General Assistance

Individuals who want to apply for General Assistance can go to BenefitsCal.com to submit an application.

Individuals may also apply for General Assistance by calling (866) 663-3225. Staff will conduct a phone interview to determine eligibility for GA.

Para ayuda con Asistencia General, llame (925) 957-5648.

General Assistance (GA) the county-funded program established by the State Welfare and Institutions Code for the purpose of aiding adult indigents who are legal residents of Contra Costa County who have no other means of support and are ineligible for federal or state-funded cash that is locally administered and funded by the County of Contra Costa County. 

The maximum cash grant for a single employable person on GA is $336 per month and $454 per month for an employable couple. However, grant amounts vary according to the number of people in the household, income, and the employability status of the recipient so not every recipient of GA benefits receives the maximum aid amount.

Individuals enrolled in General Assistance may qualify for some of the following benefits and services:

For additional information you can Download the GA Brochure here GA80ENGv3.pdf in English and Spanish GA80SPv3.pdf

Eligibility

You may be eligible for General Assistance if you are:

  • a U.S. citizen or non-citizen legally in the country with no limitation on your stay
  • a resident of Contra Costa County for at least 15 days; and
  • an adult without dependent children

If you are receiving Social Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Unemployment Insurance Benefits (UIB), or State Disability Insurance (SDI) you may not be eligible.

The criteria used to determine your eligibility is also based on your income and property. Applicants may have up to $500 in personal property.

GA applicants and recipients must apply for all potentially available income.

  • Applicants and recipients who are unemployable and/or 65 years and older are required to apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits through the Social Security Administration. For more information on SSI application assistance, click her to visit the SSI advocacy page Advocacy Services | EHSD 

  • Legal non-citizens 65 years and older who meet certain residency requirements must apply for benefits through the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) 

All GA benefits are considered a loan to the individual receiving aid. GA applicants/recipients must sign a reimbursement agreement as a condition of eligibility.

Time Limits

Individuals determined to be employable will only be eligible for cash aid 90 days in any 12-month period unless permanently or temporarily disabled and unable to work.

Ways to Apply for General Assistance (GA)

Individuals may apply for General Assistance (GA) by coming into a Contra Costa County Social Services Agency office.  Our Offices are open Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

East County Central County West County
4545 Delta Fair Boulevard
Antioch, CA 94509
400 Ellinwood Way
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
1305 Macdonald Avenue
Richmond, CA 94801

Individuals can go to  BenefitsCal. Together, we benefit. to submit an online application online

Individuals can call the County toll free line 866-663-3225 or (925) 957-5648 to reach staff to apply for GA.

Once you apply for GA, you will be given an interview appointment, additional forms are required.  You will be sent an application packet with these forms, or they can be downloaded.

What Happens Next

At your interview, you may be asked to provide:

  • Photo Identification
  • Proof of income and resources
  • Information of citizenship status or legal immigration status
  • Social Security Number
  • Complete GA application

How to Submit Verifications and Forms

Online, you can submit required verifications and most GA forms here BenefitsCal

Note: The original signed Form SSP 14 must be returned via mail or in-person or through a secure email from your GA worker. The secure email will allow the worker to send documents and get an electronic signature for this form and can expedite the application process.

You can submit any forms or verifications by mail to

CMU

PO BOX 114

Concord, CA 94524-4114

Using Your Benefits

General Assistance recipients will receive their cash aid on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card.

You can check your balance by:

If your card is stolen or lost, please call 1-877-328-9677 to report it and to request a replacement card.  If you are homeless please contact your worker for assistance. Protect yourself against scams, do not share your EBT card or PIN with others. We will never contact you to ask about these details so if you receive any phone calls, texts or emails asking for your information, DO NOT provide it to them.

Keeping your Benefits

To keep your General Assistance benefits you may need to complete a quarterly report, annual redetermination, and any mandatory mid-year reports. In addition, if your address or phone number changes you should report that to your GA worker as they may need to contact you over the phone and send you important documents and Notice of Action’s in the mail. 

