General Assistance

What is General Assistance?

General Assistance (GA) provides cash aid to indigent adults and emancipated minors who are legal residents of Alameda County and who have no other means of support. It is a state-mandated program that is locally administered and funded by the County of Alameda. 

GA benefits are considered a loan to the individual(s) receiving aid. The maximum cash grant for a single person on GA is $336 per month and $548 per month for a couple.

Individuals enrolled in General Assistance may qualify for some of the following benefits and services:

• Financial support
• CalFresh: Food assistance
• Medi-Cal: Health insurance
• Employment Services: Training, career counseling, education support, and job placement through the CalFresh Employment and Training program
• Shelter referrals and housing assistance

General Assistance Policies & Regulations

90-01.42: Processing Applications at Intake

90-01.43: Processing Applications at Redetermination for General Assistance

90-01.61: Presumptive Eligibility for General Assistance Applicants

90-01.70: Required Documentation and Verification in the General Assistance (GA) Program

90-01.84: Housing Assistance Vendor Program

90-01.841: Substitute IRS Form W-9 Processing in the General Assistance (GA) Program

90-02.40: CalFresh Employment and Training Program

90-02.321: Medical Evaluation Appointments - Hayward Office

90-02.322: Medical Evaluation Appointments - Oakland Office

90-03.33: Sponsored Non-Citizens

90-03.50: Citizens and Eligible Non-citizens

90-04.00: Spousal Support Responsibility and Liability

90-05.151: Earned Income

90-06.00: General Assistance Appeals Process

General Assistance Regulations

General Assistance Public Comments

When substantial changes to the General Assistance regulations are proposed, the Social Services Agency will make them available for public review and comment, prior to implementation. Current proposed changes are available for comment here.

You may be eligible for General Assistance if you are:

• a U.S. citizen or non-citizen legally in the country with no limitation on your stay; 
  
• a resident of Alameda County for at least 15 days; and
• an adult without dependent children or
• an emancipated minor.

The criteria used to determine your eligibility is also based on your income and property. Applicants may have up to $1,000 in personal property. If you own a car or home you live in, it will not be counted towards your personal property limit.

GA applicants and recipients must apply for all potentially available income.

• Applicants and recipients who are unemployable and/or 65 years and older who appear eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are required to apply for these benefits through the Social Security Administration. For more information on SSI application assistance, click here to visit the SSI Advocacy page. 
• Legal non-citizens 65 years and older who meet certain residency requirements must apply for benefits through the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI).
  

All GA benefits are considered a loan to the individual receiving aid. GA recipients must sign a reimbursement agreement as a condition of eligibility.

Employable recipients may participate in employment service activities. To learn more about employment and training opportunities through the CalFresh Employment and Training (CF E&T) program click here.

You may also be eligible for Medi-Cal and food benefits, depending on your circumstances.

Time Limits

Individuals determined to be employable will only be eligible for cash aid for 3 full months in any 12-month period. This rule will apply whether aid was paid for 3 continuous months, or if there was a break in aid between months in any 12-month period. 

Exceptions to the time limit rule:

• Individuals who are permanently disabled and unable to work for 12 months or more. Note: Individuals who are temporarily disabled are exempt during the temporary period only; 
• Former Foster Care Youth and Independent Living Skills Program participants 18 through 24 years of age; or
• Individuals 64 years of age and older.

• Online

You can apply for General Assistance online here.

• By phone

If you would like to apply over the phone, call us at (510) 272-3663.

If you need an application packet to be mailed to you, call us at (510) 272-3663 or 1-888-999-4772.

• By mail

You can mail your application to:

    P.O. Box 12941
    Oakland, CA 94604.

Click here for a blank application.

• In person

Visit us at an Alameda County Social Services Agency office. Our offices are open Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

• By Fax

You can fax your completed application to (510) 670-5095.

What Happens Next?

After you apply, you will be contacted by an eligibility worker to be interviewed.

During this stage, you may be asked to provide:

• Photo identification
• Proof of income and resources
• Information of citizenship status or legal immigration status
• Social security number
• Completed GA application forms

How to Submit Verifications and Forms

• Online

You can submit required verifications and most GA application forms online here.

Note: The original signed Form SSP 14 must be returned via mail or in-person and cannot be submitted online.

• By mail

You can mail your required verifications and completed GA application forms to:

    P.O. Box 12941
    Oakland, CA 94604.

• In person

Drop off required verifications and GA application forms at an Alameda County Social Services Agency office.

• By Fax

You can submit required verifications and most GA application forms by faxing them to (510) 670-5095.

Note: The original signed Form SSP 14 must be returned via mail or in-person and cannot be submitted via fax.

General Assistance recipients can choose between receiving cash aid through direct deposit or an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. 

• If you choose direct deposit, the cash benefit will be added to your bank account directly.  
• If you choose an EBT card, this can be used in the same way an ATM or debit card is used. 

Tell your eligibility worker your choice and they will give you further instructions. You can find more information here.

If you choose an EBT card, you can check your balance by;

• Visiting the EBT website
• Calling 1-877-328-9677

See a list of surcharge free ATMs here.

If your card is stolen or lost, please call 1-877-328-9677 to report it and to request a replacement card.

To find out where you can use your EBT card, please visit the EBT Store Locator.

Click here for more information on the EBT card.

Protect yourself against scams, do not share your EBT card or PIN with others. We will never contact you to ask about these details so if you receive any phone calls, texts or emails asking for your information, DO NOT provide it to them. 

To keep your General Assistance benefits you may need to complete a semi-annual report, redetermination, and any mandatory mid-year reports.

• Semi-Annual Report (SAR 7)

You may be required to submit a semi-annual report, which includes submitting a SAR 7 Form with required verifications every 6 months to report changes in circumstances such as changes in income, resources, household composition, and/or expenses, that may impact eligibility.

You can find out if your SAR 7 is due here.

You can submit your SAR 7 online here.

Additional options for ways you can submit your SAR 7 and/or any required verifications include:

• Mailing to any of the Alameda County Social Services Agency offices.
• Bringing in person to any of the Alameda County Social Services Agency offices.

Download Printable Blank SAR 7 Forms here:
(English, Spanish, Cambodian, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Farsi, Additional Languages)

Blank SAR 7 Forms are also available at Alameda County Social Services Agency offices.

• Redetermination

You are required to complete a redetermination every year, which includes completing an interview with an eligibility worker and submitting the redetermination form and required verifications.

You can find out if your redetermination is due here.

You can submit your redetermination application form online here.

You can submit required verifications and most GA redetermination application forms online here.

Note: The original signed Form SSP 14 must be returned via mail or in-person and cannot be submitted online.

Additional options for ways you can submit your redetermination application form and/or any required verifications include:

• Mailing to an Alameda County Social Services Agency office.
• Bringing in person to an Alameda County Social Services Agency office.

Download Printable Blank Form 90-16 here.

GA redetermination packet forms are also available at Alameda County Social Services Agency offices.

Mid-Year Reporting Requirements

For General Assistance there are certain changes that need to be reported at any time during the year, within 10 days of the change.

It is mandatory to report the following changes within 10 days:

• Any changes in income
• Anytime you have any changes that might affect your eligibility

How to Report Changes

• Online

You can submit reports of changes online here.

• By mail

You can mail reported changes to:

    P.O. Box 12941
    Oakland, CA 94604

• By phone

You can report changes over the phone at (510) 263-2420 or 1-888-999-4772.

• By Fax

You can report changes by faxing them to (510) 670-5095.

Note: There is not a required method to submit a mandatory mid-period report, however you may use the Form SAR 3 to report your change.