were actually required vs. what was optional. Saved me a lot of stress and prevented my benefits from being cut off while I was gathering extra paperwork.

Thanks for the tip about asking for a supervisor! I didn't know I could do that. And that Claimyr thing sounds useful - I've literally spent HOURS on hold only to get disconnected. I'll check out that video. Did the supervisor actually help resolve your issue or did you still have to provide all the extra documents?

This happened 2 me 2. They kept asking 4 more papers every time i turned something in. So annoying!!! But yeah if ur husband doing side work they gotta count it. My boyfriend fixes cars sometimes and they made him write down all the money he got from it.

What your worker is requesting is technically allowed but her behavior sounds completely inappropriate. If she was rude to you and your husband's employer, you should document exactly what happened (dates, times, what was said) and file a complaint. You have the right to be treated professionally.For the 1099 issue - if your husband doesn't receive official 1099s for his handyman work (which is common for very small jobs), he'll need to self-declare the income. Create a simple self-employment affidavit that includes:1. Type of work performed2. Monthly gross income (average if it varies)3. Any business expenses that can be deducted4. Net monthly income after expensesSign and date it, and include a statement that you're declaring this information under penalty of perjury. Make a copy for your records before submitting it.And remember, at the next redetermination, be prepared to provide this information upfront to avoid delays.

Thank you for explaining all this so clearly and for validating that her behavior is inappropriate. I started keeping notes of our interactions after the second time she was rude, so I do have records. Where exactly do I file a complaint? Is there a specific form or process for that?This self-employment affidavit sounds like exactly what we need. I'll work with my husband to create one tonight. We'll definitely remember to include this info upfront next time.

To file a complaint about your worker's behavior, you have two options:1. Ask to speak with your worker's supervisor at the county CalWORKs office2. File a formal State Hearing request using the form on the back of any Notice of Action you've receivedOption 1 is usually faster for resolving issues with worker conduct. Option 2 is more formal and typically used for benefit disputes, but can address worker issues too.I would strongly recommend calling the office and requesting a supervisor. Be specific about the unprofessional behavior (especially contacting an employer inappropriately, which can jeopardize employment).

All this stuff is such a headace. I couldnt deal with my worker being so agressive with all the paper stuff. I swtched to my mom's address for a while just to get a different caseworker at a different office lol... might not be the best solution but worked for me! Some workers are just on power trips.

Honestly I've thought about something like that too! But we just renewed our lease so we're stuck here for now. Plus moving just to get a new worker seems extreme, though I totally get why you did it!

I just wanted to follow up on my earlier comment. When you submit the self-declaration for the handyman work, make sure to include BOTH gross income AND expenses. Many people don't realize that for self-employment, CalWORKs allows a 40% standard deduction for business expenses if you don't want to itemize everything. So if he made $200 in a month, they would only count $120 as income after applying the standard deduction. This can make a significant difference in your grant amount calculation. Always take advantage of this if you're reporting self-employment income!

Wait, really?? I had NO idea about the 40% deduction. That's super helpful information! He definitely has expenses for tools and materials sometimes. We'll make sure to mention this on the statement. Thank you so much for this tip - it could really help our situation.

just wanted to update - I called the main CalWORKs office and asked about kids bank accounts and the lady said technically they CAN ask for them but most workers dont bother if its obviously just a small amount. so I guess it depends how picky ur worker wants to be 🙄

@OP To answer your follow-up question - yes, the supervisor actually did help resolve my issue! They reviewed my case notes and saw that I had already provided substantial verification. They agreed that some of the additional requests weren't necessary based on what was already in my file. They told me which specific documents were still needed (I did have to provide proof of my child's school enrollment, which was legitimate) and which ones I could skip. The supervisor also made a note in my file about the situation so my benefits weren't discontinued while I gathered the remaining documents.I'd definitely recommend trying to speak with a supervisor before giving up or getting too stressed out.

One other thing to consider - if your husband's self-employment income varies significantly from month to month, you might want to ask your worker about

Thank you! The income averaging sounds perfect for our situation. His handyman work is super unpredictable - sometimes neighbors need lots of help and sometimes nothing for weeks. Having a stable benefit amount would make budgeting so much easier.I'm definitely going to switch to written communication from now on. I've been calling her office, but you're right that I need a paper trail. I'll email her about the self-employment declaration we're preparing and see if she responds more professionally in writing.