Los Angeles County DPSS: Benefits, Applications and Case Assistance

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) administers food assistance, cash aid, Medi-Cal eligibility, employment support, and In-Home Supportive Services. This guide explains where to apply, how to manage an existing case, which service to contact, and what to do when you need additional help or disagree with a decision.

Independent information guide: This website is not affiliated with DPSS. Eligibility decisions, applications, benefit payments, case actions, and official notices are handled by the department or other responsible agency.

Start here: Use BenefitsCal for supported food, cash-aid, and health-coverage applications and online case management. For telephone assistance with CalFresh, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, or General Relief, call the DPSS Customer Service Center at 866-613-3777. IHSS uses a separate application process.

If you need CalFresh, do not delay submitting an application solely because you are still gathering verification documents. Follow the program's initial submission requirements and provide additional information as requested.

Choose Your Next Step

Different programs have different eligibility rules and application routes. Choose the service that matches your need rather than assuming that approval for one program includes every other benefit.

Starting points for DPSS applications and case assistance

Your task	Where to start	What to prepare
Apply for food assistance	BenefitsCal or the DPSS Customer Service Center.	Basic applicant information, household details, income, and expenses. Ask about expedited service if you have little or no money.
Apply for cash aid	DPSS cash assistance information and the application route for the appropriate program.	Household composition, income, resources, and other information requested for the selected program.
Apply for Medi-Cal	BenefitsCal or the DPSS health coverage page.	Household and income information, current coverage details, and any category-specific verification requested.
Upload documents or manage a case	BenefitsCal.	Application or case identifiers, readable documents, and access to the contact information used for account verification.
Resolve a case-status or reporting question	Customer Service Center at 866-613-3777.	Case number, relevant notice, submission date, and the specific question.
Apply for IHSS	888-944-4477 or 213-744-4477.	Applicant contact information, care needs, and the information requested by intake staff.
Ask about homelessness assistance	DPSS homeless programs; use 211 LA for broader community referrals.	Household composition, current housing situation, cash-aid status when relevant, and a safe way to contact you.
Dispute a benefit decision	The hearing instructions on your Notice of Action and CDSS hearing request information.	The notice, its effective date, the action disputed, and supporting records. Check deadlines promptly.
Request language assistance or an accommodation	Customer Service Center for language assistance; 844-586-5550 for ADA accommodation assistance.	The service needed, preferred language or accommodation, and relevant appointment or case details.

Food and Cash Assistance

The DPSS program directory explains the available assistance categories. Eligibility depends on the program and your circumstances.

CalFresh Food Benefits

CalFresh helps eligible households purchase food. Benefits are generally issued through an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card and may be used for eligible purchases at participating retailers.

Approved online grocery services and participating farmers' markets may also accept CalFresh. The Restaurant Meals Program serves qualifying participants at participating restaurants; it is not available to every CalFresh household.

Review the DPSS food and nutrition section for program details and current EBT information.

CalWORKs and General Relief

CalWORKs provides temporary cash assistance and related services to eligible families with minor children. Employment participation requirements, exemptions, time limits, and supportive services depend on the case.

General Relief is a county-funded cash-aid program for eligible adults and certain children in special circumstances who do not qualify for applicable federal or state assistance. Participation requirements and time limits depend on the recipient's circumstances.

CAPI, Refugee Assistance, and Victim Assistance

The Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) serves certain aged, blind, or disabled noncitizens who cannot receive Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment because of immigration status. Follow the county's CAPI application instructions rather than assuming that the standard BenefitsCal application covers this program.

Refugee Cash Assistance and the Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program serve qualifying applicants under their respective rules. Available assistance and participation periods differ by program and eligibility circumstances.

The official cash assistance page distinguishes these programs and their application routes. Do not treat all refugee or victim-assistance cash programs as having the same duration or conditions.

Applying and Submitting Documents

Use BenefitsCal for the programs it supports. The DPSS Customer Service Center can also help with CalFresh, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, and General Relief applications.

Start the Application Without Unnecessary Delay

For CalFresh, the county lists basic application information that includes the applicant's name, address information, and an appropriate signature. Applicants experiencing homelessness have applicable address arrangements.

Do not wait to collect every verification document before submitting a CalFresh application. Read the official CalFresh application instructions, submit the required initial information, and respond to follow-up requests.

Other programs may have different initial requirements. Ask DPSS which application and submission process applies to your request.

