Serving Low-income Sacramento County Residents

Background

The Department of Human Assistance administers various federal, state, and local government programs designed to provide cash assistance, food stamps, and health insurance for eligible low-income Sacramento County residents.

CalWORKs

The California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) Program is California’s replacement of the Aid to Families With Dependent Children (AFDC) Program. Also known as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), this program provides cash assistance for eligible families with children (time-limited for non-exempt adults). In 2008, approximately 31,300 families received CalWORKs in Sacramento County.

Cal-Learn Program

The Cal-Learn Program, a program for pregnant or parenting teens under the age of 19 on welfare, is a statewide, mandatory program designed to help them graduate from high school and become self-sufficient.

Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI)

Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) is a state-funded cash assistance program for certain aged, blind and disabled immigrants. DHA is the lead county in the North State/Orange CAPI Consortium. DHA staff processes applications and maintains continuing cases for Orange County and 24 Northern California counties.

Child Care

CalWORKs provides temporary child care subsidies to eligible needy families. The CalWORKs Child Care system aids families in getting connected to local child care resources, stabilizing their child care arrangements and continuing with their services until they no longer need aid.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a special refund for low income working families that is in addition to any income tax refunds they may already receive. In 2008, DHA helped 2,489 low income working families complete their Federal and State income tax returns electronically at no charge. The total refunds were more than $3.8 million.

Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT)

The Golden State Advantage Card, a new, easy to use part of Electronic Benefit Transfer or EBT, will soon replace FAIR cards, food stamp coupons, and paper checks for Sacramento County recipients.

Food Stamp Program

The Food Stamp Program enables low-income individuals and families a way to buy more food, improve nutrition, and stretch their grocery budget. In certain situations, eligible recipients may receive emergency Food Stamp coupons within three (3) days.

How To Apply For Food Stamps

Tri-fold Brochure (PDF)

Web Accessible Brochure (PDF)

The Food Stamp participation rate is a ratio of the number of individuals receiving food stamps to the number of individuals eligible to receive food stamps. Federal methodology for determining participation rate does not take into account differences in program requirements between states, and therefore overestimates those eligible in California by counting SSI recipients and the undocumented population. Accordingly, in 2007, the Department of Human Assistance contracted with California State University, Sacramento to develop a methodology for a more accurate determination of the food stamp participation rate in Sacramento County. They found that the Sacramento County food stamp participation rate is 67.5%.

AFDC—Foster Care (AFDC—FC)

The AFDC—Foster Care (AFDC—FC) Program provides cash and Medi-Cal benefits for providers of out-of-home care for children placed into foster care by Sacramento County Child Protective Services (CPS) or the Probation Department.

General Assistance

The General Assistance (GA) Program provides short-term cash assistance and social services to adults without children who are at least eighteen (18) years of age. GA helps recipients find employment, or if disabled, obtain support from another source.