Quarterly Report

You may be required to submit a GA quarterly to report changes in circumstances such as changes in income, resources, household composition, and/or expenses, that may impact eligibility.

Individuals can submit GA QR7 forms

  • In person by dropping them off to a Contra Costa County Social Employment and Human Services District office.
East County Central County West County
4545 Delta Fair Boulevard
Antioch, CA 94509
400 Ellinwood Way
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
1305 Macdonald Avenue
Richmond, CA 94801
  • By Mail You can submit any forms or verifications to

CMU

PO BOX 114

Concord, CA 94524-4114

Download Printable Blank GA QR 7 Forms here English GENERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM English and for Spanish GENERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Blank GA QR 7 Forms are also available at Contra Costa County Social Services Agency offices

Redetermination (RRR)

You are required to complete a redetermination every year, which includes completing an interview with an eligibility worker and submitting all redetermination forms and required verifications.

You can submit required verifications and most GA redetermination application forms online here.

Individuals can submit GA RRR forms  

  • In person by dropping them off to a Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services District office.
East County Central County West County
4545 Delta Fair Boulevard
Antioch, CA 94509
400 Ellinwood Way
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
1305 Macdonald Avenue
Richmond, CA 94801
  • By Mail You can submit any forms or verifications to

CMU

PO BOX 114

Concord, CA 94524-4114

Note: The original signed Form SSP 14 (SSP 14.pdfSSP 14 SP) must be returned via mail, in-person or returned electronically with a digital signature.         

Download Printable Blank Form GA 201 E Here CONTRA COSTA COUNTY

GA redetermination packet forms are also available at Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services District office.

It is mandatory to report the following changes within ten (10) days of occurrence.

  • Any changes in income
  • Anytime you have any change that may affect your eligibility

Use the GA QR 3 form to report any changes, English and Spanish.

How to Report Change

Online: You can submit reports of changes online BenefitsCal. Together, we benefit.

Or you can also use Adobe Sign Adobe Acrobat Sign Login — Sign in to your e-signature account (echosign.com) to email them to your GA intake worker once you have an appointment scheduled.

By Phone: You can call 925-655-0990 to report any changes.

By Mail: You can submit any forms or verifications to:

CMU

PO BOX 114

Concord, CA 94524-4114

FORMS

Below are some important forms you may need to provide to your GA worker as part of you GA Intake and to continue to receive GA benefits.

GA Application

The GA 201 E is the official Contra Costa County General Assistance Application called the GA Statement of Facts. This form needs to be completed in its entirety as part of eligibility determination for GA Benefits.

Downloadable blank form GA 201 E- GA Statement of Facts in English and in Spanish

GA 201 B- Agreement of Cooperation GA201Bv7.pdf (Eng.) and Spanish

Homeless Forms

The following forms need to be completed every month in order to determine if there is ongoing homelessness and continue to receive ongoing monthly homeless assistance.

Complete the GA 94 H every month to verify you are still homeless and complete the GA 94-15 every month to verify what you spent your GA homeless assistance on.

The GA 94 H in English GA94H.pdf and Spanish GA94HSP.pdf

The GA 94-15 in English GENERAL ASSISTANCE VERIFICATION OF SHELTER REFERRAL and Spanish GENERAL ASSISTANCE VERIFICATION OF SHELTER REFERRAL.


Quarterly Report Forms-

Download the following Printable Blank Form to continue to receive General Assistance.

Download Printable Blank GA QR 7 Forms here English GENERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM English and Spanish GENERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Blank GA QR 7 Forms are also available at Contra Costa County Social Services Agency offices.

Redetermination Forms (RRR)

Download the following Printable Blank Form forms for RRR:

The GA Statement of Facts (GA Application) GA 201 E here 

The GA Cooperation Agreement,  GA201Bv7.pdf  and in Spanish

The GA Health Provider’s Statement  GA 341 (Eng.), GA 341 (Sp.)

