Click on the buttons to see the programs for each benefit
Medi-Cal - Free health coverage for low-income Californians.
Immigration status does not matter!
How to apply?
Online: https://benefitscal.com/
Over phone (LA County): (866) 613-3777 (press 2 after you select your language)
In person at DPSS office.
With help from a trusted clinic or provider
With help from BAILA!
In-Home Supportive Services - Money paid to a family member or caretaker to provide in-home assistance to someone who has a disability. In order to be approved for IHSS, the person must have a qualifying disability and must be eligible for Medi-Cal. Learn more:
How to apply?
In person at a DPSS office
By phone: (888) 944 – 4477
By fax: learn more - In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) (lacounty.gov)
Covered CA - Subsidized private health insurance for working families (for people whose income is too high to qualify for Medi-Cal. More information: https://www.coveredca.com/
How to apply?
Online: https://www.coveredca.com/apply/
With help from BAILA!
Call:
Arabic - (800) 826-6317
Cantonese - 粵語 - (800) 339-8938
Mandarin - 普通话 - (800) 300-1533
Hmong - Hmoob - (800) 771-2156
Korean - 한국어 - (800) 738-9116
Russian - русский - (800) 778-7695
Filipino - Tagalog - (800) 983-8816
Armenian - հայերեն - (800) 996-1009
Farsi - (800) 921-8879
Khmer - (800) 906-8528
Lao - (800) 357-7976
Spanish - Español - (800) 300-0213
Vietnamese - Tiếng Việt - (800) 652-9528
CalFresh - Monthly payment to help pay for groceries. Learn more: https://calfresh.dss.ca.gov/food/home/meet-calfresh
How to apply?
In person at DPSS office
Online: https://benefitscal.com/
By phone: (866) 613-3777
With help from BAILA!
WIC - money to buy healthy foods for pregnant and breastfeeding women, babies, and children under 5. You also get breastfeeding supplies and nutrition classes. Learn more:
Find another WIC provider: https://myfamily.wic.ca.gov/Home/WICOfficeGrocer
Food banks are available to everyone, regardless of status. Find a local food bank here:
CalWORKs - Monthly cash payments to families with minor children; also, help for working and student parents, like childcare, transportation, and money for books and uniforms.
CalWORKs participants may receive additional assistance if they are unhoused or can’t pay rent. Learn more here: https://dpss.lacounty.gov/en/cash/calworks.html
How to apply?
In-person at DPSS office
Online: https://benefitscal.com/
By phone: (866) 613-3777
General Relief (GR) - Monthly cash payments ($221) for adults with no children.
How to apply?
In-person at DPSS office
Online: https://benefitscal.com/
By phone: (866) 613-3777
Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) - Monthly cash payments to immigrants who are 65 or older or have a disability and are not eligible for SSI because of immigration status
Learn more here: https://dpss.lacounty.gov/en/cash/capi.html
How to apply?
In-person at DPSS office
By phone: (866) 613-3777
No option to apply online on BenefitsCal right now
Trafficking and Crime Victim Assistance Program (TCVAP) - Twelve months of cash aid for U/T Visa applicants/holders who do not have children.
How to apply?
In-person at DPSS office
By phone: (866) 613-3777
Apply using the application for cash aid on BenefitsCal
Tips - Applicants should state clearly that they want to apply for state-funded TCVAP cash aid – they may otherwise be prompted to apply for GR or CalWORKs as DPSS workers often do not identify TCVAP-eligible applicants
Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) - temporary assistance and job or student services for people granted refugee status. Learn more: https://dpss.lacounty.gov/en/cash/rca.html
How to apply?
In-person at DPSS office
Online: https://benefitscal.com/
By phone: (866) 613-3777
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Monthly payments for people who are disabled or over 65 and do not have 10 years of work history
How to apply?
Toll-Free Hotline: 1-800-772-1213
Application Information:
SSI - https://www.ssa.gov/ssi
SSI Protective Filing Tool (to start application – preserve filing date) - https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/start.html
• CBEST Referral Form - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Migc_3ZJIQxWoYPt-EKnjx7tIiYb14eR/view
SSDI - Insurance payments for workers with 10 years of work history who are disabled. Learn more: https://www.ssa.gov/disability?tl=0
Toll-Free Hotline: 1-800-772-1213
For SSDI – CBEST Referral Form
Application Information:
Retirement - https://www.ssa.gov/apply
Social Security Retirement - monthly payments for people with sufficient work history
How to apply?
Toll-Free Hotline: 1-800-772-1213
Retirement - https://www.ssa.gov/apply
Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) - Monthly cash payments to immigrants who are 65 or older or have a disability and are not eligible for SSI because of immigration status
Learn more here: https://dpss.lacounty.gov/en/cash/capi.html
How to apply?
In-person at DPSS office
By phone: (866) 613-3777
No option to apply online on BenefitsCal right now
Veterans' Benefits - Disability and education benefits for veterans
VA Benefits Helpline: 1-800-983-0937
Unemployment Insurance Benefit (UIB) - Benefit to workers who are unemployed or have hours reduced
How to apply?
English and Spanish 1-800-300-5616
o Cantonese 1-800-547-3506
o Mandarin 1-866-303-0706
o Vietnamese 1-800-547-2058
o TTY 1-800-815-9387
State Disability Insurance (SDI) - short-term cash assistance for workers who cannot work because of a non-work-related injury, illness or pregnancy.
How to apply?
