Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance

The Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance helps eligible residents obtain food benefits, cash assistance, health coverage, and services connected to employment and family stability. This article explains which programs the department handles, how to submit an application or documents, where to receive in-person assistance, and what to prepare when requesting faster processing, disability accommodations, or help with an existing case.

Which Benefits Does DHA Handle?

The Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance, commonly called DHA, administers federal, state, and local assistance programs for eligible low-income county residents. The appropriate program depends on the type of help needed and the household’s circumstances. Food assistance, family cash aid, adult assistance, and health coverage have different eligibility rules; qualifying for one does not establish eligibility for every other program.

CalFresh provides monthly food benefits. CalWORKs provides cash aid and services to eligible families. General Assistance serves qualifying adults without means of support. DHA also accepts applications for Medi-Cal and administers other assistance programs, including Refugee Cash Assistance, the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants, and the Trafficking and Crime Victim Assistance Program.

The department’s responsibilities extend beyond benefit applications. Its services include employment support for Welfare-to-Work participants, Stage One child care for eligible CalWORKs families, and veterans benefits assistance. These services have their own participation requirements and service arrangements, so a general benefits office visit and a veterans claims appointment are different requests.

Applications and Document Submission

Online, Telephone, and Paper Applications

DHA accepts applications online through BenefitsCal, by telephone, by mail, by fax, and in person. The county’s Application Center provides application forms and explains the available submission methods. Telephone application assistance is available through the department’s general service number, included in the office list below.

For a paper application, SAWS 1 begins the application process for food assistance, cash aid, health coverage, and other programs. Cash aid programs covered by this initial form include CalWORKs, Refugee Cash Assistance, and General Assistance. DHA also provides SAWS 2 PLUS, which supplies additional information to help the county determine eligibility and whether benefits may be available faster.

Completed applications and supporting documents can be mailed to the department’s application mailing address or delivered in person. The Application Center accepts fax submissions at (916) 854-9225 or (916) 854-9307. These fax options are also available for submitting documents after an application has been filed.

Some programs have specific application instructions. In BenefitsCal, applicants for Refugee Cash Assistance or the Trafficking and Crime Victim Assistance Program should select “Cash Aid.” The Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants uses form SOC 814. DHA also provides a single streamlined application for Medi-Cal. Choosing the form or online category identified for the program helps avoid submitting a different type of request.

BenefitsCal for Ongoing Case Tasks

The county’s BenefitsCal information page explains the statewide portal used to apply for and manage benefits. BenefitsCal replaced C4Yourself, YourBenefitsNow, and MyBenefitsCalWIN. Residents familiar with one of those older systems should use the current portal for supported county benefit tasks.

BenefitsCal allows users to apply, upload documents, submit paperwork, and check case status. It requires two-step verification to protect customer information. Be prepared to complete that verification when accessing an account.

An online account is useful for handling paperwork, but it serves a different purpose from an EBT account. BenefitsCal concerns applications and benefit cases; EBT concerns access to benefits issued on a card. A problem with a card or suspected benefit theft requires the EBT reporting steps described below.

Office Visits and Case Assistance

DHA’s general information and referral service can explain department programs, identify where to apply, and help residents contact their caseworker. For an existing case, the Service Center is the appropriate telephone contact. General Assistance instructions identify Service Center hours as Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The department’s general contact page lists five public assistance locations: Watt Avenue in North Highlands, Florin Road in Sacramento, Research Drive in Sacramento, Fulton Avenue in Sacramento, and North Lincoln Way in Galt. General lobby hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Full addresses appear at the end of this article.

General Assistance has a more specific in-person direction: its program page identifies the Florin Road office and gives hours of Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4 p.m. Residents seeking that program should follow its program-specific location instructions.

The lobby at 847 G Street closed to the public after July 16, 2026. Residents who previously used that location should choose from the department’s current public assistance offices. Veterans claims assistance has a separate location and appointment rules.

CalFresh Food Assistance

CalFresh in Sacramento County provides monthly assistance to individuals and families with low or no income. It is California’s version of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Benefits are issued on an Electronic Benefit Transfer card and can purchase food at grocery stores and farmers markets that accept EBT.

Minimum Information to File

DHA encourages applicants to complete as much of the application as possible to reduce delays. However, the minimum information needed to file a CalFresh application is:

The applicant’s name.

The household’s address, unless the household is homeless.

A signature from the head of household, another adult household member, an authorized representative, or a responsible minor.

These are minimum filing requirements, rather than a complete eligibility determination. An applicant who needs food urgently should also provide the information relevant to expedited service screening.

