Community Partner Resources

Welcome community-serving partners! Here you will find useful resources to share with those you serve, including materials promoting BenefitsCal to apply online for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and CalWORKs and resources to support CalFresh outreach efforts.

Use Our Toolkit to be a Messaging Partner!

The Human Services Department produces informational flyers, social media collaterals and list-serve email tools aimed at keeping the community members we mutually serve aware of important information relating to public benefits, child welfare or senior safety, and housing supports. Find topical, shareable information in our toolkit so you can keep the people your agency or nonprofit organization apprised of information that will help them get and keep public benefits, find and engage in employment opportunities and other ways of staying informed of support services.
 
Click the button below to access our information sharing toolkit:
 
INFORMATION SHARING TOOLKIT
 
 

BenefitsCal

The BenefitsCal website is a fast and easy way to help community members apply for health coverage, food support and cash assistance. To do so online, those you serve can set up a BenefitsCal Account and then apply through BenefitsCal. They can then apply online 24/7 for Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and CalWORKs.

Phone Customer Service Center

The Phone Customer Services Center has an automated phone system to access information about public assistance programs. People already receiving aid can use the system to access benefit information, request forms, and report changes to their case. Call 1 (888) 421-8080 for public assistance information 24/7. Help clients access information with the Automated Information System Guide (English and en Español).
 
Phone Customer Service Center & Wednesday Closures
DID YOU KNOW? On select Wednesday during the spring of 2026, the Phone Customer Service Center was closed to allow Human Services Department staff to process current paperwork and prepare for new paperwork processes as benefits work requirements, asset limit changes and additional H.R.1 related record-keeping requirements are implemented.
 
Beginning Wednesday, July 1, 2026, the Phone Customer Service Center will be closed every Wednesday through the end of the fiscal year - June 30, 2027. During this time, our customer walk-in lobbies at 1020 Emeline Ave. in Santa Cruz, and at 500 Westridge Dr. in Watsonville will remain open each Wednsday, to ensure continued access to services for our community. 
 
During any week that include a holiday that requires government offices to close, the Phone Customer Service Center will remain open that Wednesday to ensure 4 business days of phone access for the public each week.

 

Benefits Information

For additional information on the County’s benefits programs, please visit the Employment & Benefit Services page of our website, and then click on the benefits program you are seeking more information for.

Additional Community Partners Resources