If you receive CalFresh, Medi-Cal, or CalWORKs, you must complete the SAR 7 report once a year (6 months after your application and annual renewal. If you do not send in a complete SAR 7 report, your benefits may be delayed, changed, or stopped, or cause an overpayment that you will have to pay back. In this post, we will walk you through how to fill out SAR 7 form for CalFresh.
First, we will explain what The Semi-Annual Report (SAR 7) is about.
Next, we will provide the timeline for when the report must be completed.
Also, we will provide a link to download a printable pdf version of the form.
Additionally, we will walk you through a step-by-step process on how to fill out all the questions on the form.
Lastly, we will explain how to submit the form online or in person.
This post will cover:
- What is SAR 7
- When Do I have to Complete SAR 7 Process?
- SAR 7 Checklist
- What is an Incomplete Semi-Annual Report form (SAR 7)?
- How to fill out SAR 7 Form for CalFresh
- When Should SAR 7 Form be Signed and Dated?
- When is the SAR 7 Report Due?
- How Do I Submit SAR 7 Form?
- How to fill out SAR 7 Form Video
What is SAR 7
The Semi-Annual Report (SAR 7) is required to keep receiving your CalWORKs, CalFresh, and/or General Assistance benefits. For most households, your SAR 7 is due on the 5th of the sixth month after your application or last annual renewal.
All households that receive CalFresh benefits must complete a SAR 7 documenting their income, property, and any changes to their household.
The SAR 7 must be submitted to the Social Services Agency by the date requested or your CalFresh benefits could be discontinued.
When Do I have to Complete SAR 7 Process?
First, 6 months after you apply for CalFresh, you are required to fill out and submit an Eligibility Status Report (SAR7).
Next, 12 months after you apply for CalFresh, you are required to fill out and submit the Annual Re-certification Form.
The table below provides a timeline on when you need to complete your SAR 7 and Recertification based on the month you applied for CalFresh.
| Initial CalFresh Application | SAR-7 Timeline | Recertification Timeline | |||
| 1 | January | June | 5th | December | 5th |
| 2 | February | July | 5th | January | 5th |
| 3 | March | August | 5th | February | 5th |
| 4 | April | September | 5th | March | 5th |
| 5 | May | October | 5th | April | 5th |
| 6 | June | November | 5th | May | 5th |
| 7 | July | December | 5th | June | 5th |
| 8 | August | January | 5th | July | 5th |
| 9 | September | February | 5th | August | 5th |
| 10 | October | March | 5th | September | 5th |
| 11 | November | April | 5th | October | 5th |
| 12 | December | May | 5th | November | 5th |
SAR 7 Checklist
It is important that you complete your SAR 7 form accurately.
If your form is turned in incomplete, it will delay the delay or even lead to a pause in your benefits.
As the image below shows, your Sar 7 Report is considered complete when all the following tasks are completed:
- All of the YES/NO questions are answered;
- You have filled in all the requested information
- All of the proof required is attached with the form
- The required signatures are on the form
- The form is signed, dated after the last day of the report month.
What is an Incomplete Semi-Annual Report form (SAR 7)?
The CalFresh office will consider a SAR 7 report incomplete if:
- It is signed before the first day of the submit month; or
- The report does not list sufficient information to locate the household
- The head of household (or its authorized representative) did not sign the report form; or
- The eligibility questions are not fully answered or verified.
How to fill out SAR 7 Form for CalFresh
We have provided a step-by-step process below on how to fill out SAR 7 form for CalFresh, CalWORKs, and Medi-Cal.
After you have finished reviewing the process below, you will learn the:
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- Step by step instructions on how to fill out SAR 7 Form for CalFresh correctly
- Details about when and how to turn in your SAR 7 form
- When your SAR 7 report is considered complete
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Download a Printable SAR 7 Form (PDF)
To be able to follow along with the instructions below, first, you have to download a printable SAR 7 form and then fill it out by following our step-by-step process below.
Click here to download the form.
SAR 7 FORM – Fill out PDF Online
Now, follow the instructions below to complete the form.
Step 1 – Report Month
The first step is to make sure you pay attention to the Report Month. All income and any changes that happened during the Report Month must be reported, as shown above.
Your SA7 7 form must be submitted by the 5th day of the Submit Month.
However, if you do not submit your SAR 7 form by the due date, it can result in one of the following – Your benefits could be:
- Delayed
- Changed
- Stopped
Additionally, failing to submit your form by the due date could lead to an overpayment, which will have to be paid back.
Step 2 – Do you want to Stop your Benefits?
Next, complete the section shown above if you want the county to STOP any of the following benefits you are receiving:
- CalWORKs (Cash Aid)
- Medi-Cal
- CalFresh
If you do want your benefits stopped, then check the appropriate box that applies, as shown in the image above.
Then sign and date your SAR 7 report.
However, if you only checked some benefits to be stopped but you plan to continue to receive other benefits, here’s what you need to know:
The rest of the SAR 7 report must be completed. Continue reading below for help in completing the rest of the form.
