I'm so sorry you're going through this! As someone who just started receiving CalWORKs benefits myself, reading through this thread has been really eye-opening about policies they don't explain clearly upfront. It's honestly shocking how many families get blindsided by this automatic child support assignment. From all the helpful advice everyone has shared, it sounds like you have several good options to explore, especially the CF 8572 good cause form. The fact that your 3-year-old is already noticing the tension and asking why daddy seems upset is both heartbreaking and strong evidence that this formal collection is affecting her wellbeing - which is exactly what good cause exemptions are designed to protect. I'd definitely recommend documenting everything thoroughly like others have suggested: your working informal arrangement, how he was helping with diapers/groceries/etc., how the surprise garnishment caught you both off guard, and especially how this is impacting your daughter's relationship with her father. It's so unfair that a child has to witness stress during what should be happy visits with her dad. The Claimyr service that someone mentioned earlier sounds like it could really help you bypass the useless automated system and actually get through to your caseworker about getting that form started. It's really frustrating that CalWORKs puts families in these impossible positions without proper warning. You shouldn't have to choose between getting help and maintaining a healthy co-parenting relationship that benefits your daughter. I hope you can get this resolved quickly - please keep us updated on how the good cause application goes!

I'm so sorry you're dealing with this confusing and stressful situation! As someone who recently started navigating CalWORKs myself, I had no idea about this automatic child support assignment either - it's really shocking how poorly they explain this during the application process. From reading through all the helpful responses here, it sounds like you definitely have strong grounds for a good cause exemption. The fact that your daughter is already being emotionally affected and asking why daddy seems upset is heartbreaking, but it's also exactly the kind of evidence that shows this formal collection is harming her wellbeing - which is what the CF 8572 form is designed to address. I'd definitely echo everyone's advice about documenting everything thoroughly: - How your informal arrangement was actually working well for your family - The specific ways he was helping (diapers, formula, groceries, etc.) - Screenshots of texts showing how the surprise garnishment caught both of you off guard - How this is affecting your daughter's relationship with her father It's really unfair that CalWORKs puts families in these impossible positions without clear explanation upfront. You shouldn't have to choose between getting help and protecting the co-parenting relationship that benefits your daughter. Definitely try that Claimyr service someone mentioned to get through to your caseworker faster - the automated system sounds useless when you need real help. I hope you can get this resolved quickly before it causes more stress for your family. Please keep us updated on how the good cause determination goes - your experience will help other families facing similar situations!

This whole thread has been such a valuable resource! I'm about 5 months into receiving CalWORKs and fortunately haven't encountered the 104 error yet, but reading everyone's experiences has really opened my eyes to how many technical issues can pop up with the EBT system. It's honestly pretty alarming that they can put security holds on your account without any notification - when you're depending on those benefits for rent, utilities, and groceries, even losing access for one day can create a real crisis. I had no idea these kinds of problems existed when I first got my EBT card. The whole system seems designed in a way that makes it really difficult to get help when things go wrong too - those long customer service wait times are brutal when you're dealing with an urgent situation. I'm definitely going to ask about direct deposit at my next caseworker appointment after seeing how many people have had success with that option. Also saving the EBT customer service number and that Claimyr callback service info just in case. Thanks to everyone who shared their stories and practical solutions - this is the kind of real-world guidance that actually helps people navigate these challenges!

I'm really grateful this thread exists! I just started receiving CalWORKs benefits about a month ago and honestly had no clue that error code 104 or these security flags were even a thing. Reading through everyone's experiences has been both super helpful and pretty nerve-wracking - the idea that they can just freeze your access to your own money without any warning is really scary, especially when you're already in a tight financial situation. It's frustrating that none of this gets explained during the application process - they give you all these forms about reporting changes and eligibility rules, but nothing about potential EBT technical issues that could leave you unable to pay rent or buy groceries! I'm definitely going to ask my caseworker about setting up direct deposit at my next appointment after seeing how many people have had success with that option. Also saving that EBT customer service number and the Claimyr callback service info just in case I ever need it. Thank you to everyone who shared their stories and solutions here - this is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that new recipients like me need but never get told about officially!