Information to Gather

• Applicant and household-member information requested by the program.
• Income and employment information.
• Housing and utility expenses when relevant.
• Resource or asset information when required.
• Existing benefit or health-coverage information.
• Documents specifically requested for the application.
• Current contact information and a reliable way to receive notices.

Only provide information required for the program or request. Ask your worker if a question or document requirement is unclear.

Uploading Documents

BenefitsCal allows document uploads for applications and existing cases, including certain submissions without signing into an account. Use the available upload instructions and supply the identifiers requested to connect documents to the correct case.

• Check that every page is readable.
• Include all requested pages.
• Select the correct case or application when prompted.
• Keep a copy of the document and submission confirmation.
• Confirm receipt with DPSS if the item remains listed as missing.

An upload confirmation shows that a submission was made; it does not by itself establish approval or that every outstanding requirement has been satisfied.

Interviews and Follow-Up

Some applications require an interview or additional verification. Monitor notices and messages, attend scheduled interviews, and respond by the stated deadline.

If you cannot attend an interview or obtain a requested document, contact DPSS promptly to ask about the next steps.

CalFresh Expedited Service

Households with little or no money may qualify for expedited CalFresh benefits within three days. Ask DPSS to screen your application for expedited service if your circumstances may qualify.

The DPSS CalFresh page lists these qualifying situations:

• Monthly gross household income is less than $150, and cash resources are $100 or less.
• Combined monthly household income and liquid resources are less than monthly rent or mortgage and utility costs.
• The household meets the applicable destitute migrant or seasonal farmworker conditions and has liquid resources of $100 or less.

Gross income means income before taxes or deductions. Follow the county's instructions for reporting resources and expenses.

Expedited service requires screening and the applicable interview and identity verification. Some other verification may be postponed under program rules. Do not assume that every application automatically qualifies for expedited processing.

If food is needed while the application is pending, ask DPSS or 211 LA about available local food resources.

Managing and Renewing Benefits

A BenefitsCal account can provide access to supported case details, electronic notices, document uploads, reports, renewals, and reminders. Creating an account and linking a case are separate steps.

Reporting and Renewal Requirements

Follow the reporting schedule assigned to your household. Requirements may include reporting specified changes, reporting income above an applicable Income Reporting Threshold, submitting a SAR 7 when required, and completing renewal or recertification.

Not every household follows the same reporting schedule. Use your notices to identify the forms, verification, and deadlines that apply.

Keep copies of submissions and update your mailing address, telephone number, and email address when they change. Ask DPSS about a reliable way to receive notices if you do not have a stable mailing address.

Account Access and Security

BenefitsCal uses two-step verification. Signing in or linking a case may require access to the email address or telephone number associated with the account or case.

If you cannot receive a verification code, follow the official account-help instructions and contact DPSS when case contact information needs updating.

• Open BenefitsCal directly instead of using an unexpected message link.
• Do not share passwords, one-time verification codes, or your EBT PIN.
• Do not treat a displayed sender name or text short code as sufficient proof that a message is genuine.
• If you receive an unexpected sign-in code, follow BenefitsCal's security instructions and change your password through the official site.
• Use the designated process for submitting identification and other sensitive documents.

BenefitsCal is the public benefit portal. The separate MyDPSS employee sign-in should not be used for public benefit applications or case management.

Medi-Cal Health Coverage

Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program. Applications may be submitted throughout the year. Eligibility and coverage depend on the applicable category and current rules.

The DPSS health care section provides information for children, families, adults, pregnant people, seniors, people with disabilities, former foster youth, and people needing long-term care or specialized services.

Different Coverage Categories

Income, household, asset, immigration-related, and renewal requirements can differ by category. Do not assume that rules for one person's Medi-Cal case apply to every member of the household.

Medicare Savings Programs may help eligible people with specified Medicare costs. Follow the relevant program instructions if you have Medicare and want assistance with premiums or other covered expenses.

Coverage and Eligibility Questions

Contact DPSS for eligibility and renewal questions handled by the county. Questions about treatment, providers, or health-plan services may need to go to the health plan or healthcare provider.

Estate recovery has separate rules and limitations. Use the official resources linked from the DPSS health care page if you need information about recovery from an estate.

Current Policy Changes

CalFresh and Medi-Cal rules are changing. Use the DPSS Keep Your Benefits page for current notices, explanations, and program-specific resources.

