Documents Needed for a WV WORKS Application and Recertification

What the County Office Will Ask For

Walking into a DoHS office without the right papers means walking out with nothing but a follow-up appointment. Missing a single verification item can stall an application for weeks. Here is what you need for a WV WORKS child-only grant application as a non-needy caretaker relative.

Identity and Citizenship Documents

• Child's birth certificate — this is the single most important document. It proves the child's identity and, in many cases, your relationship.
• Social Security cards for each child in the application and for you as the caregiver (for identification purposes)
• Your photo ID — a state driver's license, state ID card, or other government-issued photo identification

Residency and Relationship Proof

• Proof of West Virginia residency — a utility bill, lease agreement, or mortgage statement in your name showing a WV address
• Proof of your relationship to the child — the birth certificate often covers this for grandparents. For aunts, uncles, or other specified relatives, you may need additional documentation such as birth certificates that establish the family chain.

Income and Asset Documentation

For a child-only grant where you are excluded from the assistance group, the caseworker should evaluate only the child's income and assets. But you should still bring:

• Documentation of the child's income (if any) — Social Security survivor benefits statements, child support records, trust fund statements, or SSI award letters
• Bank statements for accounts in the child's name — the WV WORKS assistance group has a $2,000 countable-asset limit, regardless of group size

You do not need to provide your own pay stubs, pension statements, or Social Security letters for a child-only application where you are excluded from the assistance group. If a caseworker asks for this documentation anyway, you can point to the non-needy caretaker relative provisions in the Income Maintenance Manual.

Caregiver Status Documents

Depending on your arrangement:

• Legal guardianship order from circuit or family court, if you have one
• Caregiver consent affidavit signed under oath under W. Va. Code §49-2-703, if you have one
• Court custody papers, if applicable

None of these are required for the child-only grant. They strengthen your application but are not a prerequisite.

Recertification

WV WORKS benefits require periodic redetermination. You will receive a recertification notice before your renewal deadline. Missing the deadline can result in benefit termination.

For recertification, you need to verify that the child's circumstances have not changed — same residence, same (or updated) income information, same household composition. Updated documents may include:

• Current proof of residency if you have moved
• Updated income documentation for the child
• Confirmation that the child still lives in your home

For WV WORKS, report changes in income, assets, household composition, and other circumstances within 10 days. Remember that updating one program's records in WV PATH does not automatically update others — SNAP, Medicaid, and WV WORKS records must be maintained separately.

Organizing Before You Go

A single county DoHS visit can cover WV WORKS, SNAP, and Medicaid applications simultaneously. Bring extra copies of everything. A document checklist and application tracker are included in the West Virginia Kinship Financial Help Guide.

See more West Virginia guides →