This whole thread is so eye-opening and frustrating at the same time! I'm a single mom of 2 and just reading about all these system glitches and lack of communication from the county offices makes me anxious about my own upcoming recert next month. It's honestly ridiculous that families have to rely on third-party services like Claimyr or go through so much stress just to get basic information about their cases. @f791cdc18483 Miguel, I'm so glad you finally got through and it was just a technical issue with your son's school verification! That must have been such a relief. It's crazy that they don't have a system to automatically notify us when documents don't upload properly. @da395ad0139a Dylan, thank you for those practical tips - I'm definitely going to screenshot everything when I do my recert and write down all my call attempts. The supervisor tip is something I never would have thought of. This community is honestly more helpful than the actual CalWORKs system sometimes. At least here we can get real answers and support from people who actually understand what we're going through!

This whole thread is exactly why I've been dreading my upcoming recertification! I'm a single parent working part-time and going to school, and reading about all these system glitches and communication failures is giving me major anxiety. The fact that so many of you have had to deal with benefits being cut off due to technical issues that aren't even your fault is terrifying. @f791cdc18483 Miguel, I'm so glad you were able to get through with Claimyr and that it was just a document upload issue! That must have been such a huge relief after all that stress. It's absolutely ridiculous that they don't notify us when documents fail to upload properly. @da395ad0139a Dylan and @b6ca316eeb5f Aisha, thank you both for all the practical tips - I'm writing all of these down for when I do my recert next month. The screenshot advice and uploading in multiple formats are things I never would have thought of but make so much sense given how unreliable the system is. It's honestly shameful that we have to become experts at navigating a broken system just to get the assistance we're entitled to. But I'm so grateful for communities like this where we can actually get real help and support from people who understand what we're going through. You all are doing more to help families than the actual CalWORKs system sometimes!

Have u checked if this affects ur CalFresh too??? When my household size was wrong on CalWORKS it also messed up my food stamps amount. Make sure they fix BOTH programs if u get both!!! And double-check that they're counting your childcare expenses in your CalFresh budget too - that's separate from the childcare assistance through CalWORKs.

I'm new to this community but had to jump in because I'm dealing with something similar right now! They somehow counted my household as 3 people instead of 4 (missing my 6-year-old son) and our benefits got cut to almost nothing. Reading through all these responses is so helpful - I had no idea about the administrative adjustment option or that travel time should be included in childcare calculations. @Jasmine Hernandez I'm so glad you got yours sorted out! It gives me hope. I've been on hold for over 2 hours today trying to reach someone. Might have to try that Claimyr service @Alina Rosenthal mentioned because this is getting ridiculous. Has anyone else noticed these household composition errors happening more frequently lately? Seems like there might be a bigger system issue going on.

This is such an encouraging thread to read! I'm a case worker in a neighboring county and I love seeing community members supporting each other through these transitions. Everything shared here about the income disregard and IRT limits is accurate for Sacramento County. One small tip I'd add - when you do call to report your new job, have your offer letter or employment verification ready with your start date, hourly wage, and expected hours per week. This helps your worker process everything faster and more accurately. Also, don't panic if your first month's calculation seems off - sometimes it takes a pay period or two to get the exact amounts right, especially if your hours vary slightly week to week. You're making the right choice taking this job! The path from benefits to self-sufficiency isn't always linear, but every step forward builds toward long-term stability for your family. And remember, if circumstances change (job loss, reduced hours, etc.), you can always reapply for full benefits. The safety net is still there while you build your independence.

This entire thread has been incredibly valuable to read! As a newcomer to this community, I'm amazed by how supportive and knowledgeable everyone is here. I'm currently on CalWORKs with my 8-year-old son and have been hesitant to look for work because I was terrified of losing our benefits and ending up worse off financially. Reading all these real experiences - especially the detailed breakdowns of how the income disregard actually works and seeing actual dollar amounts from people who've made this transition - has completely changed my perspective. I had no idea about programs like Stage 1 childcare assistance, Transitional CalWORKs, or that Medi-Cal has much higher income limits. The tip about asking your worker for a budget projection is brilliant, and I'm definitely going to look into that Claimyr service since reaching workers by phone is such a nightmare. It's also really reassuring to hear from @Vincent as an actual case worker confirming that all this information is accurate. I think I'm finally ready to start seriously job searching knowing that the system is actually designed to help people transition to work gradually rather than cutting everything off immediately. Thank you all for sharing your journeys and creating such a supportive space for people navigating these challenges!