Imperial County
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
Serving Communities to Improve Lives
Main Line
(760) 337-6800
Fraud Hotline:
(442) 265-1191
24 Hour Child Abuse Hotline:
(866) 858-7750
24 Hour Adult Abuse Hotline:
(760) 337-7878
Transitional Services
CalFresh
Federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), can add to your food budget to put healthy and nutritious food on the table. The program issues monthly electronic benefits that can be used to buy most foods at many markets and food stores. For information on how to apply click here.
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Medi-Cal
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This is California's Medicaid program. This is a public health insurance program which provides needed health care services for low-income individuals including families with children, seniors, persons with disabilities, foster care, pregnant women, and low income people with specific diseases such as tuberculosis, breast cancer or HIV/AIDS. Medi-Cal is financed equally by the State and federal government.
CalWORKS
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California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) is a cash aid program for low-income families to meet their basic needs. Families receiving public assistance under the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) are required to participate in employment activities to remove barriers to employment and achieve self-sufficiency within prescribed time limits under welfare reform. There is a time limit for adults, but children can remain on aid if otherwise eligible under the Safety Net program. There are special services for pregnant and parenting teens through the Cal-Learn program.
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Self Sufficiency
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This program helps family members acquire the skills needed to get a job. The County will determine if a family must participate in Welfare-To-Work activities as a requirement for CalWORKs. Families may also volunteer to participate. Parents receiving TANF are required to participate in Welfare to Work employment activities to remove barriers to employment. This includes education, employment, and training programs to help families get jobs and move towards self-sufficiency. Childcare, transportation, work expenses and counseling are available for families in work activities.
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General Assistance
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The General Assistance or General Relief (GA/GR) Program is designed to provide relief and support to indigent adults who are not supported by their own means, other public funds, or assistance programs. Each county's GA/GR program is established and funded (100 percent) by its own Board of Supervisors. As the state is not involved in this program, benefits, payment levels, and eligibility requirements vary among each of California's 58 counties. Many recipients of GA/GR are also eligible to participate in the CalFresh (CF) Program, which is designed to raise the level of nutrition among low-income households. A review of the General Relief program reveals growth in the population of adults eligible for services that include job readiness and referrals to community based programs.
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