What Counts as Welfare or Cash Assistance
If you receive recurring payments from a public assistance program, that money can be used as income on your rental application.
Common examples include:
CalWORKs or your state’s equivalent cash aid program
TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
General Assistance or General Relief
Unemployment benefits
State or county cash aid paid to you on a regular schedule
Payments need to be ongoing and paid to you on a regular schedule to be counted as income.
If your benefit is not listed here, choose “Other government benefits” instead and upload the same kind of documentation.
The Document to Provide
The best document is your benefit letter — the award letter or notice of action from the agency that pays you. Depending on your state or county it may be called a Notice of Action, Benefit Award Letter, or Verification of Benefits.
Whatever it is called, it should clearly show:
Your name as the recipient
The name of the agency or program paying you
The payment amount
How often you are paid, or the period the letter covers
Most agencies let you download this from your online benefits account. If yours does not, you can request a copy from your caseworker or local office.
Other Documents You Can Use
If you cannot get your benefit letter, or you only have a photo or scan of it, please also provide one of the following:
Recent bank statements
These should show the benefit deposits arriving in your account.
Must be a full digital PDF downloaded directly from your bank’s website or app.
A bank connection
Connecting your bank account is the fastest way for us to see your benefit deposits.
Select “Link your bank account” in the Two Dots app to get started.
How to Submit Your Documents
Open your Two Dots application using the link we sent you, or go to app.twodots.com.
Choose “Welfare (CalWORKs, etc.)” from the income selection screen.
Select “Upload documents” and add your benefit letter.
Make sure the document is clear, complete, and current.
Document requirements
Upload the original PDF, downloaded directly from the agency or your bank.
Do not open or re-save the file in another program before uploading it.
Please do not upload screenshots, scans, or photos — we are not able to verify those formats.
Helpful Tips
Submitting your benefit letter and a recent bank statement together is the quickest route.
If your benefit amount recently changed, send the most recent letter so the amounts match your deposits.
You can also use other income alongside your benefits — you can select more than one income type, so add paystubs or other documents if you have them.
Need Help?
If you have trouble uploading your documents, email us at applicant.support@twodots.net.