I'm new to this community and unfortunately dealing with my first CalWORKs overpayment situation too. Just got my NOA yesterday for $523 due to unreported work income, and I was completely panicking until I found this thread! Everyone's responses have been incredibly helpful - I had no idea there were so many options for managing the repayment. The specific form numbers (CW 8572 and CW 2186A) are exactly what I needed to know about. I've been trying to reach my caseworker for three days with no luck, so knowing I can still respond to the NOA and request hardship consideration in writing is a huge relief. The certified mail advice is something I'm definitely going to follow - I've had issues with the county "losing" my paperwork before too. And calculating the different percentage amounts beforehand is such a smart approach that I wouldn't have thought of on my own. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly. It makes such a difference to know that others have successfully navigated this process and that there are real options available. I'm going to respond to my NOA today and start gathering documentation for a hardship request. This community is such a valuable resource for people trying to figure out these complicated systems!

I'm new to this community and just received my first CalWORKs overpayment notice too - $412 for unreported babysitting income from two months ago. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a lifesaver! I was completely overwhelmed when I got the NOA yesterday, but now I understand I have actual options. The form numbers everyone mentioned (CW 8572 and CW 2186A) are exactly what I needed - my caseworker hasn't returned my calls either, so knowing I can submit hardship requests in writing gives me a real path forward. I'm definitely going to calculate what different recoupment percentages would mean for my budget before I talk to anyone, and I'm gathering rent receipts and utility bills to document my financial situation. The 90-day response deadline has been mentioned so many times that I'm prioritizing getting my NOA response submitted today via certified mail. It's incredible how much stress this community has relieved just by sharing real experiences and practical advice. Thank you all for creating such a supportive space - it makes such a difference to know others have successfully navigated this process and that there are people here who understand exactly what we're going through!

I'm really grateful I found this discussion! I'm only about 2 months into receiving CalWORKs benefits and my ex just brought up this exact same thing last week - wanting to pay me directly instead of through the county to "save on fees and hassle." Reading all these experiences has been such an eye-opener. I had absolutely no idea about the 25% penalty for not cooperating with child support - that would be absolutely devastating to our already tight budget! And it's shocking how many people have shared almost identical stories about exes starting out with good intentions but then stopping payments when circumstances changed. What really sealed the deal for me was learning that even if he pays directly, I'd still have to report it as income anyway, so my benefits would be reduced either way - but only the official county system gives me the legal protection and enforcement options if something goes wrong later. I think I'm going to suggest to my ex that he can still help out with extras like school clothes or activities directly, but the official support needs to stay through the county system. That way we both get what we want - he can feel good about providing additional help when he's able, and I get to keep the financial security that my kids and I need. Thank you everyone for being so honest about your experiences - you've definitely saved me from making what could have been a really costly mistake!

This thread has been incredibly helpful as someone who's brand new to the CalWORKs system! I just applied last month and had no idea about the child support cooperation requirements or that 25% penalty - that's absolutely terrifying when you're already struggling financially. My ex hasn't approached me about direct payments yet, but after reading all these experiences, I feel so much better prepared if he does. The pattern everyone's describing is so consistent - it really seems like this "avoid county fees" pitch is something a lot of exes try, probably without understanding the serious consequences for us. What strikes me most is how the math just doesn't work in favor of private payments. Even if you avoid those small county processing fees, you still have to report the income anyway, so your CalWORKs grant gets reduced either way. But with the official system, you at least get legal protection and enforcement options if things go wrong later. I'm definitely going to make sure any child support case stays through the county system, no matter what promises get made. The peace of mind and financial security for my kids is worth way more than saving a few dollars on processing fees. Thank you everyone for sharing your stories - you've probably saved me from making a huge mistake down the road!

I'm new to this community but going through the exact same thing right now! My CalFresh case got discontinued 3 weeks ago and I've been stressing about it ever since. Reading through all these responses has been such a huge help - I had no idea about the 30-day restoration window or that you can't do it online once your case is discontinued. Like so many others here, they tried to call me for my recertification interview using an old phone number even though I updated my contact info in BenefitsCal months ago. It's honestly ridiculous how common this seems to be based on everyone's experiences! I'm planning to call my county office first thing tomorrow morning at 8 AM and ask specifically for "case restoration" - that terminology tip seems super important based on what multiple people have mentioned. I've got all my recent pay stubs and bank statements organized and ready to go. Really appreciate everyone sharing their success stories and practical advice. It's giving me so much more confidence that I can get this resolved without starting completely over. Will definitely update once I get through to someone! For anyone else reading this who's in a similar boat - don't give up! It sounds like once you actually get a worker on the phone, the restoration process moves pretty quickly.

