How to Apply For Welfare In Southern California

Southern California unemployment rates and needy families are rising everyday. If you must ask for public assistance, it will feel like you are signing your life away. Once you get into your local office, help may be hard to obtain because of limited staff and resources. With these steps and tips you can definitely ease the pain of applying and hopefully get the assistance you need for yourself and your family.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Important documents for yourself and all family members applying
• Ballpoint pens
• Your family members who are applying including children
• At least 4-6 hours of unscheduled time
• Patience

1. Plan to DEDICATE at least 4-6 hours of unscheduled time for the process. It's best to come first thing in the morning (even before they open to secure a place in line due some places securing safety with metal detectors).

2. Be prepared with basic documents for each family member applying for benefits. You should drop by your local office to get an application. They will give you additional information and requirements needed to apply.

3. Bring all family members applying for benefits, adults and children. It helps your application worker with the process when they see your children although it is not necessary to process your paperwork. You may want to call your local office to confirm requirements.

4. Once your application is turned in, STAY PUT. You are being seen in between scheduled appointments and in the order you submitted your application. If your name is called and you are not there, you will be turned away or have to schedule an appointment to be seen.

5. Expect to see be fingerprinted and have your picture taken. It may take awhile due to limited staff and equipment.

6. If you are qualified to receive immediate benefits, such as EBT (Electronic Benefits Card) card or cash, STAY PUT. You will need your picture ID again to receive your benefits at the designated window.

7. Make sure you leave the building with all your original documents and secure your benefits with your belongings. Make sure you keep your EBT card SEPARATE from any other electronic device (cell phone, other bank cards, any cards with strips on the back) to avoid demagnetizing your card. They are VERY sensitive and will require you to obtain another card inside your local office.

Tips & Warnings

• You may want to organize each family members documents in separate folders or in a "family binder" with pencil pouches for ID's and small papers that may be required and dividers for specific documents or family members
• You may want to prepare your application by dropping by your local office and filling it out at home before you go in to alleviate your stress.
• If you live in the Los Angeles County, you can get some immediate assistance and advice by calling "211" hotline.
• Also make sure you bring several BALLPOINT pens, just in case there are any additional documents or affidavits that need to be filled out once you're interviewed. Some documents are carbon copied.
• If you speak or write in another language, there are specialized workers and forms in certain languages to help you. ASK FOR IT IF YOU NEED IT!
• If you feel you have been mistreated at anytime during the process, adhere to the "chain of command". Each local office gives you a paper that indicates the chain of command with names and numbers. This is a VERY important paper for future reference. Otherwise ASK FOR IT.
• Sometimes coming at the last minute will help workers process your application in a urgent manner, but sometimes it could end up (most likely) requiring you to schedule an appointment to come back another day. Wasting time.
• Don't apply during typical lunch periods, it delays getting your application looked at sooner.
• Keep all paperwork given back to you, this serves as proof of your application process in case you may need to show proof in the future for case references.

Resources

• California Government Resources
• Welfare Program Information