SAR 7 Eligibility Status Report

What is the SAR 7 Eligibility Status Report?

The SAR 7 Eligibility Status Report is a form of the California Department of Social Services. The Department's All County Letter No. 24-06 describes it: "Under SAR requirements, specified households are generally required to submit a periodic report six months after their initial certification/application and six months after completing their recertification/redetermination. The SAR 7 is the required periodic report form."

Under the letter, from the date automation in the Statewide Automated Welfare System (SAWS) is complete, county welfare departments must provide a prepopulated SAR 7 to "recipients of the following programs who are required to report semiannually": CalFresh, the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP), California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs), Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA), the Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program (TCVAP) and Entrant Cash Assistance (ECA).

Not every household in these programs files the report. The letter says: "For some CalFresh households, a SAR 7 is not required six months after certification." It also says: "CalWORKs annual reporting/child only (AR/CO) households are not required to complete a SAR 7 report."

Which version of the report is on this page?

The Department's forms list includes a prepopulated report, SAR 7 (12/23), and a blank report, SAR 7B (12/23). The blank on this page is the blank version, marked "SAR 7B (12/23)", 14 pages.

The letter explains the difference. In the prepopulated report the household's information is already entered, and the report is tailored to the benefits the household receives. About the blank version it says: "Unlike the prepopulated SAR 7, the blank SAR 7B will not be tailored based on the benefits received by the household. In order to inform households of required versus optional questions, text has been included under each section to help determine which questions are required."

According to the letter, the blank version is for a household member who "wishes to print or pick up a copy of their SAR 7 and does not have access to the prepopulated version online or the CWD lobby" (CWD stands for County Welfare Department). The same letter asks counties, assistors and advocates to "encourage the use of the prepopulated form".

The first page of the form refers to instructions "included with this form". The blank on this page is the report alone. The Department's forms list has the instructions for the blank version as a separate file: SAR 7AB, How To Fill Out Your SAR 7 Eligibility Status Report.

What does the form ask?

The first page has the household's name, address and case details, a place for the submit month and four numbered notes. One of them says: "Check 'Yes' or 'No' for each question." The form marks questions for CalWORKs or other cash aid with a dollar sign and questions for CalFresh with a spoon and fork symbol.

The sections follow in this order, each with a line that says who has to answer it:

• Stop My Benefits. The form says: "You do not need to answer this question."
• Disability. The form says: "You do not have to answer these questions, but they may help you get other services or help."
• Contact Information, Household Members and Income. Each of these sections says: "If you get CalFresh, CalWORKs or other cash aid, you must answer this section, or your SAR 7 will be incomplete."
• Resources. The form says: "This section is for CalFresh only. Read below to see if you must answer this section."
• Expenses, with housing and utility costs, dependent or child care, child support and medical costs. The section opens: "This section is for CalFresh only. Telling us if you have any of the expenses below could increase your benefits. If you have had a change in address since you last reported, you must complete this section and tell us your new housing and utility expenses. If your address has not changed, you do not have to complete this section, but completing this section could help you get more benefits."
• Gambling or Winning the Lottery. The form says: "If you get CalFresh, you must answer this section, or your SAR 7 will be considered incomplete."
• CalFresh Work Requirement for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs). The form says: "This section is for CalFresh only. This is an optional question."
• Outstanding Warrant/Probation or Parole Violation. The form says: "If you get CalWORKs or other cash aid, you must answer this section, or your SAR 7 will be incomplete."
• Life Events. The form says: "You need to answer this section to keep your CalWORKs or other cash aid benefits."
• Sign and Date.

Two more notes of the first page concern every section: "If you need more space for your answers, write on a separate sheet of paper. Send the extra sheet of paper with your SAR 7 form." and "Sign and date the form on the last page. Attach any required proof. If you need help getting proof, contact or visit your county."

Who signs the report?

The last page says: "You need to sign and date this form, or it will be considered incomplete." It names who must sign:

• "For CalWORKs or other cash aid: You and your aided spouse, registered domestic partner, or other parent (of cash-aided children) if living in the home. (For two-parent households, a signature and date is required from both parents)."
• "For CalFresh: The head of household, a responsible household member, or the household's authorized representative."

The page has three signature lines, each with a date: one for the head of household, responsible household member, parent, caretaker or authorized representative of the household; one for a spouse, registered domestic partner or other parent living in the home, if applicable; and one for a witness to mark, interpreter or other person completing the form, if applicable. The signers declare under penalty of perjury that the facts contained in the report are true, correct and complete.

How is the report submitted?

The form says: "Ways to submit your form and proof: You can submit your SAR 7 and proof online at www.BenefitsCal.com, or to your county by mail, fax, phone, or in person." Next to the place for the submit month it prints: "To keep your benefits coming on time, submit this form by the 5th:". For help or questions the form says to call the county office.