CWCountyWikiIndependent guide to local servicesCalifornia directory

Benefits and family services

Food, cash assistance, child care and family support.

Residence, household circumstances and program eligibility must be checked with the administering agency.

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20 reviewed links · Santa Cruz

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Santa Cruz, California

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Apply for CalFresh through BenefitsCal (opens in a new tab)

Apply through the state-designated BenefitsCal portal; your county welfare department handles the application. Eligibility and required verification depend on your circumstances.

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California Department of Social Services · CalFresh application portal transition (opens in a new tab)

Apply for CalFresh through BenefitsCal — statewide instructions linked to the separately cited county office

CDSS recommends that County Welfare Departments (CWDs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) update their materials and websites to point to www.benefitscal.com to apply and www.getcalfresh.org for general program information and support.

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CalWORKs application instructions (opens in a new tab)

Read CDSS’s CalWORKs application instructions. Apply using BenefitsCal or contact the welfare office in the county where you live.

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California Department of Social Services · CalWORKs — eligibility, county administration and online application (opens in a new tab)

CalWORKs application instructions — statewide instructions linked to the separately cited county office

Apply online: BenefitsCal.com or contact Social Services within your local county.

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Local child support services and branch information (opens in a new tab)

Find local agency information, branch contacts and assistance for your child support case.

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San Benito/Santa Cruz local child support agency · Santa Cruz — Child Support Services (opens in a new tab)

Named child-support agency, programme or branch contact section

Satisfaction Survey Customer Connect For more information, please follow us on: Facebook Instgram X DCSS Homepage QUICK LINKS Open a Case Learn More Access Your Case Learn More Make a Payment Learn More Modify Your Order Learn More Going to Court Learn More Submit Documents Learn More Forms Learn More Videos Learn More Additional Resources Santa Cruz County Self-Help Center San Benito Count

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Enroll for child support — California online application (opens in a new tab)

Open a case through the shared California enrollment form; a court order is not required to enroll.

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California Department of Child Support Services · California Child Support Services — enroll (opens in a new tab)

Named California Child Support Services programme section

in 10 minutes with our online form Who Can Enroll Either parent, or a legal guardian, can enroll for support whether or not a court order exists. There are no income or other eligibility requirements for services. Our online enrollment form makes it quick and easy

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Make a payment — California State Disbursement Unit (opens in a new tab)

Use the shared state payment portal. Payment methods and processor charges vary.

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California Department of Child Support Services · California Child Support Services — paying (opens in a new tab)

Named California Child Support Services programme section

processor, not DCSS Credit or Debit Card Online: Use the State Disbursement Unit website Mastercard, Visa, and Discover are accepted 1.9% service fee on every transaction Allow 2-3 business days for processin

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View payments and contact your caseworker — Customer Connect (opens in a new tab)

Use California Customer Connect to view your case, payment history and messages.

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California Department of Child Support Services · California Child Support Services — case (opens in a new tab)

Named California Child Support Services programme section

he information you need about your case. You can: Contact your child support specialist Receive reminders and updates See your payment history Update your contact information Change your log in credentials any time, from anywhere Getting Started To register or log in, you will need your Partic

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Ask to change a child support amount (opens in a new tab)

Ask the agency handling your open case for a review and adjustment after a qualifying change in circumstances.

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California Department of Child Support Services · California Child Support Services — modify (opens in a new tab)

Named California Child Support Services programme section

ifies. This is called a “modification.” Overview: Either parent (or a guardian) can request a “review and adjustment” from the agency handling their case To request a review and adjustment, you must have an open case (a case can be opened at any time) Your support order ca

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Choose how to receive child support (opens in a new tab)

Read California instructions for direct deposit or an Electronic Payment Card.

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California Department of Child Support Services · California Child Support Services — receiving (opens in a new tab)

Named California Child Support Services programme section

and faster than waiting for a check to be mailed To sign up for direct deposit, go to the State Disbursement Unit website and select, “Person Receiving Support” You can sign up for direct deposit into a non-US bank account Electronic Payment Card You can choose to receive an Elec

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Ask about reducing child support debt owed to government (opens in a new tab)

Find out whether government-owed arrears qualify for the California Debt Reduction Program.