Expedited CalFresh Processing

Eligible applicants must have their CalFresh application processed within three days of the application date under expedited services. DHA must be able to verify identity, and the household must meet at least one of these conditions:

Monthly gross income before taxes is less than $150, and liquid resources are $100 or less.

Combined monthly gross income and liquid resources are less than combined monthly rent or mortgage and utility expenses.

The applicant is a migrant or seasonal worker with $100 or less in liquid resources.

Prepare accurate figures for income, available liquid resources, housing costs, and utilities so the county can evaluate the applicable condition. The three-day requirement applies to eligible expedited-service applications; it is not the processing standard stated for every CalFresh application.

Restaurant Meals and Work Requirements

The Restaurant Meals Program allows qualifying CalFresh households to purchase meals at participating restaurants. All household members must fall within the specified categories: age 60 or older, disabled, the spouse of someone in either of those categories, or experiencing homelessness. A CalFresh card alone does not establish eligibility for restaurant meals, and participation is limited to participating restaurants.

Federal CalFresh work and community engagement rules changed in California beginning June 1, 2026. Some recipients must meet work requirements to keep their benefits. DHA also identifies a college-student eligibility pathway through Local Programs that Increase Employability. Students and recipients affected by work requirements should review the county’s program information and discuss their circumstances with DHA rather than assume that the same rule applies to every household.

CalWORKs Cash Aid for Families

CalWORKs cash assistance and family services support eligible California families in need. Eligibility and the monthly payment depend on factors including the number of eligible family members, qualifying special needs, and the family’s net income. A parent’s receipt of CalWORKs is generally limited to 60 months unless an exemption applies.

CalWORKs benefits may be issued through EBT or deposited into a customer’s personal checking or savings account. The payment method does not replace the program’s eligibility requirements.

Immediate Need Requests

CalWORKs Immediate Need processing is available to certain applicants who appear eligible for the program and have a qualifying urgent circumstance. For eligible Immediate Need applicants, DHA states that the application must be processed within one day of the CalWORKs application.

Qualifying circumstances include homelessness; an eviction notice or notice to pay rent or leave; utilities that have been shut off or are subject to a shut-off notice; or food that will run out within three days. Other circumstances include transportation needed to obtain food, clothing, medical care, or emergency items, and a need for essential clothing such as diapers or cold-weather clothing.

A household emergency involving pregnancy, an immediate medical need, child abuse, domestic abuse, elder abuse, or another threat to health or safety may also qualify. Explain the specific emergency when requesting Immediate Need screening so the county can evaluate the request under the correct criteria.

Home Visiting for Young Families

Sacramento County’s CalWORKs Home Visiting Program is called the Family Support Initiative. This voluntary service supports pregnant and parenting people, families, and young children through home visiting and parenting information tailored to family needs.

A family may qualify if a member is eligible or apparently eligible for CalWORKs and the family includes a pregnant person or a parent or caretaker of a child younger than three. Once enrolled, home visiting can continue for up to 24 months or until the child’s fifth birthday, whichever comes first. A DHA worker can discuss eligibility.

Health Coverage Through DHA

The department’s health care coverage information distinguishes Medi-Cal, Covered California, and the County Medically Indigent Services Program. These programs serve different coverage needs.

Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program and pays for a variety of medical services for qualifying children and adults with limited income and resources. Covered California is the state’s health insurance marketplace, where people can compare and purchase health plans. Someone whose income is too high for Medi-Cal may qualify to purchase coverage through Covered California.

The County Medically Indigent Services Program, or CMISP, provides medically necessary care to eligible Sacramento County residents who do not have, or are not eligible for, other health coverage. It is a program of last resort. People needing to apply for health coverage programs, including CMISP, may do so when requesting medical services.

General Assistance for Adults

General Assistance eligibility and application information concerns adults age 18 or older who have no means of support. Eligibility and the monthly assistance amount depend on factors including housing circumstances and net income.

Adults determined to be employable may receive General Assistance for up to 90 days within a 12-month period. Adults determined to be unemployable because of a temporary or long-term disability may receive assistance until the disability is resolved. The county’s determination therefore affects the applicable duration of assistance.

DHA directs in-person applicants to its Florin Road office and identifies SAWS 1 as the General Assistance application. Questions about an existing General Assistance case go through the Service Center. General Assistance is also excluded from the cash-benefit direct deposit option described on the department’s EBT page.

EBT Access, Fees, and Theft

The department’s EBT card and benefit protection information explains how cash benefits can be accessed through participating stores and ATMs displaying the QUEST logo. Depending on the participating location, cash EBT can be used for purchases, purchases with cash back, cash-only withdrawals, or money orders.

