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Assistance For Jobless Workers Losing Unemployment Benefits
The State of California and partner organizations provide a wide range of services to help people who have exhausted, or may soon exhaust, their unemployment insurance. Unemployed individuals may be eligible for assistance to meet basic needs as well as other services such as health care, counseling, employment and training assistance. In many parts of California, you can call 2-1-1 to learn about resources in your community or contact the agencies & organizations listed below directly to inquire about their programs. Some programs may have eligibility criteria.
Basic Necessities Assistance
California Work Opportunities & Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) offers cash assistance to families with children and pregnant women in the last 120 days of pregnancy, who have little or no assets or income. http://www.cdss.ca.gov/calworks or http://www.c4yourself.com
General Assistance or General Relief loans or grants for adults without children in their home who have little or no assets or income. http://www.csac.counties.org
Food Assistance
Food Stamp Program helps low-income people buy nutritious food at most grocery stores and some farmer’s markets. http://www.c4yourself.com / 1-877-847-3663
Emergency Food Assistance Program (EFAP) & Local Food Banks. In California, federal, state and local community organizations coordinate to ensure that groceries are available at local food banks. http://www.cafoodbanks.org
Free Summer Lunch Programs are available to all children under 18, regardless of income, every summer. http://www.cde.ca.gov/ds/sh/sn/summersites10.asp. Additionally, free and reduced-price breakfast & lunch at all California public schools.
Women Infants and Children (WIC). Pregnant women & children under 6 receive nutrition support at WIC. http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/wicworks / 1-888-942-9675
Medical Care and Health Care Coverage
Medi-Cal pays for health care for certain low- and medium-income people.
http://www.csac.counties.org or http://www.c4yourself.com
County Health Program offers health care for low-income people not eligible for other help. http://www.csac.counties.org or http://www.c4yourself.com
California Primary Care Association can help you find a community clinic in your area. http://www.cpca.org/resources/findclinic
Utilities Assistance
California Alternative Rates for Energy Program (CARE) offers low-income consumers a 20 percent discount on energy bills. http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/energy/Low+Income/care.htm
The California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) provides assistance in negotiating a more affordable payment to utility companies if a customer has trouble paying his/her energy, telephone, or water bill. http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/puc/cec/b_paymentplan.htm. Some utilities have emergency payment assistance programs for their customers. Click here to learn more.
Family Electric Rate Assistance (FERA) Program provides assistance to families with slightly higher incomes. FERA is available for customers of Southern Ca. Edison, San Diego Gas and Electric Company, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company. http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/energy/Low+Income/fera.htm
The Low-Income Energy Efficiency program provides no-cost weatherization for low-income households who meet the CARE income guidelines: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/energy/Low+Income/liee.htm
The Department of Community Services and Development can connect people to home energy assistance, energy crisis intervention, and low-income weatherization programs. http://www.csd.ca.gov
Lifeline telecommunications program provides a discount for landline service, unlimited local incoming and outgoing calls. http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/Telco/Public+Programs/ults.htm
Housing Resources
Find local non-profit organizations who can offer housing assistance. http://www.hud.gov
Learn about avoiding foreclosure. http://www.hud.gov/local/ca/homeownershi
p/foreclosure
Locate a regional housing authority at http://www.hud.gov/local/ca/renting/hawebsites.cfm
Homeless prevention programs found at http://www.housingca.org/nr/resources/housing_assistance/
Finding a Job
One Stop Career Centers offer job search support and technical assistance.
http://www.edd.ca.gov/ONE-STOP/osfile.pdf
The Employment Development Department provides online guides to jobs and job seeker services. http://www.edd.ca.gov
More Resources
Find low-cost car insurance through the Dept of Insurance at http://www.insurance.ca.gov/
Request changes in your child support orders due to loss in job or UI Benefits at http://www.childsup.ca.gov
Contact Cal-Neva Community Action Partnership for community-based resources including utility and rental assistance. http://www.cal-neva.org
For credit counseling and debt relief, contact the non-profit Consumer Credit Counseling Services. http://www.cccsstl.org/debtsolutions/index.asp
For elder assistance and services, contact http://www.aging.ca.gov/local_aaa/AAA_listing.asp
Visit the Riley Guide Website for mental health tips on coping with job loss. http://www.rileyguide.com/cope.html