How to properly fill out SAR7 form for CalWORKs when nothing has changed in my situation?

Even if nothing has changed, you need to fill out EVERY section of the SAR7 completely. Never write 'no changes' or 'same as last report' - that's an automatic reason for them to consider it incomplete! Here's what you need to do: - For income sections: If you have no income, write '$0' or '0.00' in each box - For household: List everyone currently in your home, even if it's the same people - For property/resources: Check 'NO' if you haven't obtained any new resources - For address: Fill in your current address even if it hasn't changed Make sure you sign and date it, and KEEP A COPY of your completed form! I learned that the hard way when the county claimed they never received mine.

my worker told me to just check the NO boxes for the questions asking if anything changed but still fill out the current info for everything else. and ya definitely sign and date it!!!

I hate how confusing these forms are!! I lost my CalFresh benefits for 2 months because I didn't fill out something right on my SAR7 even though my situation was exactly the same! Why do they make it so complicated??? BTW if you're having trouble with your county worker, I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to a real person after being stuck on hold forever. They have a demo video (https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE) that shows how it works. Saved me when I needed to fix my messed up paperwork!

listen the SAR7 is a trap, i swear they make it confusing on purpose so they can kick ppl off. Last time I filled mine I wrote $0 for income but they discontinuited me bc I didnt attach a statment PROVING I had zero income!! Like how do you prove you have nothing?? make sure u write explanation for ANY blank spaces or they'll use that against u

For the property/resource question on the SAR7, you definitely need to mark NO if you haven't gotten any new property. But even if you mark NO, you still need to list what you already told them about before. I always put my old car (2007 Honda worth about $3000) in that section even though they already know about it, because my worker said all current resources need to be listed each time. And don't forget page 3 where you need to sign! My sister didn't sign her SAR7 and had to go through a whole appeal to get her benefits turned back on.

Here's a thorough checklist for completing your SAR7 when nothing has changed: 1. Housing Cost section: Write in your current rent/mortgage amount even if unchanged 2. Household section: List all household members including yourself 3. Income section: Write '$0' if no income or list exact amounts for the report month 4. Property/Resources: Check appropriate boxes and list items as required 5. Additional Changes: Mark 'NO' if nothing else has changed 6. Signature and date: Must be completed by you as the benefit recipient I also recommend submitting your SAR7 early (before the 5th) and keeping proof of submission. If you submit in person, get a receipt. If by mail, use certified mail or take a photo of the completed form before sending. If you've had problems with the county receiving your paperwork, you might consider using BenefitsCal.com to submit it electronically. This creates an automatic record of submission.

When I filled out my SAR 7 last year i left the property section blank cus nothing changed and they sent it back to me sayin it was incomplete and i almost lost my benefits that month! had to get an emergency food box from the community center. so defintely dont leave anything blank!

One more important tip about the SAR7: For the income verification section, even if you have zero income, you need to explain HOW you're meeting your basic needs. Write a brief statement like: "I currently have zero income. I am meeting my basic needs through my CalWORKs cash aid, CalFresh benefits, and support from family/friends." If you don't explain this, they often flag it for follow-up verification, which can delay your benefits. Also, make sure you're counting ALL income - even small cash gifts from family should technically be reported if they're regular.

Just wanted to add that if you're worried about making mistakes, many county offices have SAR7 workshops where they'll help you fill it out correctly. I went to one at my local DSS office and it was super helpful - they walked through each section and answered questions. Also, if you do mess up and get a notice about an incomplete form, don't panic! You usually have 10 days to fix it and resubmit. But definitely don't wait until the last minute like I did once - I had to drive to the office at 4:30pm on the due date to hand deliver my corrected form! One thing that's saved me is making a copy of a correctly filled out SAR7 to use as a template for next time. That way I know exactly what format they want for each section.

I've been through this exact situation! The key thing I learned is to treat each SAR7 like you're applying for the first time - fill out EVERYTHING completely even if nothing changed. A few things that really helped me: - I always fill it out as soon as I get it, not wait until the deadline - I use black ink only (my worker told me their scanners sometimes have trouble with blue ink) - For the income section, if you have $0 income, write "$0.00" in each box, don't leave them blank - In the additional information section, I always write "No changes to report since last SAR7" just to be extra clear One mistake I made early on was not reporting a $20 gift card my mom gave me for groceries. Technically any assistance counts as income, even if it's irregular. Now I err on the side of over-reporting rather than under-reporting. Also, if you submit by mail, I highly recommend taking a photo of each completed page before you send it. That saved me once when they claimed they never received mine - I was able to show them exactly what I submitted and when.

I've been dealing with SAR7 forms for about 3 years now and I completely understand your stress! The most important thing I learned is to be super detailed even when nothing has changed. Here's my personal routine that has never failed me: **Before filling it out:** - Make sure you have your last SAR7 copy to reference the exact way you filled it out before - Set aside at least an hour to do it carefully, don't rush **While filling it out:** - Write "NONE" or "$0.00" instead of leaving any box blank - For the household composition, list everyone with their full names and relationships even if it's identical to last time - In the remarks section, I always write something like "All information remains the same as previously reported on [date of last SAR7]" **The verification trap:** Even with zero income, attach a simple handwritten statement explaining your situation. Something like: "I currently have no employment or other income. I am supported by my CalWORKs benefits and assistance from family for basic needs." **Submission:** I always submit mine 5-7 days early and keep a copy with the date stamp or receipt. If submitting by mail, I use the online tracking or take it directly to the office. The system definitely feels designed to trip us up, but being overly thorough has kept my benefits consistent. You've got this!

Reading through everyone's experiences here makes me realize how many little details can trip you up on the SAR7! I've been on CalWORKs for about 8 months and just got through my second SAR7 successfully, but my first one was a nightmare. What really helped me was creating a simple checklist based on my approved form: - Fill out every single box, even if it's just "$0.00" or "NONE" - List all household members with full names and birthdates - Include ALL resources (even that old car or bank account with $5 in it) - Sign and date on the last page - Write a brief explanation if you have zero income One thing I learned the hard way - if you get any kind of one-time help (like someone paying your electric bill or giving you grocery money), report it! I didn't mention when my neighbor helped with groceries once and got flagged during a review. It's better to over-report than get caught not mentioning something. Also, my county worker told me they prefer if you submit it at least 3-4 days before the due date because it gives them time to call if they need clarification instead of just denying it. The whole process is definitely stressful, but being super thorough and treating each report like it's brand new has kept me out of trouble. Good luck with yours!

I've been helping people with SAR7 forms at our local community center and I want to emphasize something really important - ALWAYS make a copy before you submit! I can't tell you how many people have had their forms "lost" by the county office. Here's what I tell everyone: treat the SAR7 like you're painting a complete picture of your current situation, even if that picture looks identical to last time. The workers need to see the whole picture each time, not just the changes. A few additional tips from what I've seen work consistently: - Use capital letters for names and addresses (easier for their scanners to read) - If you receive any help from churches, food banks, or community organizations, mention it in the additional information section - For the "How are you paying your bills?" question when you have zero income, be specific: "CalWORKs cash aid, CalFresh benefits, occasional help from family for utilities" One last thing - if you're ever unsure about something, call the office and ask to speak with your eligibility worker BEFORE submitting. Yes, it's hard to get through sometimes, but it's better than having your benefits interrupted. Document who you spoke with and when in case there's confusion later. You're being smart by asking for help ahead of time instead of waiting until there's a problem!