Fees vary by transaction and location. DHA recommends identifying stores and ATMs that do not charge for cash access, using surcharge-free ATMs, and avoiding repeated small ATM withdrawals. Its guidance advises no more than four ATM visits per month to avoid transaction fees. Receipts help track balances and the number of cash withdrawals.

Remaining magnetic stripe-only EBT cards were permanently deactivated beginning April 19, 2026. A person still holding an older card must request and activate a chip-enabled replacement to continue accessing benefits.

Reporting Stolen Benefits

EBT skimming occurs when a device captures card information at a payment terminal. EBT scamming involves deception that persuades a customer to disclose information such as a card number, PIN, Social Security number, or banking information. DHA warns that fake social media offers for free government smartphones have been used to steal EBT information. Never share EBT card information online.

If benefits may have been stolen, immediately call EBT customer service at 877-328-9677 and contact the county Service Center. Telephone reporting must be followed by the required county paperwork: form EBT 2259 for skimming, or forms EBT 2259 and EBT 2259A for a scam. Reporting the incident by phone alone does not complete the stated document requirement.

Employment Support and Child Care

DHA’s employment services for Welfare-to-Work participants include several distinct options. Job Club provides training in résumés, interviewing, job searching, and life skills, along with individual coaching, job matching, and interview referrals.

Community Work Experience provides non-salaried placements intended to build workplace skills and experience. Subsidized Employment provides paid work and on-the-job training, with Job Developer support during the first six months. These are different arrangements; a Community Work Experience placement should not be confused with paid subsidized employment.

Vocational Assessment Counselors assist participants with career planning, high school completion information, learning and physical disabilities testing, and evaluation of degrees earned outside the United States. Family Stabilization is a voluntary supportive program for Welfare-to-Work participants facing crises involving homelessness, domestic violence, or troubled youth.

Job Talk provides information about immediate openings, referrals, job search assistance, and employment events. Unlike services specifically limited to Welfare-to-Work participants, Job Talks are open to the public.

Stage One Child Care

DHA administers Stage One of the CalWORKs three-stage child care system. A parent receiving cash aid and participating in a DHA Welfare-to-Work activity can ask the worker to send a referral to the Child Care Processing Unit. Eligibility and approval are required for Stage One services.

For approved Stage One child care, DHA states that the provider will be paid within 21 days after submitting completed attendance forms. That payment period begins with submission of the completed forms, rather than the initial request for child care. DHA administers Stage One only; later stages have separate administration.

Disability Accommodations and Service Problems

A physical, mental, developmental, or emotional condition may make it difficult to apply for benefits or meet program requirements. DHA offers reasonable accommodations to provide extra help in these circumstances, including for people with serious health problems.

An accommodation request can be made verbally through the Service Center or while speaking with a worker about a case. Written requests may be submitted online, by mail, by fax, or in person. Explain the difficulty affecting the application or program requirement when requesting assistance.

For difficulty obtaining services within the department, DHA identifies an Ombudsperson as a source of help. Its website also provides access to civil rights information and fair hearing information. These options address service access and benefit-related concerns through different department processes.

Veterans Claims Assistance and Appointments

The Sacramento County Veterans Services Office helps veterans and their families pursue benefits earned through military service. Its accredited Veterans Claims Representatives assist with service-connected disability compensation, pensions for qualifying wartime veterans with non-service-connected disabilities, Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits, VA health care enrollment, survivors benefits, and the California Tuition Fee Waiver Program.

Representatives explain benefit programs and eligibility criteria, interview applicants, identify claim issues, gather evidence, and upload information to support claims. The county office is separate from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs; it is not the VA.

Claims assistance is available by appointment only during the service periods of 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Customers arriving more than 15 minutes late will be rescheduled. Walk-in services are available for DMV verification forms, College Fee Waivers, claims paperwork drop-off, and urgent VA matters.

Department Offices and Contact Information

Department of Human Assistance — General Information and Referral
1-800-560-0976
TDD/TTY: (800) 855-7100 or 711

Department of Human Assistance — Application Center
P.O. Box 487
Sacramento, CA 95812

Department of Human Assistance
5747 Watt Ave.
North Highlands, CA 95660

Department of Human Assistance
2450 Florin Road
Sacramento, CA 95822

Department of Human Assistance
3960 Research Dr.
Sacramento, CA 95838

Department of Human Assistance
2700 Fulton Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95821

Department of Human Assistance
210 N. Lincoln Way
Galt, CA 95632

Sacramento County Veterans Services Office
3075 Prospect Park Drive, Suite 170
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
(916) 874-6811