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San Diego County Benefits Navigator — 86 Programs
Free eligibility tool covering 86 public assistance programs in San Diego County, California.
Food Assistance
CalFresh / SNAP
— Pre-loaded debit card for food purchases.
Women, Infants & Children (WIC)
— Food for pregnant/breastfeeding women and children under 5.
National School Lunch & Breakfast Program
— Free or reduced-price meals for qualifying school children.
Summer EBT (SUN Bucks)
— Prepaid debit card for food for students aged 6–18 on summer break.
Older Californians Nutrition Program
— Low- or no-cost meal service for people aged 60 and older.
Home-Delivered Meals
— Low- or no-cost home-delivered meals for homebound seniors aged 60 and older.
Healthcare
Medi-Cal (Medicaid)
— Low- and no-cost medical insurance for qualifying individuals.
Covered California
— Affordable medical insurance coverage.
Medicare Part A (Hospital)
— Hospital insurance for people 65+ or disabled.
Medicare Part B (Medical)
— Medical insurance for people 65+ or disabled.
Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage)
— Alternative to Original Medicare.
Medicare Part D (Prescription)
— Prescription discount for people 65+ or disabled.
Medicare Supplemental (Medigap)
— Extra insurance to cover Medicare cost-sharing.
California Children's Health Insurance Program (C-CHIP)
— Healthcare for children up to age 18.
Medi-Cal for Pregnant Individuals
— Healthcare for pregnant people.
Medi-Cal Access Program for Pregnant Individuals
— Reduced-cost healthcare for pregnant people.
AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP)
— No-cost medication for California residents with HIV/AIDS.
San Diego County Medical Services (CMS)
— Healthcare of last resort for adults aged 21–64.
Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS)
— Day program for seniors and adults with chronic conditions.
Program of All-Inclusive Care for Elderly (PACE)
— Coordinated care for people aged 55+ who need skilled nursing.
BrightLife Kids
— No-cost mental health support for children up to age 12.
Soluna
— No-cost mental health support for ages 13–25.
CalHope Red Line
— Peer support and resources for Urban Indians and Tribal populations.
Income & Cash Assistance
Unemployment Benefits (EDD)
— Temporary income for eligible unemployed workers.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
— Income for aged, blind, or disabled people with limited resources.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
— Income for disabled workers with Social Security credits.
California State Supplementary Payment (SSP)
— Supplemental income for SSI enrollees.
California Disability Insurance (SDI)
— Temporary income for workers unable to work due to illness or injury.
CalWORKs / TANF
— Temporary cash aid for eligible families with children.
San Diego County General Relief
— Temporary cash for adults aged 18–64 with very limited income.
Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI)
— Income for aged, blind, or disabled immigrants.
Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)
— Temporary cash aid for qualifying refugees.
Trafficking and Crime Victim Assistance Program (TCVAP)
— Assistance for non-citizen survivors of trafficking and crimes.
California Tribal TANF
— Cash aid for families with federally-recognized tribal membership.
Federal Special Veterans Benefit / California Veterans Cash Benefit
— Cash for qualifying Filipino WWII veterans.
Office of Military & Veterans Affairs
— Benefits counseling and claims assistance for veterans.
Utilities
California LifeLine
— Low- to no-cost phone service.
Federal Lifeline
— Low- and no-cost phone and internet service.
California LifeLine Foster Program
— No-cost phone and internet for youth in foster care.
Federal Lifeline — Domestic Violence Survivor Benefit
— Low- or no-cost phone/internet for DV survivors.
CARE Program
— 30–35% discount on electric bills for qualifying households.
FERA Program
— 18% discount on electricity bills for qualifying households.
Medical Baseline
— Lowest residential energy rate for medically dependent customers.
LIHEAP
— Financial assistance, crisis help, and energy efficiency upgrades.
Energy Savings Assistance (ESA) Program
— Free energy-saving home improvements.
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
— Free weatherization to reduce energy bills.
Arrearage Management Payment (AMP) Plan
— Up to $8,000 in utility debt forgiveness.
Solid Waste Financial Assistance
— 50% reduction in trash/recycling fees for eligible homeowners.
Utility Consumer Protection — Emergency Disaster Relief
— Consumer protections for utility customers after disasters.
California Advanced Services Fund — Line Extension Program
— Phone/internet infrastructure for unconnected properties.
Housing
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher
— Rental assistance for eligible households.
Public Housing
— Public housing for eligible families, seniors, and disabled persons in San Diego County.
Property Tax Postponement
— Deferment of property taxes for homeowners aged 62+ with limited income.
Caretaker Support
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
— In-home assistance for Medi-Cal enrollees aged 65+, blind, or disabled.
Community-Based Adult Services (CBAS)
— Day health program for adults with chronic conditions.
PACE
— All-inclusive coordinated care for elderly individuals.
Child Care & Early Education
Early Head Start and Head Start
— Child care and early education for children up to age 5.
Migrant and Seasonal Head Start
— Child care for children up to age 5 in agricultural families.
American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start
— Child care for AIAN children up to age 5.
Transportation
MTS Reduced Fares
— Low- or no-cost public transit for seniors, disabled individuals, Medicare recipients, and youth.
California Low Cost Automobile Insurance (CLCA)
— Low-cost auto insurance for qualifying drivers.
Legal Aid
Legal Aid of San Diego
— Free civil legal services covering housing, immigration, family law, and more.
San Diego Volunteer Lawyers
— Free legal help for family law, housing, immigration, and other issues.
USD Law Legal Clinics
— Twelve free clinics for low-income San Diego County residents.
Thomas Jefferson School of Law — Veterans' Legal Clinic
— Free legal help for veterans.
Thomas Jefferson School of Law — Patent & Trademark Clinic
— Free USPTO patent and trademark assistance.
Thomas Jefferson School of Law — Non-Profit & Small Business Clinic
— Free business formation assistance.
Cal Western — Innocence and Justice Clinics
— Assistance for wrongly incarcerated individuals.
Cal Western — Community Law Project
— Assistance for housing, immigration, employment, and other issues.
Cal Western — New Media Rights
— Internet, IP, and media law for entrepreneurs and journalists.
Cal Western — Trademark Clinic
— Free trademark assistance for individuals and small businesses.
Entertainment & Recreation
San Diego County Museums — Free or Reduced Admission
— Free/reduced museum access for CalFresh enrollees.
San Diego Public Library Discover & Go
— Free admission to museums, Zoo, and other venues with a library card.
CA State Library Parks Pass
— Free vehicle pass to 200+ California state parks.
California State Parks — Adventure Pass
— Free state park entry for 4th graders and families.
California State Parks — Disabled Discount Pass
— 50% lifetime discount for people with permanent disabilities.
California State Parks — Distinguished Veteran Pass
— Free lifetime state park pass for honorably discharged veterans.
California State Parks — Golden Bear Pass
— Free annual pass for seniors with limited income or CalWORKs/SSI/Tribal TANF.
California State Parks — Senior Golden Bear Pass
— Free annual non-peak pass for people aged 62+.
National Parks — Senior Annual Pass
— Low-cost annual pass for people aged 62+.
National Parks — Senior Lifetime Pass
— Low-cost lifetime pass for people aged 62+.
National Parks — Military Annual Pass
— Free annual pass for active-duty military and dependents.
National Parks — Military Lifetime Pass
— Free lifetime pass for Gold Star families and veterans.
National Parks — Access Pass
— Free lifetime pass for people with permanent disabilities.
National Parks — 4th Grade Pass
— Free annual pass for 4th graders and families.
National Parks — Volunteer Pass
— Free annual pass for federal volunteers with 250+ hours.
Taxes
Homeowners Exemption
— Up to $7,000 off assessed property value for primary residence.
Disabled Veterans Exemption
— Up to $150,000 off assessed property value for disabled veterans.