Step 3 – Answer the 13 Questions on the Form
The third step in the SAR 7 form completion process is to answer all the 13 questions on the form, if applicable.
Remember, the SAR 7 form is considered incomplete if you fail to answer all the questions that apply to the benefits you are receiving.
Failure to answer applicable questions may result in your benefits being canceled, delayed, or paused.
To help you answer the questions on the SAR 7 form, we have included below:
Each of the 13 questions and what you need to know to answer each question.
Also, we have included what proof you need to attach.
After you have reviewed the questions below, you will have all the information you need to successfully complete the SAR 7 form.
Continue reading below for details.
Questions 1 – Household Information
This question indicates if anyone has moved into or out of the home since the last report. This will include:
- Newborns
- People who are temporarily absent from the home
- Anyone who died
- Anyone who entered or left a hospital or institution (such as jail or prison, etc)
If question #1 is answered “Yes”, then you must fill out the date the person moved in or out of the house.
Also, you must fill out the person’s name, date of birth, and the person’s relationship to you.
Additionally, you must also indicate if new members of the household purchase and prepare their meals with the household.
Questions 2 and 3 – Address Change and Housing Cost
If there has been an address change since the last report and you checked “Yes” for question #2, then you must:
Fill out the new address and the mailing address if it is different from the physical address.
Additionally, you must fill out the date you moved to this new address.
Question #3 is only completed if there has been a change in your housing cost or utilities.
To do this, review your utility bills, rent, or mortgage statement to see if there has been a change in your payment.
This includes property taxes and home insurance if that is paid separately.
Furthermore, if you are receiving CALFresh, verification of the rent or mortgage expense may be required.
Also, if your rent or mortgage has increased because of the move, CalFresh benefits may increase.
Questions 4 – Violation of Probation or Parole
This section applies to CalWORKs (Cash-Aid) only.
The question applies to anyone already living in the home who had any of the things listed happen since the last report:
Furthermore, it also applies to anyone who moved into your household who is running from the law or in violation of parole/probation.
If you marked the question “Yes”, then you must fill out:
- The person’s name
- Place or State where the incident occurred, and
- The date the warrant was issued or the violation occurred
However, if this information was previously reported to the county, then it does not have to be reported again.
Questions 5 to 7 – Expenses
This section is very important as it may change the amount of your CalFresh benefit.
That is because it may lower the income the county counts as part of your benefits eligibility and could increase your CalFresh benefit amount.
If you are age 60 or older or you are disabled, you need to report any changes to your out-of-pocket medical costs (Question #5).
Also, if there is child support being paid, any changes in the amount paid must be reported (Question #6).
Additionally, for any CalFresh household, any changes to the costs for a child or adult-dependent care needed for work or training should be reported (Questions #7).
You must attach proof of any changes regarding questions 5-7.
This will help the county determine if more benefits can be issued to you.
Questions 8 – Property
Anyone in the household who received bought, sold, traded, spent, or gave away any property must be listed.
Check the appropriate box that applies.
Property includes:
- Land
- Homes
- Cars
- Bank Accounts
- Money Payments
- Gifts
- Loans
Money Payments include lottery or casino winnings, retroactive social security benefit payments, tax refunds, etc.
As the image amount shows, your SAR 7 report must include:
- Whose Property
- Type of Property
- When it Change
- The Value of the Property or Amount
Questions 9 – Employment Income
All income from employment for all people in the household must be listed.
This includes:
- Wages
- Self Employment Income
- Training Allowances
- Benefits
- Other income received in the Report Month
You must list the gross income amount on the SAR 7 report. That is income before taxes or deductions.
Furthermore, information for more than one job or individual may be entered if applicable, as shown in the image above.
Additionally, if actual expenses or loss of a job are being claimed, you must attach proof or verification of income or self-employment expenses.
Proof of Job Loss includes, but not limited to:
- A letter from the employer
- Unemployment Benefits Award Letter
- A Signed Written Statement (if no other verification is available).
Questions 10 – Changes in Employment Income
If you check “Yes” on question 10, it means that you anticipate a change in your income in the next six months.
In that case, you must state the reason for the change in income, how much the anticipated change will be, and when the change is expected.
However, if you check “No”, then it means you do not anticipate any change in your income and that your income will be the same.
If that is the case, then the income reported will be used as income for the next 6 months.
For example, if you have been offered a job and you know how much your hourly wage is going to be, and the start date, then you must still report.
This is still necessary even if you have not started the job or have been paid yet.
Additionally, on-call or fluctuating schedules must be reported on the Sar 7 form.
You must attach proof of any changes in income.
Proof of employment income includes but not limited to:
- Check Stubs
- Copies of the Checks
- Statement from the employer
- Tax statements (for self-employed individuals)
Questions 11 – Other Income
All other income from any other source must be listed, with proof.
