What can I do if Los Angeles County DPSS denies, reduces or stops my benefits?
Read your Notice of Action, ask DPSS to review any error, and follow the appeal instructions before the applicable deadline. If you want existing benefits to continue while a dispute is reviewed, ask about that immediately. The deadline for continued benefits may be earlier than the deadline for requesting a hearing.
CalFresh, CalWORKs, and Medi-Cal eligibility disputes can generally be reviewed through a State Hearing. General Relief uses separate County review procedures. Identify the program and decision before choosing a route.
Independent information: This website is not affiliated with Los Angeles County, DPSS, or the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). We do not accept appeals, case documents, account credentials, or EBT information.
Read the Notice and Identify the Review Process
Your Notice of Action explains the decision and how to challenge it. Check:
- The program and case: Which benefits and household members are affected.
- The reason: The facts, calculation, or requirement DPSS used.
- The dates: The notice date and when the denial, reduction, or discontinuance takes effect.
- The review instructions: Where to file, the filing deadline, and any separate conditions for continued benefits.
If you did not receive a notice, ask DPSS for a copy and an explanation. You can also check notices available through BenefitsCal. Do not wait for online access to be resolved before asking how to protect your review rights.
| Decision | Where to start |
|---|---|
| CalFresh, CalWORKs, or Medi-Cal eligibility decision | Read the hearing instructions on your notice and the CDSS State Hearing instructions. |
| General Relief denial, reduction, or discontinuance | Follow the County review, hearing, or denial-complaint instructions on your GR notice. See the DPSS General Relief notice and hearing policy. Do not assume State Hearing deadlines apply. |
| Medi-Cal managed care plan treatment or service denial | Follow the plan's appeal instructions. Plan appeals and subsequent State Hearings have different requirements from DPSS eligibility disputes. |
Ask DPSS to Explain or Correct the Decision
For CalFresh, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, or General Relief case assistance, call the DPSS Customer Service Center at 866-613-3777, Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Pacific Time, excluding County holidays.
Have your notice, case number, and relevant records ready. Explain the specific problem, such as income recorded incorrectly, a document already submitted, or a renewal or interview that DPSS considers incomplete. Ask what must be corrected and how to confirm the outcome in writing.
Do not assume a call, document upload, or request for a supervisor has filed an appeal or extended a deadline. You can seek a County correction while also submitting the appropriate hearing or review request.
If the issue involves an unfinished CalFresh renewal, see how to renew CalFresh benefits. Completing missing steps and disputing the earlier decision may involve separate actions.
Request a State Hearing When That Is the Correct Route
Check your notice for the hearing deadline and how it is calculated. The CDSS hearing page generally lists a 90-day request period. It currently also describes a temporary 120-day period, measured from the date the Notice of Action is mailed, for certain Medi-Cal renewal eligibility decisions. That extension does not apply to new Medi-Cal applications or requests for a particular treatment or service.
If you believe the deadline has passed, request review promptly and explain why the request is late. CDSS provides for consideration of good cause in qualifying circumstances.
The DPSS State Hearing request page lists these filing options:
| Method | How to submit |
|---|---|
| Online | Use the State Hearings Division public portal. It offers account access and an option to submit an appeal without an account. |
| Telephone | Call the State Hearings Division at 800-743-8525. This is separate from the DPSS Customer Service Center. |
| Written request | Use the hearing request section of your notice or follow the current official instructions for mailing, faxing, or delivering a request. |
Identify yourself, the County, the benefit program, the decision you disagree with, and why. Include contact information and your preferred language or dialect. Keep a copy and proof of submission.
A BenefitsCal document upload is not a substitute for filing through an accepted hearing request channel.
Ask Whether Benefits Can Continue During Review
If DPSS plans to reduce or stop benefits you already receive, ask immediately about Aid Paid Pending or other continued-benefit protections. For many State Hearing cases, requesting the hearing before the action's effective date can preserve benefits while the dispute is pending. Follow the program-specific instructions and ask whether you must expressly request continuation.
Continuation is not automatic in every situation. For example, CalFresh certification expiration can limit continued benefits. A hearing request about a denied new application does not itself create an existing benefit to continue.
Ask how the rules apply to your case, including any repayment consequences. CDSS explains that cash aid and CalFresh received as aid pending may have to be repaid if the hearing decision is unfavorable.
If the effective date has already passed, still ask about review and continuation rights. Explain if the notice arrived late or was missing; do not assume that every protection has been lost.
Keep Records and Follow the Hearing Instructions
Organize the information relevant to the disputed decision:
- The Notice of Action and any later correction notices.
- Applications, renewals, reports, and documents you submitted.
- Upload receipts, mailing records, and other submission confirmations.
- Income, household, or expense records relevant to the stated reason.
- A short timeline of contacts, submissions, and benefit changes.
After filing, watch for confirmation and hearing notices. If none arrives, contact the State Hearings Division to check receipt. Follow the instructions for submitting evidence and participating in the hearing.
You may have an authorized representative help with a State Hearing. Tell the hearing office if you need an interpreter or other assistance. The CDSS general hearing information page explains representation and hearing arrangements.
Ask the assigned County appeals worker for the County's explanation and evidence, including its Statement of Position. Compare that information with your records and identify the facts or calculations you dispute.
If DPSS offers to resolve the issue, confirm exactly what will change, when it will happen, and whether the agreement covers all disputed benefits. Before withdrawing a hearing request, make sure you understand the written resolution and any remaining issue.
Get Case Assistance and Hearing Support
Use 866-613-3777 for DPSS case questions and correction requests. Use 800-743-8525 for State Hearing requests and hearing-related assistance. For General Relief, use the review contact and procedure listed on your County notice.
DPSS provides free translation and interpreter services, including ASL, through its Customer Service Center. For disability-related reasonable accommodation assistance, call 844-586-5550. The official DPSS contact page lists office and service contacts.
If you need advice or representation, ask about local legal aid resources. A service complaint or civil rights complaint may address a separate problem, but do not assume it replaces a benefit appeal.
For the department's other services, see our Los Angeles County DPSS page. Submit review requests and supporting records through the designated official channels; submissions to this website do not reach DPSS or the State Hearings Division.