I'm dealing with this exact same situation right now! My CalFresh got discontinued about 2 weeks ago because they called my old phone number for the recertification interview. I've been so stressed thinking I'd have to start completely over with a new application. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring - especially learning about the 30-day restoration window and that the outdated contact info counts as "good cause." I had no idea you couldn't do renewals online once your case is discontinued, which explains why BenefitsCal kept giving me error messages! I'm going to call my county office first thing tomorrow morning at 8 AM and specifically ask for "case restoration" - that terminology tip has been mentioned so many times here it must really make a difference. I've got all my recent pay stubs and bank statements ready to go. If I can't get through with regular calling, I might try that Claimyr service some of you mentioned. Has anyone used it specifically for CalFresh restoration calls? I'm curious how well it works for county benefit offices. Thanks to everyone who shared their success stories and practical advice - this thread has been a lifesaver! I'll definitely update once I get through to someone. For anyone else reading this in a similar situation, don't lose hope - it sounds like restoration is totally doable if you're within that 30-day window!

You've got this, Ian! 🌟 I've been reading through this entire thread and I'm just blown away by how this community came together to help you. From not knowing anything about CalWORKs to being completely prepared for your interview - that's incredible! I went through a similar situation about a year ago (lost my job, single parent, had to figure out benefits) and I wish I had found a resource like this back then. It would have saved me so much stress and confusion. Your interview is going to go great because you're so well-prepared now. Just remember that the eligibility worker wants to help you succeed - they're not there to trick you or deny your benefits. Be honest, ask questions when you need clarification, and don't forget to ask about all those additional programs everyone mentioned (emergency aid, childcare, transportation assistance, etc.). You should be so proud of how you've handled this challenging situation. Your daughter is going to learn so much about resilience and problem-solving from watching how you navigated this. Can't wait to hear your success story after the interview! This community will be here celebrating with you! 💪❤️

Wishing you all the best for your interview! 🌟 This has been such an amazing thread to follow - seeing how you've transformed from feeling completely overwhelmed to being incredibly well-prepared has been truly inspiring. As a newcomer to this community, I'm blown away by how supportive and knowledgeable everyone here is. You've received better guidance than most official resources could provide! Just wanted to add one small tip that helped me when I was navigating government interviews - if you feel overwhelmed during the call, it's totally okay to ask for a quick moment to gather your thoughts or to ask the worker to repeat a question. They deal with people in stressful situations all the time and are usually very patient. You're clearly an incredible advocate for your daughter, and the way you've approached this whole situation shows such strength and determination. Tomorrow is going to go great because you've done all the preparation possible. This community will be here waiting to celebrate your success! You've got this! 💪✨

I just want to echo what everyone has said about being persistent if you get pushback initially. When I helped my neighbor (she's 71) apply for CalWORKs for her grandson, the first worker kept insisting she needed to do job search activities and kept trying to include her in the assistance unit. We had to ask for a supervisor who immediately knew the rules about senior caretakers. One thing I'd add - when you go to the appointment, write down the worker's name and ask them to note in the case file that your mom is applying specifically as a "non-needy caretaker relative over age 60" and is therefore exempt from WTW requirements. This creates a paper trail in case there are issues later. Also, don't be surprised if the process takes a while. My neighbor's case took about 6 weeks to get approved because it had to go through additional reviews since senior caretaker cases are less common. But once it was approved, she got retroactive payments back to when she applied. Your mom is doing such an important thing raising your niece, especially after such a loss. The system should be supporting families like yours, not making it harder!

I want to add something that might help during the application process - if your mom encounters any issues with the county office or feels like she's not getting the right information, she can also contact the California Department of Social Services directly at their state level. They have a complaint process and can sometimes help resolve local office issues. Also, make sure your mom keeps copies of EVERYTHING - the application, any documents she submits, and notes from any conversations with county workers. If there are delays or problems later, having that documentation can be really important. One more resource that might be helpful is 211 - you can dial 2-1-1 from any phone to get connected to local resources and services. They often know about community organizations that specifically help seniors navigate benefit applications and might be able to connect you with additional support. Your mom sounds like an amazing person for stepping up to care for your niece during such a difficult time. I hope the application process goes smoothly and she gets the assistance she deserves!