CalFresh Changes

DPSS identifies changes affecting work requirements for some adults, eligibility for certain noncitizens, and utility-related deductions. Applicability depends on the household, exemptions, immigration category, and the relevant application or renewal stage.

Do not decide that you are ineligible solely from a short program summary. Review the current guidance, report circumstances relevant to exemptions, and ask DPSS how the rules apply to your case.

Medi-Cal Changes

Changes include asset requirements for certain eligibility groups and restrictions affecting some adult applicants or members based on immigration status. Other changes may affect coverage, services, or renewal requirements on different schedules.

Review the Department of Health Care Services Medi-Cal changes page for current effective dates, affected groups, and exceptions.

What to Do

• Keep your contact information current.
• Read each Notice of Action and renewal request.
• Submit required information by the stated deadline.
• Ask about exemptions or alternative coverage when relevant.
• Request a hearing promptly if you disagree with an action.

An individual notice explains the action taken on your case and the available response. If you believe it is incorrect, use the hearing instructions rather than assuming that the decision cannot be challenged.

Employment, Child Care and Support

The DPSS job services page explains employment programs and related support.

GAIN and START

Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN) serves CalWORKs participants with employment preparation, education, training, job-search assistance, and related services. Participation requirements and exemptions depend on the case.

Skills and Training to Achieve Readiness for Tomorrow (START) provides employment and training services connected to General Relief and voluntary services for eligible CalFresh participants. Confirm your assigned requirements and any exemptions with your worker.

Child Care and Other Supportive Services

CalWORKs child care assistance may be available to eligible current or former participants who work or participate in an approved activity. Ask your worker about authorization, provider requirements, and the applicable payment arrangements.

For a child-care problem, first contact your case worker or District or GAIN Region Child Care Coordinator. The CalWORKs Child Care Hotline is 877-244-5399.

Participants may also qualify for services addressing barriers such as domestic violence, mental health needs, or substance use disorders. Review the community and supportive services information and discuss your needs with the responsible worker.

Housing and Community Referrals

DPSS offers homelessness-related assistance connected to qualifying cash-aid programs. Its homeless services page explains that applicants must meet the relevant cash or financial-assistance eligibility requirements before assessment for those DPSS programs.

Ask DPSS which program applies to your household and whether you can be assessed for temporary housing, housing-related assistance, or other available support. A referral or application does not guarantee a placement or payment.

Broader Community Assistance

The DPSS cash-aid condition does not apply to every shelter, food resource, or housing referral in the county. Call 211 or visit 211 LA for community resource referrals.

When requesting help, explain whether you need shelter now, are at risk of losing housing, have children in the household, or need an accessible service. Confirm availability and intake requirements with the referred provider.

IHSS and Disability-Related Services

In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) helps pay for authorized services that allow eligible seniors, people who are blind, and adults or children with disabilities to remain safely at home.

Services depend on eligibility and an individual assessment. They may include personal care, meal preparation, household tasks, medical accompaniment, and other authorized assistance.

Apply for IHSS

Call 888-944-4477 or 213-744-4477 to begin a telephone application. The county contact page describes the toll-free application number as available within Los Angeles County.

Intake information is forwarded to the appropriate IHSS Area Office for follow-up, including assessment. Review the official IHSS application instructions for required forms and eligibility details.

IHSS Questions and Other Assistance

For IHSS program questions, call the separate Helpline at 888-822-9622. The application line and Helpline serve different purposes.

The DPSS resources section also describes the Countywide Benefits Entitlement Services Team (CBEST), which assists qualifying participants with SSI-related applications and benefit issues.

SSI is administered by the Social Security Administration. County assistance with an application does not mean that DPSS determines SSI eligibility.

Hearings, Civil Rights and Overpayments

Disagreeing With a Decision

If you disagree with a benefit action or failure to act, read the hearing instructions on your Notice of Action promptly. A routine call to customer service is not a substitute for submitting a hearing request.

The California Department of Social Services hearing page describes the general 90-day request period and circumstances in which a late request may be considered.

An earlier deadline may apply if you want benefits to continue while the dispute is reviewed. Continued benefits, sometimes called aid paid pending, are subject to program rules and may have repayment consequences.

Review the official hearing information and your notice. Do not wait for an informal case inquiry to be resolved if a hearing deadline is approaching.

For hearing assistance, call 800-952-5253.

Civil Rights and Accommodations

DPSS provides free language assistance, including interpreter services. Call the Customer Service Center to request help in your preferred language.