SSP-14 – Authorization for Reimbursement of Interim Assistance Initial Claim or Post Eligibility Case SSP 14.pdf English and Spanish SSP 14 SP

OTHER PROGRAMS

Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI)

Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) Provides cash assistance to certain aged, blind, and disabled legal immigrants ineligible for Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment (SSI/SSP) due to their immigration status.  CAPI participants may also be eligible to Medi-Cal, In-Home Supportive Services, and/or CalFresh Benefits.

Contra Costa County General Assistance Program is responsible for providing potentially eligible individuals with CAPI applications, assisting applicants with completing the application, conducting the required face-to-face interview, processing other public benefit program applications (General Assistance, Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs) and forwarding CAPI applications received to San Mateo County. Contra Costa County’s CAPI program is administered by San Mateo County who processes the CAPI applications and sends assistance payments directly to Contra Costa County residents.

How to Apply:

  • In Person

Come into any Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services District Office to get a CAPI application and to make an appointment to submit the application.

East County Central County West County
4545 Delta Fair Boulevard
Antioch, CA 94509
400 Ellinwood Way
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
1305 Macdonald Avenue
Richmond, CA 94801
  • By Phone

Call the GA Line at 925-957-5647 to request to apply for CAPI

  • By Mail

Download an Application here SOC 814 (ca.gov) and mail the completed application to the San Mateo CAPI Unit at:

271-92nd Street

Daly City, CA 94015

  • By Fax

Download an application here SOC 814 (ca.gov) and fax the completed application to 650-301-8455, attention San Mateo CAPI Unit.

For additional CAPI and CAPI Applications in other languages please see information from the California Department of Social Services here: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/capi

For more information: You can get recorded information 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays, by calling CAPI’s toll-free number, 1-800 648-0954.

To be eligible for CAPI, you must meet all of the following eligibility requirements: 

  • Be a California resident;
  • Be age 65 or over, blind, or disabled; 
  • Be a non-citizen and meet the immigration status criteria in effect for SSI/SSP as of 08/21/96; 
  • Be ineligible for SSI/SSP solely due to your immigration status. This means you must apply for SSI/SSP and submit proof of your ineligibility from the Social Security Administration;
  • Have resources below the allowable limits of $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple; and
  • Have income less than the CAPI payment standards.  

If eligible, your CAPI payment amount will depend on your marital status, living arrangement, and income.

You are not eligible for CAPI if you are:

  •  A United States (U. S.) Citizen;
  •  A resident of a public institution for at least 30 consecutive days;
  •  A fleeing felon/parole violator; or
  •  Outside of California for at least 30 consecutive days.

REFUGEE & IMMIGRANT PROGRAMS

Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)

Refugee Cash Assistance is available for the first 12 months that a refugee (admitted for permanent residence) is in the U.S.

In California, the refugee must first have eligibility for CalWORKs determined. If it is determined that the refugee is eligible for CalWORKs, aid must be paid under that program rather than from RCA funds.

Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Programs (TCVAP)

The Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program (TCVAP) provides eligible non-citizen victims of human trafficking, domestic violence and other serious crimes services such as cash assistance, food benefits, employment and social services.  Benefits and services are modeled after the Refugee Resettlement Program which follow the same grant amounts, structure and time frames as Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) and CalWORKs.

For more Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) or Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Programs (TCVAP) information please go here Refugee & Immigrant Programs | EHSD  

Applicants that wish to apply for RCA or TCVAP online may do so by:

East County Central County West County
4545 Delta Fair Boulevard
Antioch, CA 94509
400 Ellinwood Way
Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
1305 Macdonald Avenue
Richmond, CA 94801

Office hours in each location are:
Monday – Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

County Interment Program – County Burial Services

A county burial service may be authorized for those deceased county residents who do not have the resources to provide such interment on their own, and whose next of kin are financially unable to assume their responsibility.

For more information on County Interment click here: County Burial Services | EHSD