also just fyi when they do start garnishing his benefits youll only get like $50 of it since your on calworks. the rest goes to the county to "pay back" the benefits theyve given u. its so backwards! they should let us keep it all since were the ones taking care of the kids!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! My ex also gets VA disability and it took me months to figure out that I needed to be super specific with DCSS about what type of benefits he receives. One thing that really helped me was getting a copy of his VA award letter (I found it when picking up my kids one time). Having that documentation with the exact monthly amount made DCSS take action much faster. Also, just a heads up - even though it's frustrating that most of the money goes to reimburse CalWORKs, once they start collecting regularly you might find that the total amount puts you in a better financial position overall. In my case, I was able to transition off cash aid after about 6 months of consistent collections because my total income (child support + work) became enough to cover our expenses. Hang in there and keep pushing - the squeaky wheel definitely gets the grease with these agencies!

I understand your concern about the CalWORKs application process for your child. This is actually an important distinction that needs clarification. When applying for CalWORKs, you should be truthful about who in the household is applying for benefits. If you know you don't qualify due to your probation violation, you should indicate that you're applying for your child only, not for yourself. The application should reflect that you are the parent/caretaker, but not seeking benefits for yourself. It's true that the system can verify probation status through background checks, but that doesn't mean you should mark that you're applying for yourself if you know you don't qualify. Accuracy on these forms is important. For your situation, here's what you should do: - On your next renewal or if you need to update information, clarify that you're only applying for your child - Consider contacting your eligibility worker to explain the situation and correct any misunderstanding - Your child can still receive benefits even if you don't qualify As for potential trouble from past applications, it would be best to proactively address this with your caseworker. Explain that you misunderstood the application question. They deal with application confusion regularly and can help you correct the information. In the long term, resolving your probation violation might be worth considering as it could allow you to qualify for benefits yourself.

Just a heads up, if you're updating due to a "life event" like marriage, birth, job change, etc., you usually have a limited window to make changes. Don't wait too long!

Anyone else feel like they need a PhD in bureaucracy to navigate the health insurance system? 🤔 I swear, every time I think I've figured it out, something changes.

anyone else think its crazy that we gotta jump through all these hoops just to pay them money for insurance? 🤡 system's broken yo

Hey OP, which insurance company are you dealing with? Some are definitely worse than others when it comes to customer service.

Pro tip: if you can, try to do as much as possible online through their portal. Sometimes you can submit rebudget requests there. Might save you a phone call altogether!

idk if this helps but I had to do a rebudget last year cuz I got a new job. they asked for my offer letter and first paystub. the lady I talked to was actually pretty nice about it. dont stress too much, youll be fine!