3 Day notice with Section 8

[landlordca]

I am a landlord in Contra Costa County, California. I have a section 8 tenant. For this month the County has promptly paid their portion of the rent and I have cashed their check. The tenant has not paid their portion and it is past due. The tenant is giving me the runaround. Can I serve a 3 Day Notice to Pay or Quit even though I have accepted the partial rent payment from the County?

You can serve it, but don't plan on being able to evict after accepting partial payment. Your best course of action is to serve the 3 day, then contact the tenant's caseworker immediately. (Fax their office if needed.) Let them know that the tenant has not paid their co-pay. If the case worker is doing his/her job correctly, they will contact the tenant and let them know they are in danger of losing their aide entirely if they fail to pay what they owe. This usually jars the tenant into paying.