Health coverage
Medi-Cal
Free or low-cost California health coverage for eligible residents. Household size, income, age and other circumstances can affect eligibility.
Administered by California DHCS / county social services
Health coverage
Covered California
Marketplace health plans and possible financial help. The application also screens for Medi-Cal.
Administered by Covered California
Federal health coverage
Medicare
Federal health insurance generally for people 65 or older, and for some younger people with qualifying disability, ESRD or ALS.
Administered by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Food assistance
CalFresh
California SNAP food benefits. Income, household composition, deductions and federal work or immigration rules can affect eligibility.
Administered by California Department of Social Services / counties
Cash aid and services
CalWORKs
Cash aid and services for eligible families with children. Rules are administered through county social services.
Administered by California Department of Social Services / counties
Food and nutrition
California WIC
Nutrition support for eligible pregnant, postpartum or breastfeeding people, infants and children under age 5.
Administered by California Department of Public Health
Income replacement
Unemployment Insurance
Temporary benefits for people who are fully or partly unemployed and meet wage, availability and other requirements.
Administered by California EDD
Income replacement
California Disability Insurance
Short-term wage replacement for eligible workers who cannot work because of a non-work-related illness, injury, pregnancy or childbirth.
Administered by California EDD
Cash assistance
SSI / California SSP
Income support for eligible people who are 65 or older, blind, or have a qualifying disability and have limited income and resources.
Administered by Social Security Administration / California
Energy assistance
LIHEAP
Energy-bill and weatherization assistance for eligible low-income households, subject to local provider funding and priorities.
Administered by California Department of Community Services and Development
In-home care
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
County-administered in-home services for eligible aged, blind or disabled people who need help to remain safely at home.
Administered by California Department of Social Services / counties
Utility discount
CARE / FERA Energy Discounts
CARE and FERA can reduce qualifying household energy bills. Income limits are updated annually and applications are handled by participating utilities.
Administered by California Public Utilities Commission / participating utilities
Tax credit
California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC)
A refundable California tax credit for qualifying workers and families. Eligibility depends on earned income, age or qualifying children, residency and other tax rules.
Administered by California Franchise Tax Board
Child care assistance
California Subsidized Child Care
California operates voucher-based and direct-service child care programs for eligible families, including CalWORKs child care and other subsidized programs.
Administered by California Department of Social Services / local agencies
County cash aid
County General Assistance / General Relief
Last-resort county cash assistance programs for certain low-income adults. Rules, names and benefit amounts vary by county.
Administered by California counties
Rules reviewed: October 7, 2026. California58 monitors official state and federal program sources and will version eligibility rules as they change.
