California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) provides temporary financial assistance and employment support for low- or no-income families with children.

CalWORKs (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids) helps families facing hardship due to issues such as domestic violence, illness, job loss, housing instability, or legal challenges.

Children may receive financial assistance even if parents choose not to participate in Employment Services.

Services include:

• Temporary cash aid to low- or no-income families with children
• Support for families experiencing job loss, domestic violence, or other crises
• Employment Services participants with job and education goals
• Help with job-related or school-related expenses for those enrolled in Employment Services
• Training, job search support, and career planning

Web pages

• Home - https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/888/CalWORKs---Cash-Assistance-for-Families
• Apply Online - https://benefitscal.com/
• BenefitsCal Information- https://…

The Nevada County Department of Social Services provides drop-in benefits information and application assistance.

They help people in enrolling in or renewing benefits programs like:

• Cash Assistance | CalWORKs & more
• Food Assistance | CalFresh
• Healthcare | Medi-Cal
• Housing
• In-Home Supportive Services
• Veterans Services

Drop-In Days and Locations

• Grass Valley Library
  • 207 Mill St, Grass Valley, CA 95945
  • 530-273-4117
  • First Tuesdays, 10:30am-12:30pm
• Madelyn Helling Library
  • 980 Helling Way, Nevada City, CA 95959
  • 530-265-7050
• First Wednesdays, 10am-12pm

Additional notes:

These are drop-in services and no appointment is necessary.

Web pages

• Home - https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/879/Social-Services
• Drop-in Services Information - https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=7270

Vouchers for reduced fees for California ID cards are available for people receiving Nevada County welfare assistance programs (veterans, eligibility & employment, Adult Services or Child Welfare assistance programs).

Go to one of the three Nevada County Department of Social Services offices and ask for a voucher. A county worker must sign the voucher. People who are homeless and on public assistance are eligible to receive a free ID card. This does not replace drivers licenses, only identification cards.

• Eric Rood Administration Center
  950 Maidu Avenue Suite 120
  Nevada City, CA 95959
• Brighton Greens Resource Center
  988 McCourtney Road
  Grass Valley, CA 95949
• Nevada County Joseph Center
  10075 Levon Ave
  Truckee, CA 96161
  
  

Web pages

• Home - https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/879/Social-Services

The Nevada County Department of Social Services offers a supplemental assistance program for adults who do not qualify for federal or state programs such as CalWORKs or SSI/SSP. 

The program is designed to meet basic needs when no other resources are available and serves as a last-resort safety net. General Assistance is a repayable grant, not an entitlement.

Services include:

• Emergency cash assistance for housing, food, and basic needs
• Temporary employment services for individuals deemed employable

Program eligibility is determined through a needs assessment and requires repayment under certain conditions.

Web pages

• Home - https://www.nevadacountyca.gov/1626/Cash-Assistance-for-Individuals

The Native TANF Program provides financial assistance and supportive services to eligible Native American families with children.

Services include:

• Cash assistance
• Employment, education, and training support
• Childcare and family stability services

Web pages

• Home - https://washoetribe.us/

United Way of Nevada County administers the Emergency Fund, which provides one-time financial assistance to Nevada and Sierra County residents experiencing a temporary and verifiable emergency that threatens their housing, health, or safety.

The fund is designed as a last resort to address unexpected crises where no other resources are available. It is not intended for ongoing needs or chronic financial hardship.

Services include:

• One-time financial support for emergency needs affecting housing, health, or safety
• Assistance with costs such as rental deposits, urgent vehicle repairs, or appliance replacement
• Payment support for unusually high utility bills

Additional notes:

Applications are submitted online.

Rental assistance is for security deposit assistance only; this program does not provide rent payment assistance for people already living in their rental.

Web pages

• Home - https://uwnc.org/
• Emergency Fund - https://uwnc.org/emergency-fund
• Application - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIp…

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Online Tax Assistance allows taxpayers to e-file their return themselves free of charge or with the remote assistance of an AARP tax counselor.

Services include:

• Help from a volunteer counselor who walks the user through the process
• Access to free software to prepare taxes totally on their own (OnLine Taxes)
  • Access to free software is limited to taxpayers with an AGI (Adjusted Gross Income) of $73,000 or less.

Web pages

• Home - https://taxaide.aarpfoundation.org/

CalWORKs & Employment Services acts as a part of Human Services, one of six Divisions of County of Placer Health & Human Services.

If you are an adult with dependent children, you may be eligible for California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids, or CalWORKs. CalWORKs provides:

• Child care, work expense assistance, transportation, and counseling
• Education, employment and training programs through Employment Services
• Families with children financial assistance to meet their basic needs
• Support for families moving toward self-sufficiency

If you are eligible for CalWORKs you will automatically qualify for Medi-Cal and may also qualify for CalFresh. Unless you are exempt, you will be referred to the Employment Services program for assistance gaining employment. Placer County Employment Services (formerly Welfare to Work) can assist you in finding work through the Business Advantage Network. You can receive daily job leads and information on job fairs and recruiting events ca…

General Relief in Placer County provides temporary cash aid for those who are not eligible for federal or state programs or other assistance programs. All General Relief applicants must apply in person and be interviewed by an Eligibility Specialist to complete the application process.

Apply for / Access your Public Benefits Online (Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKS, Disaster CalFresh, General Relief)
Go to BenefitsCal.com to apply for or renew benefits, upload verification, and view information regarding health coverage, food, and cash assistance. BenefitsCal also makes it easy for community partners to create accounts and act as application assistors.

Web pages

• Home - https://www.placer.ca.gov/2150/General-Relief-General-Assistance
• BenefitsCal - http://www.benefitscal.com/

The County of Placer offers free ID vouchers to eligible residents.

People who are receiving social services in Placer County may be eligible for vouchers to help pay for California identification cards (ID cards). There are no-cost and low-cost vouchers.

Check with your case manager/s about getting a voucher. People who receive vouchers can then go to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to apply for an ID card.

This program is for ID cards only. There is no voucher program for driver's licenses.

Participants need to come to the office in Rockling, North Lake Tahoe or Auburn and fill out a form.  

Web pages

• Home - https://www.placer.ca.gov/