Issac, I've been reading through this entire thread and I'm amazed at how this community has rallied around you with so many helpful resources and support! As someone who works in community outreach, I wanted to add one more option that might help bridge the gap while you're waiting for your CalFresh benefits to be restored. Many local WIC offices (Women, Infants, and Children program) have emergency food vouchers available even if you're not currently enrolled in WIC. Since you mentioned your youngest is 4, you'd likely qualify for WIC anyway, which provides specific foods like milk, eggs, cereal, and fresh produce. The application process is usually much faster than CalFresh - sometimes same-day approval - and they often have immediate emergency assistance available for families in crisis situations. Also, don't overlook your local United Way chapter - they often maintain databases of all emergency assistance programs in your area and can quickly connect you with resources you might not find elsewhere. Many have 24/7 helplines. You've shown incredible resilience and resourcefulness through this crisis. Your children are witnessing a masterclass in advocacy, problem-solving, and community building. Those are life skills that will serve them well long after this tough period is over. Keep us updated on how things progress - this community clearly cares about your family's wellbeing! 🙏

Jake, I've been following your story and I'm so impressed by how proactively you've handled this crisis! As someone who went through a similar CalFresh termination due to missed paperwork, I wanted to share that in addition to all the amazing resources everyone has mentioned, you might also want to check if your kids' school district has a family liaison or homeless/housing coordinator. These staff members often have access to emergency food resources and can sometimes provide grocery gift cards or connect you with local businesses that donate food to families in need. Also, many Dollar Tree and 99 Cent stores accept EBT once your benefits are restored, which can really stretch your food budget since you can get basics like bread, canned goods, and even some fresh produce for much less than regular grocery stores. The way this community has come together to support your family is truly beautiful. Your children are learning that it's okay to ask for help when you need it and that there are good people everywhere willing to lend a hand. That's an invaluable lesson. Hoping your expedited application gets approved quickly and that all these resources help bridge the gap until then! 🙏

Glad you got it figured out! Just an FYI for the future (this happened to me) - even if you fix the WTW sanction now, they might not restore the lost amount from this month. That $71 instead of your full grant might just be gone. It sucks but that's how they do it with sanctions. At least your CalFresh back-payment will help make up for it somewhat.

So glad you got this sorted out! This is exactly why I always tell people to treat every piece of mail from the county like it's urgent - even if it looks like "just information." They have a sneaky way of burying important deadlines in what seems like routine paperwork. For anyone else reading this thread, here's what I've learned from my own experience: take photos of every document they send you and set calendar reminders immediately. Also, if you ever can't make a required appointment, call them BEFORE the date to reschedule. They're usually more willing to work with you if you're proactive rather than reactive. The system is definitely not user-friendly, but stories like yours show that most issues can be resolved if you can actually get through to someone who knows what they're doing. Thanks for sharing the update - it'll help other people who find themselves in the same situation!

I'm really sorry you're going through this - it's such a frustrating situation that so many CalWORKs families face! As someone who's also navigating the system as a single parent, I can completely understand how blindsided you must feel by this automatic child support assignment that nobody properly explained. Reading through all the excellent advice here, it's clear you have a strong foundation for a good cause application. The emotional impact on your daughter - her noticing daddy seems upset and asking about it - is exactly the kind of evidence that demonstrates this formal collection is harming her wellbeing, which is what the CF 8572 good cause exemption is designed to address. I'd definitely echo everyone's advice about documenting everything thoroughly: your working informal arrangement, the specific ways he was helping (diapers, formula, groceries, etc.), how the surprise garnishment caught you both off guard, and most importantly, how this is affecting your daughter's relationship with her father. A 3-year-old shouldn't have to witness tension during what used to be happy daddy visits. The Claimyr service that someone mentioned earlier sounds like it could really help you get through to your caseworker faster - the automated system is notoriously unhelpful when you need to speak with someone urgently. It's really unfair that CalWORKs puts families in these impossible positions without clear upfront communication. You shouldn't have to choose between getting help and protecting your daughter's co-parenting relationship. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that your good cause determination goes smoothly and you can get back to the arrangement that was actually working for your family. Please keep us updated!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this stressful situation! As someone who's also new to navigating CalWORKs, I'm honestly shocked by how many people in this thread have been caught off guard by the automatic child support assignment. It really seems like this should be explained much more clearly during the application process. From reading everyone's experiences here, it sounds like you have a really strong case for good cause, especially since your daughter is already being emotionally affected. The fact that she's asking why daddy seems upset during visits is heartbreaking, but it's also powerful evidence that this formal collection is disrupting her wellbeing - which is exactly what the CF 8572 good cause exemption is meant to protect. I'd definitely recommend documenting everything as thoroughly as possible: how your informal arrangement was working well, the specific ways he was helping (diapers, groceries, etc.), and especially how this surprise garnishment has changed the dynamic during your daughter's visits with her father. The Claimyr service that someone mentioned earlier sounds like it could really help you get through to your caseworker faster than the automated system. It's frustrating that you have to work so hard to fix a problem that better communication could have prevented, but at least you have a clear path forward. I hope you can get this resolved quickly before it causes any more stress for your family. Your daughter shouldn't have to witness tension during what should be happy time with her dad. Please keep us updated on how the good cause determination goes!

