CalFresh Disaster Benefit Replacement
On January 6, 2023, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) submitted a request to the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to extend the Timely Reporting of Food Loss waiver for Humboldt and Santa Cruz Counties. FNS has approved the request to extend the Timely Reporting waiver in Humboldt and Santa Cruz Counties through January 30, 2023. The Timely Reporting Waiver will allow households in Humboldt and Santa Cruz Counties to make a request for replacement of CalFresh benefits through January 30, 2023. The waiver will allow the State to provide impacted households in the affected county additional time to report their food loss.
Please contact our Employment and Benefit Services Division at 1-888-421-8080 between 7:30am and 5:00pm to enquire about CalFresh Benefit Replacement eligibility if you are a CalFresh household whose food purchased with CalFresh benefits was lost due to a household misfortune (flood, power outage, evacuation).
Benefits Replacement Flyer-English (PDF, 44 KB)
Benefits Replacement Flyer-Spanish (PDF, 44 KB)
Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)
The federally funded Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) offers a monthly discount of up to $30 on Home Internet service for qualifying households. That means your Internet service could be free when used with special high-speed internet plans offered by many providers. If you’re enrolled in a program like Medi-Cal, CalFresh, Lifeline, WIC, or SSI, or if your household income is less than $53,000 (for a family of four), then you qualify for ACP!
Visit: Internetforallnow.org/applytoday or call 866-745-2805 to learn more.
County Holiday Observances
County offices will be closed December 23rd, December 26th, and January 2nd in observance of Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.
Please view 2023 County Holiday schedule HERE.
Applying for Benefits During COVID-19
We understand your medical needs and food assistance is a priority for you and your family. To assist you in applying for public assistance benefits such as CalFresh, Medi-Cal, General Assistance, or CalWORKs, we developed the following guides:
EBSD Guide to Benefits - English (PDF, 459 KB)
EBSD Guide to Benefits - Spanish (PDF, 483 KB)
While visiting our offices, residents will be asked to wear face coverings and maintain physical distancing and should stay home if they have been sick or have a fever. Residents should expect limits on the number of persons in lobbies, protective screens at public counters, additional signage, and other measures to protect the health and safety of residents and staff.
All essential services continue to be provided by phone, online and by mail, while access to the walk-in service centers will be limited, in order to promote social distancing. Nearly all benefit services for Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs, General Assistance are available remotely by mail, phone or online through the following access points:
Electronically: Mybenefitscalwin.org Mysantacruzcounty mobile app: Getcalfresh.org
Phone: 1-888-421-8080 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Mail: P.O. Box 1320, Santa Cruz CA 95061
In-Person: Lobby hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at 18 W. Beach St. in Watsonville or 1020 Emeline Ave. in Santa Cruz
IMPORTANT: Are you enrolled in Medi-Cal? Has your contact information changed in the past two years? Give your county office your updated contact information so you can stay enrolled.
Importante: ¿Está inscrito(a) a Medi-Cal? ¿Ha cambiado su información de contacto en los últimos dos años? Proporcione su información de contacto actualizada a su oficina del condado para mantenerse inscrito(a). Encuentre su oficina del condado local.
Medi-Cal beneficiaries and families: you may qualify for federal stimulus payments issued during #COVID19. To check your eligibility and claim your payments today, visit https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/cdssprograms/2020-income-tax-return-filing