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Asking Someone to Represent You – Authorized Representatives
You may ask someone to represent you at your hearing. This person does not have to be a lawyer. You may ask:
- someone you know, such as a friend, relative, co-worker, or neighbor
- a lawyer (in private practice)
- Legal Services or any advocacy group that represents claimants in public assistance hearings
To find the Legal Services office nearest to you, click the Authorized Reps (ARs) button (to the left), look at the back of a Notice of Action, ask your local county welfare department, or look in your local telephone book. To find other advocacy groups, click the Authorized Reps (ARs) button (to the left) or ask your local county welfare department.
You are NOT required to have a representative. Many claimants do not have a representative.
For some cases, it is a good idea to have a representative. You may want to find a representative if you are being asked to repay a large overpayment and the county says you committed fraud, or if your case is very complicated, involves a lot of money, or will have many witnesses.
If you find someone to represent you, be sure to tell us your representative’s name and address.
- If you have not asked for a hearing yet, you may tell us your representative’s name and address when you request your hearing (see How to File a Hearing Request)
- If you already requested a hearing, you may tell us your representative's name and address by making a toll-free call to 1-800-743-8525 (Voice/TDD) or by sending a completed and signed Authorized Representative form (DPA 19) or a letter to State Hearings Division, 744 P Street, MS 19-37, Sacramento, CA 95814.
When we learn that you have a representative, we will send you an Authorized Representative form (DPA 19). You may also get this form at your local county welfare department and at some Legal Services offices.
To authorize your representative to act on your behalf, you must complete and sign the Authorized Representative form (DPA19) and send it to State Hearings Division, 744 P Street, MS 19-37, Sacramento, CA 95814 or give it to the judge at the hearing. It is a good idea to keep a copy of this form.
If you want your representative to act on your behalf BEFORE the hearing, send the completed and signed Authorized Representative form (DPA19) as soon as possible to: State Hearings Division, 744 P Street, MS 19-37, Sacramento, CA 95814. This will allow your representative to see your case file at the county welfare department, discuss your case with a representative of the county welfare department, request subpoenas, ask for a postponement, and take other actions on your behalf before the hearing.
Generally, both you and your representative will attend your hearing. Your representative will help you present your case or will present your case for you.
If you are not attending your hearing, you may ask your representative to attend the hearing for you. To do this, you must send a completed and signed Authorized Representative form (DPA 19) to us before the hearing or give it to your representative to take to the hearing.