Employment and Benefit Services Division

Assistance Programs provide benefits to low-income adults and families. Staff works with clients to determine eligibility for assistance and provide referrals for related services.

Immigration and DACA Resources

Find answers to questions regarding public benefits and immigration.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals FAQs
Immigration Resource Guide (PDF, 132 KB)
Public Benefits FAQs (PDF, 134 KB)
Santa Cruz County Immigration Resources and Information

Electronic Benefit Cards - EBT

Check your account balance, find retailers and free ATM locations at www.ebt.ca.gov.

Understanding the EBT Client Website (PDF, 1.5 MB) or
Spanish Version (PDF, 1.3 MB)

Apply For Or Manage Your Benefits

Our Benefit Representatives will assist you to obtain the benefits and coverage for which you are eligible.

Apply for or manage existing benefits easily online!

Learn how to apply for new benefits or manage your existing benefits online:

Create a New BenefitsCal Account before you apply for or manage existing benefits online, then
Apply for or manage existing CalFresh, CalWORKs or Medi-Cal benefits at BenefitsCal

Don't want to apply for or access your benefits online? You can also:

Call us toll free 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday at 1 (888) 421-8080, or
Mail your application to one of our Customer Service Centers, or
Fax your application to 1 (831) 786-7100, or
In person at one of our Customer Service Centers, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm:
- 1020 Emeline Avenue in Santa Cruz, CA 95060 and
- 500 Westridge Drive in Watsonville, CA 95076

Customer Service Center Locations

1020 Emeline Ave., Santa Cruz
500 Westridge Drive, Watsonville
Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Call Center Closed Wednesdays in March

The County’s Benefits Call Center will temporarily close on Wednesdays in March, the 4^th, 11^th, 18^th and 25^th, to allow Human Services staff to process paperwork. In-person benefits assistance remains available on Wednesdays, and all call center hours are otherwise operating at their usual times on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

CLICK HERE for a flyer in English and Spanish to learn more.

Striving for Excellence!

Let us know

Please take our short survey and provide feedback on your last interaction with us.

Benefits Services Survey

CWES Services Survey