Complaints that can be heard at a State Hearing:

• Your application for child support services has been denied or has not been acted upon within the required timeframe.
  
• Your case has been acted upon and you believe the county acted illegally
  
• Child support payments were not given to you or you received the wrong amount or you don't agree with the past-due amount.
  
• The child support agency closed your child support case.

You must request a State Hearing within 90 days after you receive the county's response to your complaint, or within 90 days after you filed your complaint and the county did not respond to you.

After the request for hearing is received by the State Hearing Office, the State Hearing will be held in your county within 30 days

Some issues that cannot be heard at a State Hearing:

• Court-ordered amounts of child support
• Questions regarding paternity
• Child custody or visitation
• Spousal support
• Contempt matters
• Civil rights issues

Required Documents

To help you prepare for a State Hearing, the Department of Child Support Services Ombudsperson can help you prepare needed documents. The following information will be helpful as you prepare for your case:

• A statement of the facts for your case.
• Copies of any information and papers, such as statements and notices that support your case.
• A list of witnesses and people who will speak on your behalf at the hearing, if any.
• If needed, translation services and reasonable disability assistance are available to you free of charge.

To request a State Hearing you must complete the local complaint resolution process before you can request a State Hearing. If, after the county process has been completed and you do not feel satisfied with the response you were given, you may contact:

California Department of Social Services
State Hearing Office
744 P Street, MS 19-98
Sacramento, CA 95814

Or call the State Hearing Office at:

1-866-289-4714 (toll free)