If undocumented - see Legal Aid at Work Guide for special instructions!
Paid Family Leave (PFL) - Cash assistance for workers who need time off to take care of a new baby or sick family member.
How to apply?
If undocumented - see Legal Aid at Work Guide for special instructions!
LIHEAP - help with electricity and gas bills; can also get assistance with weatherization costs
How to apply?
“CARE” Discount (30-35% discount electricity, 20% discount gas)
How to apply?
Depends on your utility:
SoCal Edison (1-800-447-6620)
SoCalGas (1-800-427-2200)
LADWP has its own programs for low-income households
Call 1-800-342-5397
“FERA” Discount – SoCal Edison (offers an 18% discount on electricity bill if household income slightly exceeds the CARE allowances)
How to apply?
or call 1-800-447-6620
Medical Baseline Allowance (additional gas or electricity at lowest residential rate – for folks who have serious medical conditions and are on life-supporting machines or need additional heating/cooling)
How to apply?
SCE App. (1-800-447-6620)
SoCalGas App. (1-800-427-2200)
LADWP: Life-Support Equipment Discount and Physician Certified Allowance Discount:
1-800-DIAL-DWP (1-800-342-5397)
There are no restrictions on the benefits that US Citizens may be eligible for.* Though, of course, they will still have to meet other eligibility criteria (i.e. income and asset limits, etc.).
*This, of course, does not apply to benefit programs that are specifically for non-citizens (like TCVAP cash aid and CAPI).
LPRs are eligible for all of the major benefits programs in California (provided that they qualify financially and meet the other eligibility criteria), including:
Medi-Cal
CalFresh
CalWORKs (cash aid)
IHSS
General Relief
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) OR Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI)
[If person has credit for 40 quarters (10 years) of work history in the US, then SSI; if they do not, then CAPI]
Social Security Retirement and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
EDD Benefits
and others!
Note: If sponsored LPRs have questions about how enrolling in benefits could impact their sponsor, contact BAILA!
Folks who have been GRANTED refugee or asylee status are eligible for all major benefits programs in California (provided that they qualify financially and meet other eligibility criteria), including:
Medi-Cal
CalFresh
CalWORKs (cash aid)
Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI)
If person has not adjusted to LPR status within 7 years of being granted asylee or refugee status - can get CAPI
If 7 years has passed since asylee/refugee status was granted AND the person has adjusted to LPR status but does not have 40 credits/quarters of work history - can get CAPI
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
First 7 years after being granted asylee or refugee status - can get SSI
Once naturalized citizen - can get SSI with no time limit
If person has adjusted to LPR status AND does have credit for 40 quarters of work in US -- can get SSI
Social Security Retirement and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
Refugee Cash Assistance (for refugees for 12 months)
General Relief
IHSS
EDD Benefits
And others!
DACA recipients may be eligible for:
Medi-Cal
Covered California (beginning 11/1/2024; see more here: https://www.nilc.org/resources/frequently-asked-questions-affordable-care-act-eligibility-for-daca-recipients/)
In-Home Supportive Services
WIC
Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) if the person is over the age of 65 and/or has a disability
Unemployment benefits from EDD
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) - but NOT Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Certain tax credits
VAWA self-petitioners who have received their prima facie determination are eligible to enroll in the major benefits programs in California (provided that they qualify financially and meet other eligibility criteria), including:
Medi-Cal
CalFresh
CalWORKs (cash aid)
Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI)
Social Security Retirement or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) -- need current work authorization
General Relief
IHSS
EDD Benefits
And others!
Folks who have a pending U Visa application or whose application has been approved are eligible for the following (provided that they qualify financially and meet other eligibility criteria):
Medi-Cal
CalFresh
CalWORKs (cash aid)
IHSS
TCVAP cash aid (for 12 months)
CAPI
General Relief
Social Security Retirement or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) -- need current work authorization; but NOT SSI
EDD Benefits
And others!
Welfare agencies often get confused when working with U Visa applicants and holders. If an application for benefits is denied, please contact the BAILA Network or another trusted organization (https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/what-legal-aid/i-need-legal-help).
Trafficking survivors are eligible for all major benefits programs in California (provided that they qualify financially and meet other eligibility criteria), including:
Medi-Cal
CalFresh
CalWORKs (cash aid)
TCVAP cash aid and/or Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI)
Social Security Retirement and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) - need current work authorization
General Relief
IHSS
EDD Benefits
And others!
Trafficking survivors who have a T Visa application pending or approved - eligible for all programs listed above (except they would get TCVAP instead of RCA)
Note - if the person has received an ORR certification letter, they would be eligible for federal benefits (so RCA instead of TCVAP)
Folks who qualify as PRUCOL may be eligible for:
Medi-Cal
IHSS
CAPI
WIC
tax assistance and other benefits.
The person may be eligible for Medi-Cal, WIC, State Disability Insurance, Paid Family Leave, and tax assistance among others.
For special guidance about State Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave, see: https://legalaidatwork.org/guides/undocumented-workers-guide-to-applying-for-california-disability-insurance-paid-family-leave/
Note: If someone is undocumented and has children who are US Citizens, they can enroll their children in all of the benefits listed above, provided that they qualify financially and meet other eligibility criteria.
This is GENERAL information only. If you want to learn more about whether using public benefits for eligible children could impact a parent in a public charge determination, go to the Public Charge info page. If you want to talk about your own situation specifically, contact a trusted legal services provider.
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