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California Department of Child Support Services · Child support — state-debt (opens in a new tab)

Named California Child Support Services programme section

nd you will owe the entire debt to the government Contact the office handling your case and ask for a Debt Reduction Program application. Your child support specialist can guide you through the application process and help you submit it electronically, by m

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Estimate support — California guideline calculator (opens in a new tab)

Use the California calculator information page to estimate support; the court decides the order.

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California Department of Child Support Services · Child support — state-calculator (opens in a new tab)

Named California Child Support Services programme section

f child support that may be ordered in your case. This calculator provides only an estimate and is not a guarantee of the amount of support that will be ordered. The county child support commissioner or family law judge has the final authority to determine the amount of a child su

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Santa Cruz County — CalFresh food benefits (opens in a new tab)

Local CalFresh programme information from the county benefits agency.

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Santa Cruz County · Santa Cruz — calfresh programme (opens in a new tab)

County calfresh programme introduction / application information

If you qualify for CalFresh assistance, you will receive an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) debit card. You can use your card to purchase food items at participating stores, or check your account balance, find retailers, and ATMS that accept the EBT card.

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Santa Cruz County — CalWORKs cash aid (opens in a new tab)

Local CalWORKs programme information from the county benefits agency.

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Santa Cruz County · Santa Cruz — calworks programme (opens in a new tab)

County calworks programme introduction / application information

The California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program offers temporary cash aid assistance, nutrition benefits, employment services and health insurance to eligible families who have children under age 18 or who are graduating before they turn 19. This is California's version of the Federal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program.

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EBT card, PIN and lost-card help (opens in a new tab)

State EBT card guidance and official support contacts.

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California Department of Social Services · Benefits — state-ebt (opens in a new tab)

What Is EBT?

Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) is the benefit delivery system that allows CalFresh, CalWORKs, and other program recipients to use a card, much like a debit card, to access their food and cash benefits.

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CalFresh work rules, exemptions and county waivers (opens in a new tab)

State guidance; waiver locations and dates are shown separately.

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California Department of Social Services · CalFresh / CalWORKs — state-abawd (opens in a new tab)

ABAWD three-month limit and who is subject to it

The ABAWD work requirement is a federal rule. People who are considered ABAWDs can only get 3 full months of CalFresh benefits every 3 years. ABAWDs may get benefits for longer than 3 months if they are working, excused from the work requirement, or are living in a county that is waived from the work requirement. The ABAWD work requirement applies to you if you: Are between the ages of 18 and 64 years old; Do not live in a CalFresh household with a CalFresh household member under 14 years old; Are considered physically and mentally able to work at least 20 hours per week; and Are not excused from the rule.

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CalFresh income and benefit tables — 2026–2027 (opens in a new tab)

Current state household-size reference tables, effective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

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California Department of Social Services · CalFresh / CalWORKs — state-cola (opens in a new tab)

ACIN I-40-26 — Attachment I, BBCE gross monthly income — 200% of poverty

OCTOBER 1, 2026 – SEPTEMBER 30, 2027 California Monthly Income Eligibility Standards Allotments and Deductions

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County APS — reporting instructions (opens in a new tab)

Read the county’s APS reporting instructions. Local report lines, office contacts and after-hours dispatch are labeled separately below. An online form may have a later response; follow the county’s urgency instructions.

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Santa Cruz County · Santa Cruz — Adult Protective Services programme (opens in a new tab)

Programme description, eligibility or contact guidance

Adult Protective Services

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California APS — statewide routing & reporting forms (opens in a new tab)

Shared California programme guidance. Call 1-833-401-0832 and enter your five-digit ZIP code for the county APS route, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Read the county’s instructions for local reporting options.

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California Department of Social Services · Adult Protective Services programme and reporting (opens in a new tab)

Programme description, eligibility or contact guidance

Adult Protective Services (APS)

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Official state service profiles

These 104 profiles are classified under this topic by CA.gov. The county filter above does not establish local eligibility for them. Confirm availability and requirements on the official profile.