CalWORKs Resources
Los Angeles County and Kern County provide comprehensive descriptions of the CalWORKs program.

The California Department of Social Services provides information about programs in CalWORKs such as: child support, Welfare-to-Work, and child care.

California Immigrant Welfare CollaborativeThe California Immigrant Policy Center provides information on CalWORKs and other benefits in California. Some of the information is in PDF format. For additional information, call (916) 448-6762 (voice).

The People's Guide provides another source of information for CalWORKs in PDF format.

Legal Services of Northern California has a section with CalWORKs resources, including helpful grant calculation worksheets for Region I and Region II.

Health Care for Families
Access for Infants and MothersThe Access for Infants and Mothers program provides low cost health insurance coverage to uninsured, low income pregnant women and their infants. AIM is part of California's effort to increase health coverage of pregnant women and their infants. The average subscriber is a married woman living in a household with a family income between 200-300% of the Federal Poverty Level. A pregnant woman and her infant(s) enrolled in AIM receive their care from one of nine health plans participating in the program. The pregnant woman participates in the cost of her health care services through a low cost subscriber contribution. The State of California supplements the subscriber contribution to cover the full cost of care. AIM is funded from tobacco tax funds. For an application call toll free: 1-800-433-2611.

Healthy Families ProgramThe Healthy Families Program provides low cost health, dental and vision coverage to uninsured children in low wage families. Families participating in the program choose their health, dental and vision plan. Families pay premiums between $4-$9 per child per month (maximum of $27 per family). The State and Federal government provide funding to the HFP. For an application call toll free: 1-888-747-1222.

Finding a Benefits Planner
The federal government pays benefits planners in communities around the country to help people think ahead about benefits issues. Social Security's Work Incentives Planning and Assistance (WIPA) Program provides counseling to people who are planning for work and receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

To find a benefits planner near you, use DB101's Benefits Planners Directory.

Community Based Organizations
Various community-based organizations provide staff to work with people concerning a range of options on state, federal, public, and private health and income programs. Counseling about benefits, as a community service, is an emerging field of expertise with different levels of services available. Some organizations may work with specific populations while others work with individuals with any type of disability.

Goodwill Industries services range from personal evaluation and office skills training to career counseling, childcare, and transportation. Some of these centers conduct Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach for Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries related to work activity.

Goodwill IndustriesFind locations at http://www.goodwill.org, or by calling (voice) 1-800-664-6577.

California Foundation for Independent Living Centers logoThe California Foundation for Independent Living Centers lists 29 centers serving individuals with all disabilities. Many of these centers conduct Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach for Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries related to work activity. Most independent living centers can refer callers to local benefit program information if they do not have these services.

Find the list of independent living centers at http://www.cfilc.org, or by calling (voice) 916-325-1690 or (TTY) 916-325-1695.

The AIDS Hotline database contains 1,300 organizations providing HIV/AIDS services throughout California. Some of these organizations offer case management, benefits planning, and benefits counseling services that can include assistance with public and private benefits programs.

Find the list of AIDS organizations at http://www.aidshotline.org, or by calling (voice) 1-800-367-AIDS (2437) or (TTY) 1-888-225-AIDS (2437).

Disability Rights California provides representation for consumers of public programs who are disabled. Website publications include topics on health care, benefit programs, and In Home Supportive Services.