I'm new to this community but felt compelled to respond because what you experienced is absolutely unacceptable! That 9-month limit information is completely false - there is NO such rule in CalWORKs policy anywhere. I've been researching benefits extensively as I help my elderly mother navigate various programs, and the CalWORKs lifetime limit is definitely 48 months, not 9. What really bothers me is how that worker essentially tried to scam you out of your rightful benefits with made-up policies. The fact that your grant dropped from $221 to $22 without any written notice is a clear violation of your due process rights - they're required to send a Notice of Action before making changes. From reading all these responses, it's clear this is a systemic problem at LA County DPSS with undertrained staff giving out false information. It makes me wonder how many families are suffering because they accepted these lies without questioning them. When you call tomorrow, follow everyone's advice about demanding a supervisor immediately. Don't waste another second with frontline workers who don't know basic CalWORKs policies. You deserve your full benefits and shouldn't have to stress about rent because of their incompetence. Stay strong - this community clearly has your back and I'm confident you'll get this resolved quickly once you reach someone who actually knows what they're doing!

I'm so sorry you're going through this nightmare! What that worker told you is absolutely FALSE - there is NO 9-month limit on CalWORKs cash aid whatsoever. I've been receiving benefits in LA County for almost 2 years now and have never experienced any automatic reduction like that. The actual lifetime limit is 48 months total, not some made-up 9-month rule. Your grant dropping from $221 to $22 without proper written notice is a serious violation of due process - they're legally required to send you a Notice of Action before making any benefit changes. This sounds exactly like what happened to my friend last year - her grant got slashed due to a "processing error" and they tried to give her some bogus story about new restrictions. She had to call back 6 times before getting a supervisor who actually knew the rules and fixed it within 48 hours. When you call tomorrow, ask for a supervisor IMMEDIATELY and don't waste time with frontline workers who clearly don't know basic CalWORKs policies. Demand they review your case while you're on the phone and explain in writing why your benefits were reduced. Also ask specifically about your SAR7 processing status since that's often where these errors occur. If phone calls don't work, go to your local DPSS office in person with all your paperwork. Sometimes face-to-face gets faster results than trying to resolve things over the phone. Don't let them intimidate you with fake policies - you know your rights now and this community has your back! You're going to get this resolved and get your full benefits restored.

Hi Megan, congratulations on your new job! This thread has been incredibly helpful - I'm actually in a very similar situation and will be starting a new position next month that will put me over the CalWORKs income limit. Reading through everyone's experiences and advice has been so valuable. I especially appreciate all the specific details about using the exact wording "voluntary discontinuance" rather than just reporting income, timing the termination for the day before the first paycheck, and making sure to get everything in writing. The tip about keeping detailed logs and screenshots is brilliant too. It's really reassuring to see how supportive this community is in helping each other navigate these processes properly. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's going to help both Megan and me handle our transitions much more smoothly!

Congratulations on the new job, Megan! This thread has been incredibly informative - I'm bookmarking it for future reference. One additional tip I'd like to share from my experience: if you have any automatic deposits or payments set up related to your CalWORKs benefits (like if you get your payments on an EBT card), make sure to ask about when those will stop and if you need to do anything to close out those accounts. I had a small remaining balance on my EBT card after my case closed and it took months to figure out how to access those final funds. Also, if you're currently receiving any utility assistance or other ancillary benefits through CalWORKs, make sure to ask specifically about each one because they might have different termination timelines or separate applications to continue them if you still qualify. The worker won't always volunteer information about what other programs might still be available to you, so it's worth asking directly. You're handling this so responsibly - wishing you all the best with your new position!