If you have income from other sources, check the “Yes” box. Examples of other income include but not limited to:
- Social Security Benefits
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
- Unemployment Compensation
- Veterans Benefits
- State Disability Insurance (SDI)
- Child/Spousal Support
- Worker’s Compensation
- Lottery Winnings
- Legal or Insurance Settlements
- Loans
- Gifts
- Free Rental, Housing, Utilities, or Food Assistance, etc
If you checked “Yes” to question #11, you must:
List the name of the person in the household who received the money, where they got the money from, whether it is a one-time payment or monthly, and how much they received.
Additionally, you must attach proof.
Proof of other types of income includes but not limited to:
- Check Stubs
- Copies of the Checks
- Award letter from the agency the money was received from
Questions 12 – Changes in Other Income
If you check “Yes” on question 12, it means that you anticipate a change in the income you receive from other sources in the next six months.
Examples of changes include an increase or decrease in income or benefits, or if you anticipate that you will start or stop getting the income or benefit.
However, if you check “No”, then it means you do not anticipate any change in your income from other sources.
Proof of changes in other types of income includes but not limited to:
- Check Stubs
- Copies of the Checks
- Award letter from the agency the money was received from
Questions 13 – Any other Changes
This question is for CalWORKs/Cash Aid program only. It relates to all other things that could change eligibility for Cash Aid or the amount of benefit received.
You must check all items on the list that apply to your household and attach proof.
Step 4 – SAR 7 Form Signature Section
You must sign and date your SAR 7 form in order for it to be considered complete.
Remember, the form must be signed and dated after the last day of the Report Month listed at the top.
Here’s who must sign the SAR 7 Form:
For those receiving CalWORKs, here’s who must sign the form:
- The primary applicant
- Aided Spouse
- Registered Domestic Partner or other Parent of cash-aided children living in the home
However, for those receiving CalFresh, here’s who can sign the form:
- The Head of Household
- Authorized Representative
- Any responsible household member
Additionally, any person who fills out the SAR 7 report, an interpreter, or any withness to a mark must sign for both CalWORKs and CalFresh.
When Should SAR 7 Form be Signed and Dated?
One of the most frequently asked questions about SAR 7 report is when it must be signed and dated.
The SAR 7 must be signed and dated on or after the first day of the Submit Month.
For example, in the image above, the Report Month is May and the Submit Month is June.
Therefore, the SAR 7 report must be signed and dated on or after June 1st.
When is the SAR 7 Report Due?
The SAR 7 report must be submitted by the 5th of the Submit Month.
For example, in the image above, the Report Month is May and the Submit Month is June.
Therefore, the form must be signed on or after June 1st.
Also, it must be submitted by June 5th.
If the SAR 7 report is received after the 11th of the Submit Month, is incomplete or not turned in at all, your benefits may be:
- Delayed
- Changed, or
- Stopped
Furthermore, if the county gets the SAR report too late in the month to decrease benefits based on the information you reported, here’s what will happen:
An overpayment may occur and may have to be paid back.
How Do I Submit SAR 7 Form?
You should return the SAR 7 report in the prepaid envelope included with the report.
Also, you can drop it off at your County Social Services office.
For a list of County Social Services offices near you, click here.
Furthermore, you may also submit your form online.
However, if you are submitting your SAR 7 online, depending on your county of residence, you have the following options:
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- Benefits CalWIN website
- Your Benefits Now (YBN) website
- c4yourself website
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What Happens if I fill out the SAR Form Incorrectly?
If your SAR 7 form is filled out incorrectly or is incomplete, here’s what will happen:
A notice will be sent to you in the mail letting you know what is needed regarding your SAR 7 report in order to keep your benefits.
For example, if the SAR 7 report is not complete or was signed before the first day of the Submit Month, it must be corrected.
This could cause a delay in your benefits.
Do you need help with SAR 7 Report?
If you need help on filling out your SAR 7 report or are not sure what proof is needed, here’s who you can contact for help:
- Call your County Social Services Office, or
- Contact your benefits caseworker for help
How to fill out SAR 7 Form Video
The video below from the Los Angeles County Department of Social Services (LA County DPSS) – does a great job of explaining in detail how to complete the SAR 7 form.
After you have finished watching the video below, you will know the:
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- Step by step instructions on how to fill out SAR 7 Form correctly
- Details about when and how to turn in your SAR 7 form
- When your SAR 7 report is considered complete
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How to fill out SAR 7 Form for CalFresh Summary
Here’s the bottom line:
First, your SAR 7 is due on the 5th of the sixth month after your application or last annual renewal.
Also, all households that receive CalFresh benefits must complete a SAR 7 documenting their income, property, and any changes to their household.
Lastly, the SAR 7 report must be submitted to the Social Services Agency by the date requested or your CalFresh benefits could be discontinued.
Questions?
We hope this post on how to fill out SAR 7 Form for CalFresh was helpful.
If you have further questions about the SAR 7, Recertification, CalFresh, or California EBT Card, please let us know in the comments section below.
Be sure to check out our other articles about CalFresh and CalFresh EBT, including:
