California Unemployment Department manages the State Unemployment Insurance Program. There are no state unemployment insurance offices that are available for public access.

Information about how to file for Unemployment Insurance is here: https://edd.ca.gov/en/Unemployment/Filing_a_Claim

Questions can be asked here: https://askedd.edd.ca.gov/

Web pages

• Home - https://edd.ca.gov/
• File a Claim - https://edd.ca.gov/en/Unemployment/Filing_a_Claim
• Ask EDD - https://askedd.edd.ca.gov/

Disaster Unemployment Assistance has been approved for those impacted by widespread California fires. From Cal OES News. See more details and eligibility criteria here: https://news.caloes.ca.gov/disaster-unemployment-assistance-has-been-approved-for-those-impacted-by-widespread-california-fires/


The California Employment Development Department (EDD) administers these benefits, which are available to workers, business owners, and self-employed individuals who lost their jobs or businesses or had their work hours reduced due to the ongoing wildfires.
 
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has determined that individuals who lost work or self-employment as a direct result of the Dixie Fire in Plumas and Lassen Counties, and the River Fire in Placer and Nevada counties, are now eligible to apply for DUA benefits. The FEMA approval is for FEMA-designated disaster area 4610-DR (also noted as 4610-DR-CA and DR4610CA).
 
Web pages
 

• Home - https://edd.ca.gov/en
• D…

[read more]

How to Report EDD Fraud
Visit Ask EDD at https://askedd.edd.ca.gov/AskEDD/s/ and select the Report Fraud category to complete the Fraud Reporting Form. You can also call the EDD Fraud Hotline at 800-229-6297 or fax 866-340-5484.

When reporting fraud:

• Provide all relevant information about the issue. Your report will be anonymous unless you include your name and phone number.
• Send any fraudulent documents or mail to EDD PO Box 826880, MIC 43, Sacramento, CA 94280-0225. You can also write “Return to Sender” on the envelope and provide it to your mail carrier.
• Write “Return to sender” on the envelope of any mail you receive that does not pertain to you and provide it to your mail carrier.

If you need to provide more information after reporting fraud, contact us again. Include the reference number provided when you first reported the issue.

Note: To ensure the confidentiality and integrity of any investigation, the EDD does not provide status updates unless court… [read more]

The Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI) is a 100 percent state-funded program designed to provide monthly cash benefits to aged, blind, or disabled non-citizens who are ineligible for SSI/SSP solely due to their immigration status. The Welfare Reform Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-193) eliminated Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP) eligibility for most non-citizens. As a result, most immigrants who were not receiving SSI/SSP in August 1996 are no longer eligible for SSI/SSP.

CAPI recipients may be eligible for Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), but they must file for each benefit separately. There is no automatic eligibility link between CAPI and these other programs.

To be eligible for CAPI you must:

1. Be ineligible for SSI/SSP solely due to immigration status,
2. Be 65 years old or older, blind, or disabled,
3. Be a resident of California,
4. Meet certain income and resource requirements, and
5. Be a non-citizen and m…

[read more]

In response to the series of storms across California in December 2022 through April 2023, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is providing state-funded storm recovery services to provide disaster relief case management and direct assistance to eligible individuals who experienced hardship from the storms and cannot access federal assistance due to immigration status. Direct assistance payments will be provided to help storm-impacted individuals and households cover certain necessary costs including housing, food, and transportation costs.

Assistance Benefit Amount
Qualifying adults will receive $1,500 and children (under 18 years old) will receive $500, with a maximum of $4,500 per household. A household is defined as individuals who live purchase and prepare meals together.

Application process
Individuals interested in applying for this assistance should contact the nonprofit organizations listed for their county. Interested individuals will be required to apply in perso… [read more]

MyFreeTaxes.ORG helps people file their federal and state taxes for free while getting the assistance they need, and it’s operated by United Ways of California.

https://www.myfreetaxes.org/
myfreetaxes@unitedwaysca.org
877-355-8922

MyFreeTaxes.org is operated by United Ways of California, on behalf of and in partnership with local United Way members. We offer resources and information and three free filing options (self filing, in person tax support, and virtual help). This service is specifically for California residents.

Information about IRS office locations, making appointments, etc.

Phone numbers: https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance
Individuals
800-829-1040
7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time

Businesses
800-829-4933
7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time

Non-profit taxes
877-829-5500
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time

Estate and gift taxes (Form 706/709)
866-699-4083
8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Eastern time

Excise taxes
866-699-4096
​​​​​8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time

Callers who are hearing impaired
TTY/TDD 800-829-4059
 

Need Help Paying Bills has resources for finding financial assistance with bills, free items, housing, food, and emergency or long term help for basic needs. There are local agencies as well as state and national organizations, including charities, non-profit agencies, and government social services. Find info about rent or utility bill assistance, food pantries, mortgage payment help, free health or dental clinics, and more. There is also information on financial services offered directly to consumers from private companies such as utility companies and credit counselors.

Even if you do not find a direct service on the website, it can give you ideas of what to look for in your own state or community.
 
The information you find on Needhelppayingbills, all of which is free, may be able to help you and your family make it through a difficult period. Learn about financial assistance programs such as LIHEAP, Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8), or eviction prevention. A number of se… [read more]

Departments for different aspects of housing are listed below and on this web page: https://www.bcsh.ca.gov/housing/index.html. Programs with services available directly to the public are in bold italic type.

Housing and Community Development
The Department of Housing and Community Development administers State and Federal housing and community development loan and grant programs. These programs develop and rehabilitate rental and supportive housing, promote homeownership, provide emergency rent relief, and assist in creating housing for farm workers, people with disabilities, and people experiencing homelessness. The Department also administers the Community Block Grant Program that funds housing activities, public works, community facilities, and public service projects serving lower-income people in rural communities.

• Community Block Grant Program - For rural cities and counties
• No Place Like Home Program - For counties
• Veterans Housing and Homelessness Prevention Program&n…

[read more]

getyourrefund.org is a free service provided by partnering with IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites to provide tax filing assistance to families earning less than $66,000 a year. Trained, IRS-certified volunteers will prepare and double-check your tax return to make sure it is correct before filing. Services offered in English and Spanish.

English - https://www.getyourrefund.org/en
Español - https://www.getyourrefund.org/es
 
We partner with free tax sites, known as Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites, to help you prepare your taxes. Trained and IRS-certified volunteers at local community organizations will prepare your taxes.
 
You can save up to $300 when you file for free. We also ensure eligible taxpayers claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which can be over $3,000 per family.
 
GetYourRefund.org is a non-profit service built by Code for America in partnership with IRS-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites na… [read more]