CalWORKs reduced my Cash Aid for 'non-cooperation' with child support when I already gave them the father's info - what can I do?

This happens a lot unfortunately. The Local Child Support Agency (LCSA) requires active cooperation and sometimes they need more than just basic info. Did they specifically tell you what information was missing? Usually they send a notice explaining why you're considered non-cooperative. Also, did you respond to any follow-up requests they might have sent? Sometimes they mail additional forms or request an interview about the other parent that people miss.

omg same thing happened to me last year!!! they cut my benefits and i had already told them EVERYTHING about my ex. turns out they sent a letter to my old address for an interview appointment so i never got it. they counted that as 'non-cooperation' even tho it was THEIR mistake! 🤬

You need to request a Good Cause exemption ASAP if there's any reason you can't fully cooperate with child support (like domestic violence history or fear of the other parent). Otherwise, you need to immediately contact your CalWORKs worker AND the LCSA directly to explain the situation and find out exactly what they need from you. The 25% penalty is standard when they determine non-cooperation, but it can be reversed and you can get retroactive benefits if you start cooperating or get approved for Good Cause. Don't wait - this won't fix itself. The cooperation requirement is federal law so counties are very strict about it.

Try using Claimyr to get through to the CalWORKs office - that's the only way I finally reached a real person after trying for days. It basically waits on hold for you and calls you when a worker picks up. Saved me hours of hold time. The website is claimyr.com and they have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/jzISHxCPLwE As for the child support issue - you need to find out EXACTLY what they need. Sometimes they want really specific info like the other parent's social security number, employer info, or vehicle registration. It's ridiculous how much they expect us to know about someone who might not even be in our lives anymore.

child support is THE WORST part of calworks i swear!!!! they make u jump through all these hoops and even when the other parent doesnt pay a dime they still cut YOUR benefits if u dont do everything exactly right. its so unfair to us single parents!!!

This is what you need to do immediately: 1. Call LCSA directly (not just CalWORKs) - they're the ones who reported you as non-cooperative 2. Ask for the exact reason for the non-cooperation finding 3. Request a meeting with your child support caseworker 4. Get the non-cooperation status lifted by doing whatever they need 5. Once LCSA reports to CalWORKs that you're cooperating, request your full benefits be restored 6. Ask for retroactive payment of the 25% they've been withholding Don't let this drag on - each month they reduce your grant is money you'll never get back unless you fix this quickly.

Did you file a formal appeal of the non-cooperation determination? You only have 90 days from the Notice of Action date to request a state hearing. Make sure you do this while also trying to resolve the issue directly! That way if things don't get fixed, you still have the hearing as backup. The form is called a DPA 479 or you can request a hearing by calling the state hearings division.

another thing to check - look at ur notice of action and see if they specifically checked 'failed to attend appointment' or 'insufficient info provided' or something else. that tells u exactly what they think u did wrong. also call lcsa and ask if they have proof they notified u about any appointments. they might have sent it to wrong address or not sent it at all!!! happened to me!

After you get this resolved, make sure you stay on top of any LCSA communications going forward. They typically schedule annual review appointments to update information on the absent parent. Missing those will put you right back in non-cooperation status. And one clarification - if you successfully appeal or resolve this, you CAN get retroactive benefits for the months they reduced your grant, but you must specifically request this. It won't happen automatically even after they determine you were cooperating all along.

Just wanted to add that you should also ask LCSA for a copy of your case file when you call them. They're required to show you what information they have on record and what attempts they made to contact you about appointments. Sometimes there are discrepancies in addresses or they'll admit they never actually sent the notice. Having this documentation will be super helpful if you end up needing that state hearing. Also, when you do get through to someone, ask them to email you a summary of what was discussed - having everything in writing protects you if there are any future issues with your case.

I went through something similar last year and it was such a nightmare! The key thing that helped me was being super persistent and documenting everything. When I finally got through to LCSA, it turned out they had sent the appointment notice to an address I hadn't lived at for over a year, even though I had updated my address with CalWORKs multiple times. Make sure to ask them specifically what address they have on file for you - that might be the issue right there. Also, don't just rely on phone calls. I ended up going to the LCSA office in person and refusing to leave until someone met with me. Sometimes showing up physically gets results faster than waiting on hold for hours. The whole system is designed to make us give up, but don't let them wear you down! You did nothing wrong by providing all the information you had about your daughter's father.

I'm dealing with something really similar right now! The missed appointment thing seems to happen to so many people - it's like they're setting us up to fail. One thing that really helped me was asking my CalWORKs worker to put a note in my file about any address changes, and then I started taking photos of any mail I sent to document that I'm trying to cooperate. Also, when you do get through to LCSA, ask them to read you the exact information they have for the father - sometimes there are little errors in names or dates that can cause problems. I know it's exhausting having to prove you're doing everything right when you already are, but hang in there. The system is broken but you can get through this! Make sure to ask for that retroactive payment once you get it sorted out.