Money guide
Free help most people don't know to ask for.
Twelve real California programs for food, bills, health, phones, taxes and legal problems, and where to start each one.
One page. Read it here, save the image to your phone, or print it for the fridge.
Most of this help is free, legitimate and underused, often because people assume they will not qualify. Each tile says what the program does and the first step to take. Signing up for one, like CalFresh or Medi-Cal, can qualify a household for others on this list.
- 1
211
- Call or text 211, or search 211ca.org
- Food, rent help, utility help and job resources
- Free, from United Ways of California
- 2
CalFresh
- Monthly help buying groceries
- Apply at BenefitsCal or GetCalFresh.org
- You can start before you have every document
- 3
WIC
- For pregnancy, new parents and kids under 5
- On Medi-Cal or CalFresh? You may already qualify
- Call 1-800-852-5770 to find an office
- 4
LIHEAP energy help
- Help paying heating or cooling bills
- Crisis help when a shutoff notice arrives
- Find your local agency at csd.ca.gov
- 5
CARE and FERA
- CARE: 30 to 35% off electric, 20% off gas
- FERA: 18% off electric with SDG&E, SCE or PG&E
- Sign up on your utility's website
- 6
California LifeLine
- Discounted home phone or cell service
- CalFresh, Medi-Cal or WIC can qualify you
- Find providers at californialifeline.com
- 7
Food banks and pantries
- San Diego: Find Food map at feedingsandiego.org
- LA County: Pantry Locator at lafoodbank.org
- Call ahead to confirm days and hours
- 8
Medi-Cal and Covered California
- Medi-Cal: apply any time, at BenefitsCal
- Covered California: help paying the premium
- Lost job coverage? You have 60 days to enroll
- 9
Unemployment insurance
- For work lost through no fault of your own
- File at EDD's UI Online in the first week
- Certify every two weeks to keep it coming
- 10
Free legal aid
- LawHelpCA.org lists legal aid by county
- Housing, debt, work and benefits problems
- Self-help guides in Spanish and more
- 11
Free tax prep (VITA)
- Returns done free by IRS-certified volunteers
- Mainly for incomes of about $70,244 or less
- Find a site: call 800-906-9887
- 12
Your library card
- Free to California residents at SD Public Library
- Job listings, resume help and online courses
- Borrow a Wi-Fi hotspot or a Chromebook
Asking is not a failure. It is how these programs were meant to be used.
Get the free 72-Hour Readiness Plan
Sources
- 211 California (United Ways of California)
- GetCalFresh: How to apply for CalFresh
- California WIC: Am I eligible?
- California Department of Community Services and Development: LIHEAP energy bill help
- California Public Utilities Commission: CARE and FERA programs
- California Public Utilities Commission: California LifeLine
- California Public Utilities Commission: California LifeLine eligibility
- Feeding San Diego: Free food distributions
- Los Angeles Regional Food Bank: How to find food assistance near you
- Covered California: Health insurance for the unemployed, from COBRA to Medi-Cal
- EDD: Unemployment eligibility requirements
- EDD: Unemployment Insurance claim guide (DE 2320M)
- LawHelpCA (Legal Aid Association of California)
- IRS: Free tax return preparation for qualifying taxpayers (VITA and TCE)
- San Diego Public Library: Library lending and library cards
- San Diego Public Library: eLibrary
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