For disability-related reasonable accommodation assistance, call the ADA Hotline at 844-586-5550. For discrimination concerns involving DPSS services, contact the Civil Rights Hotline at 562-908-8501.

A civil rights complaint, accommodation request, and benefit hearing are different processes. Ask which route applies, and preserve any separate hearing deadline.

Overpayments and Referred Debts

If you receive an overpayment or overissuance notice, review the reason, amount, dates, and dispute instructions. Keep relevant notices, reports, and submission records.

For delinquent DPSS debts referred to the Treasurer and Tax Collector, the Eligibility Benefits Recovery Section information lists the Dispute Validation Taskforce at 323-727-4001.

This referred-debt process does not replace any separate hearing rights or deadlines associated with a benefit notice.

Suspected Fraud

The DPSS contact page lists 800-349-9970 for welfare fraud reporting. Use case assistance or dispute procedures for ordinary reporting errors, benefit questions, or disagreement with an overpayment decision.

Contacts and Service Hours

Use the official DPSS contact page to confirm current routing information, service hours, and office locations.

DPSS contacts and related service entry points

Service	Contact	Purpose and availability
Customer Service Center	866-613-3777 310-258-7400 626-569-1399 818-701-8200	CalFresh, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, and General Relief applications and case assistance. Published hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., excluding county holidays.
BenefitsCal	Official BenefitsCal portal	Supported applications, document uploads, notices, reports, renewals, and online case management. Maintenance may affect access.
IHSS telephone applications	888-944-4477 213-744-4477	Begin an IHSS application. The county lists the toll-free number as available within Los Angeles County.
IHSS Helpline	888-822-9622	IHSS program questions. Published hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding holidays.
ADA accommodation assistance	844-586-5550	Assistance with disability-related reasonable accommodations.
Civil Rights Hotline	562-908-8501	Civil rights questions and discrimination complaints. Check the contact page for staff hours and Friday assistance arrangements.
State hearings	800-952-5253 Hearing request instructions	Disputes about applicable benefit actions or inaction. Review the notice and deadlines promptly.
CalWORKs Child Care Hotline	877-244-5399	Child-care questions and complaints. First contact your worker or District or GAIN Region Child Care Coordinator.
Health and Nutrition Hotline	877-597-4777	Health and nutrition information and referrals. Published hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with English and Spanish assistance.
Community resource referrals	211 211 LA	Referrals for shelter, food, health, and other community services. Provider availability and eligibility vary.
Referred-debt disputes	323-727-4001 DPSS Eligibility Benefits Recovery Section Attention: Dispute Validation Taskforce 5445 Whittier Boulevard, 4th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90022	Disputes involving delinquent DPSS overpayments or overissuances referred to the Treasurer and Tax Collector. Confirm current submission instructions.
Welfare fraud reporting	800-349-9970	Reports of suspected welfare fraud.

Published hours are local Pacific Time. Individual offices and specialized services may have different schedules. Confirm the correct program office and any appointment or submission requirements before visiting.

The Customer Service Center offers assistance in multiple languages, and DPSS provides free translation and interpreter services, including ASL. Ask for the assistance you need when contacting the department.

Benefits Application and Case Checklist

• Choose the right program: Food, cash aid, health coverage, IHSS, and housing-related assistance have different rules.
• Apply promptly: For CalFresh, do not wait for every verification document before submitting the required initial application information.
• Ask about expedited food benefits: Request screening if your household has little or no money.
• Keep identifiers and confirmations: Retain application numbers, case numbers, notices, and submission records.
• Attend interviews: Contact DPSS promptly if you cannot attend or need assistance.
• Submit readable documents: Include requested pages and connect them to the correct case.
• Follow your reporting schedule: Submit SAR 7 when required and complete applicable renewals or recertifications.
• Update contact details: Keep a reliable way to receive notices and verification codes.
• Protect your accounts: Do not share passwords, verification codes, or your EBT PIN.
• Check current policy notices: Ask how changes and exemptions apply to your household.
• Preserve hearing deadlines: A customer-service inquiry does not replace a formal hearing request.
• Request access assistance: Ask for an interpreter or reasonable accommodation when needed.

If you find an outdated detail or broken link in this guide, please contact our website editor. Applications, eligibility questions, case changes, document submissions, hearings, and official authorizations should go to DPSS or the responsible agency.