California Cash Assistance and Benefits For Undocumented Immigrants
- Author: Mary Singleton
- Posted: 2024-10-09
In addition to the federal government's benefits, you may qualify for state-provided health care. The California Employment Development Department encourages DACA recipients to apply for unemployment benefits. If you're a child of an undocumented parent, you may be able to qualify for CalFresh benefits. In addition, you may qualify for other government programs, including unaccompanied minors legal services.
California's Cash Assistance for Immigrants (CAPI) program provides monthly cash assistance to eligible immigrants. The program can also help you obtain Medi-Cal, In-Home Supportive Services, or CalFresh. However, you must apply for the program on your own, and there is no automatic link between CAPI and these other programs. The process is simple and free; you should contact CAPI offices Monday through Friday to find out if you qualify.
For undocumented immigrants, the state is working to update its food aid program, which will cost $30 million, and allow the program to accept more people. The California legislature is considering a bill that would expand food stamp benefits to undocumented immigrants. However, it's unclear whether the state will expand the program to include undocumented immigrants. Until this bill becomes law, there is little to do but watch for developments.