Which benefits can I get in California based on my immigration status

You deserve help when your family needs it, whatever your papers say. Some doors closed in 2026. Many are still open, and children have the most open doors of all. This page is general information, not legal advice. For whether using a benefit could affect an immigration case, see Will using benefits like CalFresh hurt my immigration case?

What can each status get?

Each person in your family is checked on their own. "Work permit" here means a work permit from TPS or from a pending case, like an asylum application. Green card holders, refugees and asylees have other rules. Ask your county.

Every program also has its own income and other rules. "Yes" means your status does not stop you.

Can I get Medi-Cal?

Children under 19 and pregnant people can get full Medi-Cal whatever their status. Pregnancy coverage lasts during pregnancy and for one year after. Young people under 26 who were in foster care at 18 can too.

Adults 19 and older with no papers: since January 1, 2026, new adult applicants cannot sign up for full Medi-Cal. If you had full Medi-Cal by January 1, 2026, you can keep it if you renew on time. If it ends, you have three months to get it back. Restricted scope Medi-Cal, for emergencies, pregnancy and nursing home care, is still open to you.

Adults with DACA: yes. The state's freeze eligibility chart lists DACA, a "PRUCOL" status, as full scope Medi-Cal for adults, even if you never had Medi-Cal. Tell the county you have DACA when you apply.

Adults with TPS: the same chart lists people granted TPS, or with a pending TPS application, as restricted scope for new applicants 21 and older. If you already have full Medi-Cal, renew on time to keep it.

Adults with another pending case, such as asylum: ask your county worker which row of the chart fits you, and ask for the answer in writing.

Coming in 2027: from January 1, 2027, Medi-Cal members with DACA, without papers, or with a green card less than five years old move from health plans to Fee for Service. Bring your Medi-Cal BIC card to visits. From July 1, 2027, adults 19 to 59 in these groups (21 to 59 for some) will pay a monthly premium to keep full Medi-Cal, and adult dental will cover emergencies only. The amount is not set yet. State law says it will be $30 to $50 a month per person, and the governor will set the exact amount in May 2027 (LAO, checked October 23, 2026). See Medi-Cal for adults in 2026 for costs, dates and county programs like ACE and PCAP. More: Medi-Cal changes in 2027.

Can I get Covered California?

• DACA: no. A federal rule change in August 2025 ended Covered California for DACA recipients. You may still qualify for Medi-Cal.
• No papers: no. You can still apply to see if you or your children qualify for Medi-Cal.
• TPS and many other lawful statuses: many can buy a plan. Starting in 2027, only green card holders, Cuban and Haitian entrants and COFA migrants will get financial help to lower the cost. People with TPS are named among those losing that help.

Can I get food help?

• CalFresh: since April 1, 2026, only citizens, U.S. nationals, green card holders, COFA residents and Cuban and Haitian entrants can get it. DACA, TPS and people without papers cannot. Refugees and asylees lost it too. Some green card holders have extra rules. But your citizen children can still get it. See Food help.
• CFAP for people 55 and older: starting October 1, 2027, the state plans to give food help to income eligible Californians 55 and older, whatever their status. It is not available yet.
• WIC: for people who are pregnant, breastfeeding or recently had a baby, and for children under 5, who live in California and meet the income limit. The state's WIC check asks about where you live and your income, not your immigration status.
• School meals: every public school student can get a free breakfast and lunch each school day. No income test.

Need food today? In San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, call 211. 211 does not cover every California county, so elsewhere use Find your local 211. See 211: free help finding local services.

Can I get cash aid?

CalWORKs gives cash aid to families with children. To be aided, a person must be a citizen or a "qualified" noncitizen, like a green card holder. DACA and TPS are not on the federal "qualified" list. A person who does not meet the status rules is left out of the grant. Citizen children in the home can still be aided. Santa Clara County's CalWORKs handbook shows examples where undocumented parents are left out and their citizen children get the grant. Ask your county how it works for your family. The family's income still counts. Pregnant? See CalWORKs cash aid while you are pregnant.

Can't get CalWORKs? See Where immigrant families can find emergency cash help.

Can I get unemployment or disability pay?

• Unemployment: EDD requires permission to work in the U.S., both when you earned the wages and while you claim. You prove it again each week you claim. With DACA or another valid work permit, you can apply. Workers without papers cannot get unemployment.
• Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave: you can apply even without a Social Security number. Use the paper form. The state says these will not affect your path to citizenship. See Disability or Paid Family Leave pay without papers.
• Tax credits: with an ITIN, you can claim the CalEITC and the Young Child Tax Credit on your state return. See CalEITC and Young Child Tax Credit with an ITIN.

Can I get help paying for college?

Yes. If you meet the AB 540 rules (mostly about years of school in California), you pay in state tuition and can get state aid like Cal Grants. Use the California Dream Act Application, not the FAFSA. It is open to students without papers, students with DACA (current or expired), and students with TPS or a U visa. Federal student aid is not open to undocumented students, including DACA students. The state also lists students with TPS or a U visa among those who do not qualify for the FAFSA (California Student Aid Commission). See Paying for college in California and How to apply for the CA Dream Act.

Benefits for citizen children in mixed status families

Your children's rights do not depend on yours. If your child is a U.S. citizen, they can get help even when you cannot.

• You can apply for them. Parents, whatever their own status, can apply for CalFresh for children who are citizens or have an eligible status.
• List everyone, but each person is checked alone. Covered California says to list all family members on the application, whatever their status. Each person's eligibility is decided separately.
• Your income still counts. The county looks at the family's income to decide the amount.
• What your children can get: full Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs cash aid, WIC (under 5), school meals and public school.
• Tax credits: a child needs a Social Security number or an ITIN for the Young Child Tax Credit.

Who can help?

These are public offices and nonprofits. Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• San Mateo County Human Services Agency: Medi-Cal, CalFresh and CalWORKs. Call 1-800-223-8383, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The East Palo Alto service center is at 2415 University Ave. smcgov.org/hsa
• Santa Clara County Benefits Assistance Center: (408) 758-3800
• CalFresh Benefits Helpline (state): 1-877-847-3663
• California WIC: 1-800-852-5770, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• EDD, Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave: edd.ca.gov/undocumentedworkers
• Ravenswood Family Health Center, East Palo Alto: help signing up for health coverage, 650-330-7416
• Free legal help with immigration questions: see Free legal help in the Bay Area

Is there a worksheet I can print?