Can I submit a picture of my SAR 7 form through BenefitsCal instead of mailing it?

Yes, you absolutely can upload pictures of your completed SAR 7 through BenefitsCal! I've been doing this for over a year now. Just make sure all pages are clearly visible and all the information can be read (especially your signature). Take the pictures in good lighting and make sure nothing is cut off. Also, don't forget to include any required verification documents (pay stubs, letters, etc.) that go with your SAR 7. The county workers can see all of it once you upload.

I tried this last month and they STILL discontinued my benefits claiming they never got my SAR 7!! Even though I uploaded it AND could see it in my document history. Had to go in person and show them my phone with the upload confirmation. The worker said sometimes the system doesn't properly link the uploaded SAR 7 to your case. ALWAYS ALWAYS call to confirm they received it after uploading!!

I upload my SAR 7 through BenefitsCal every reporting period. Here's what I do: 1. Take clear pictures of EACH PAGE separately (front and back) 2. Make sure your case number is visible on every page 3. In the document type dropdown, specifically select "SAR 7" 4. After uploading, take a screenshot of the confirmation 5. Wait 2-3 days, then call your worker to confirm receipt I've had zero issues this way. If you just take one blurry picture of the whole thing, they'll probably reject it and you'll have to start over.

ya u can but sometimes my worker tells me the pics r 2 blurry and i gotta do it again so make sure light is good when u take the pics. also dont forget if u got income u need 2 take pics of ur paystubs 2 or they will cut u off

If you're having trouble getting through to your CalWORKs worker to confirm they received your SAR 7, try using Claimyr.com. I was in this exact situation last month - uploaded my SAR 7 but couldn't get through to confirm. Claimyr got me connected to a real person in about 15 minutes when I had been trying for days. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE. Totally worth it for the peace of mind knowing your SAR 7 was actually received!

I don't trust the upload system AT ALL anymore!!! Last time I uploaded my SAR 7 through BenefitsCal they said they never got it even though it showed in my documents. My benefits got cut off and I had to reapply from scratch and didn't get aid for almost 2 months! Now I always physically take it to the office and get a receipt. It's annoying but at least I know they have it.

Thanks everyone for all the advice! I'm going to upload each page separately with good lighting and select "SAR 7" from the dropdown. I'll also make sure to include my paystubs as separate uploads. Then I'll try to call to confirm they received everything. If I can't get through, I might try that Claimyr service that was mentioned. Just can't afford to have my benefits cut off right now!

my worker told me its better to upload SAR 7 than mail it cuz they can see it faster. but ya gotta call to make sure they actually look at it lol. the system is so broken i swear

I've uploaded my SAR 7 through BenefitsCal several times now and it works great! Just make sure to do it a few days before your deadline in case there are any issues. I learned the hard way that if you upload it the day before it's due and there's a problem, you might not have time to fix it. Also, if you have any doubts about the picture quality, take multiple shots and upload the clearest one. Better safe than sorry when it comes to keeping your benefits active!

Just wanted to add my experience - I've been uploading my SAR 7 through BenefitsCal for about 6 months now and it's been mostly smooth. One thing I learned is to make sure your phone camera is set to the highest quality before taking the pictures. Also, if any pages have signatures or handwritten parts, take an extra close-up shot of those sections to make sure they're super clear. I usually upload around the 25th of the month (well before the deadline) and then call 2-3 days later to confirm. The peace of mind is worth the extra phone call! Good luck Emily, you've got this!

I'm new to CalWORKs and this whole SAR 7 process is kind of intimidating, but reading everyone's advice here has been incredibly helpful! I'm definitely going to try the BenefitsCal upload method since it sounds like most people have had success with it. My plan based on everyone's tips: upload each page separately with good lighting, make sure to select "SAR 7" from the dropdown menu, include my paystubs, take screenshots of the confirmation, and then call a few days later to verify they received everything. It's reassuring to know there are so many experienced people here willing to share what works. Thanks for creating such a supportive community!