CalWORKs

The California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) is the state’s version of the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, established in 1997 following the federal program’s creation in 1996. CalWORKs is a monthly cash grant program designed to support children and families with low incomes. CalWORKs aims to address poverty for California families by aiding families financially and assisting parents in overcoming employment barriers.

Who is eligible for CalWORKs?

Eligible Californians must have at least one child in the home and meet income thresholds that vary depending on household size. For example, a family with two parents and two children in a high-cost county is eligible if they make less than $2,170 per month. Benefits include monthly cash grants, employment assistance, and critical supportive services. CalWORKs helps over 650,000 children and their families, predominantly single-parent households headed by women of color.

The program is administered by the California Department of Social Services and funded through state and federal dollars.

The Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment programs, or SSI/SSP for short, provide income support for eligible individuals in the form of cash assistance. Established in 1974, the programs help older adults with low incomes and people with disabilities pay for housing and other necessities.

Who is eligible for SSI/SSP?

Eligible Californians are low-income adults who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled. Some blind or disabled children are also eligible for SSI benefits. Benefits include monthly payments that help well over 1 million Californians.

SSI is a federally funded program, while the SSP program is California’s own program that supplements the SSI grant. Both are administered by the Social Security Administration.

Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program that provides free or low-cost health care to millions of Californians with low incomes. It is designed to provide access to essential health services that support public health and economic stability. Medicaid was established in 1965 as a state-federal partnership to offer coverage to people with low incomes, including children, pregnant women, seniors needing long-term care, and individuals with disabilities. 

Over time, Medi-Cal has evolved to cover more people and more types of care over the years. A major milestone was the state’s full implementation of the Affordable Care Act in 2014, which expanded eligibility to include low-income adults without dependent children.

Who is eligible for Medi-Cal?

Eligible Californians mainly qualify based on their income, as measured by Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). That includes adults with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and pregnant people with incomes up to 213% of the FPL. Children in families with incomes up to 266% FPL are also eligible through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). 

People are also eligible if they are: blind, disabled, age 65 and older, receiving Supplemental Security Income, in long-term care facilities, or are former foster youth until the age of 26.

What services does Medi-Cal cover?

Benefits include a wide range of services, including doctor’s appointments, emergency services, physical and occupational therapy, dentist appointments, laboratory services, prescription drugs, vision care, preventive and wellness services, and behavioral health services. Medi-Cal also offers transportation to and from appointments for services that are covered by Medi-Cal.

The program is overseen and administered by California’s Department of Health Care Services at the state level and is funded by the federal and state governments.

CalFresh is California’s state version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides modest monthly assistance to Californians with low incomes to purchase food. Established in its modern form in 1977, CalFresh aims to fight hunger and keep Californians out of poverty, and it has expanded to provide food assistance to over 5 million people.

Who is eligible for CalFresh?

Eligible Californians must meet certain income and asset criteria to qualify for food assistance. CalFresh generally provides benefits to households with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty level.

Benefits are disbursed monthly on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card that can be used at grocery stores or farmers’ markets that accept EBT cards. The benefits a household receives depend on household size, income, and monthly expenses, such as child care.

The California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) was established in 1997 to provide state-funded benefits to noncitizens who do not qualify for federally funded CalFresh benefits. CalFresh is available to certain groups of immigrants, but it is not currently available to undocumented immigrants.