Transitional Assistance

San Bernardino County’s Transitional Assistance Department (TAD) administers public benefit programs for residents who may need help with food, cash assistance, health coverage, employment-related services, child care support, and other forms of temporary assistance. This article explains the major TAD programs, how applications and existing cases can be handled, which online and self-service systems are available, what applicants may need to prepare, how reporting and renewal requirements work, and which mistakes can delay or complicate a benefits case.

Transitional Assistance Department Services

The San Bernardino County Transitional Assistance Department is the county agency responsible for administering several major public assistance programs. Residents looking for county benefit information should begin with the official Transitional Assistance Department website, which provides access to applications, case information, Electronic Benefit Transfer information, program pages, office locations, self-service options, and department notices.

TAD services cover several different types of assistance. The appropriate program depends on the household’s circumstances and the type of help being requested. The department’s program directory includes CalWORKs, CalFresh, Medi-Cal, Welfare-to-Work, child care, Foster Care, the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants, General Relief, and other services.

These programs should not be treated as interchangeable. CalFresh primarily provides food benefits, CalWORKs provides cash assistance and related services to eligible families with children, Medi-Cal provides health coverage for eligible California residents, and General Relief is a county-funded loan assistance program for qualifying individuals and families in temporary need. Welfare-to-Work is connected to CalWORKs and focuses on employment and training rather than serving as a separate general cash benefit.

Applying for Public Benefits

Many TAD programs can be applied for through BenefitsCal, California’s online benefits portal. BenefitsCal supports applications for food assistance, cash aid, and health coverage and also allows users with accounts to manage many parts of an existing benefits case.

BenefitsCal may be used to apply for programs including CalFresh, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, General Assistance or General Relief, Refugee Cash Assistance, and certain other cash aid programs. Applicants seeking the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants follow a different procedure described by TAD and may contact the CAPI Unit or visit a local office.

Depending on the program, TAD also accepts applications through other methods. CalWORKs may be applied for online, in person, or by mail. CalFresh applications may be submitted online, in person, by mail, or by fax. Medi-Cal applications may be submitted online, in person, by mail, over the phone, or by fax. General Relief may be requested online, in person, or by mail.

Applicants who prefer in-person service can use the county’s TAD office locator to identify an appropriate local office. The office locator is also useful for services that specifically require or permit an in-person inquiry, including certain Welfare-to-Work and child care matters.

BenefitsCal Applications

BenefitsCal is designed both for new applications and ongoing case management. A person who creates a user account can view benefit details, monitor program status, read electronic notices, see reminders and deadlines, upload documents, submit reports, report changes, and complete renewals.

Applicants who do not yet have a BenefitsCal account can still upload documents for an application. The system states that documents may include forms of verification, periodic reports, renewals, and other materials associated with an application or existing case.

BenefitsCal requires two-step verification for account access. A one-time code is sent to the email address or phone number associated with the account. Case linking also requires verification using an email address or phone number associated with the case. This distinction matters: creating an online account does not by itself mean that an existing county case has already been linked to that account.

Application Information and Documents

The exact information required depends on the benefit program and the applicant’s circumstances. TAD’s CalWORKs and Medi-Cal materials advise applicants to bring applicable documents when applying in person because having supporting information available can help move the application process forward.

Items identified by TAD include:

Identification, such as a driver’s license or California identification card.

Social Security cards or verification that an application for a Social Security number has been made for applicable family members.

Bank account statements and information about other resources.

Proof of United States citizenship when applicable.

Proof from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of permanent resident alien status when applicable.

Immunization information when applicable.

Verification of income, wages, and Social Security benefits.

A copy of vehicle registration when applicable.

Applicants should provide information that matches their actual household circumstances and the program being requested. Documents that apply to one household or program may not apply to another, so the program-specific instructions and notices issued by TAD should guide what must be submitted.

CalWORKs Cash Assistance

CalWORKs provides cash aid and services to eligible families with children in the home. The program is administered locally by county welfare departments and can provide assistance to families with little or no cash who need help meeting expenses such as housing, food, utilities, clothing, or medical care.

Families that qualify for ongoing CalWORKs assistance receive monthly cash benefits. The amount varies according to factors including family size and income.

TAD identifies several circumstances under which cash assistance for needy children may be available, including situations in which one or both parents are deceased, physically or mentally incapacitated, continuously absent from the child’s home, or in which the principal wage-earning parent is unemployed.

Reporting Duties for Recipients

CalWORKs recipients have continuing reporting responsibilities after benefits begin. TAD states that recipients must report certain changes that may affect benefits within 10 days. The assigned worker explains which changes are covered by the recipient’s rights and responsibilities.

Recipients must also submit a semiannual SAR 7 Eligibility Status Report when required. The report provides information TAD uses to determine whether program requirements continue to be met.

Missing required reports or providing outdated information can create problems with a case. TAD also explains that recipients may have to repay benefits when too much assistance is issued. For that reason, notices, reporting deadlines, and requests from the department should be reviewed rather than assuming that benefits will continue automatically.

CalWORKs Time Limits

TAD’s CalWORKs information states that adults are limited to a lifetime cumulative period of 48 months of CalWORKs cash benefits. The department’s separate Welfare-to-Work page describes that employment and training program as helping CalWORKs customers become self-sufficient before reaching a 60-month CalWORKs time limit. Because program rules and individual circumstances can differ, recipients should rely on their current case information and TAD notices when determining how a time limit applies to them.

CalFresh Food Benefits

CalFresh, federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, provides monthly electronic benefits that can be used to purchase most food items at participating markets and food stores.

A CalFresh application may be submitted online, in person, by mail, or by fax. TAD states that a person should complete as much of the application as possible. A name, address, and signature are necessary to begin the application process.

Expedited CalFresh Service

BenefitsCal identifies circumstances in which an applicant may qualify for expedited CalFresh service within three days of submitting an application. These include:

A household with $150 or less in gross monthly income and $100 or less in liquid resources.

A household whose combined income and liquid resources are less than its monthly rent or mortgage and utility costs.

A household that includes a destitute migrant or seasonal farmworker with liquid resources of $100 or less.

For this purpose, gross income means income before taxes or deductions. Examples of liquid resources identified by BenefitsCal include cash on hand, money in bank accounts, stocks or bonds, and one-time payments. An applicant potentially qualifying for expedited service has an interview within three days. If approved for CalFresh, benefits begin from the application date.

CalFresh Work Requirements

TAD states that new work requirements took effect June 1, 2026, for many CalFresh recipients ages 18 through 64 who are determined to be Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents. Affected recipients must generally be employed or participate in an approved activity for 20 hours per week or 80 hours per month to continue receiving benefits subject to those requirements.

The requirement does not apply to every CalFresh recipient. TAD directs recipients to determine whether they may qualify for an exemption and to report household changes to the county. People receiving CalFresh should pay particular attention to notices about work requirements because assuming that an older rule still applies could affect continued eligibility.

Medi-Cal Health Coverage

Medi-Cal provides free or low-cost health coverage to California residents who meet eligibility requirements. TAD describes coverage for groups including low-income children, pregnant women, families, and eligible low-income adults.

Medi-Cal applications may be made through BenefitsCal or submitted in person, by mail, over the phone, or by fax. TAD advises in-person applicants to bring applicable identification, financial information, immigration or citizenship documentation, income verification, and other requested records when available.

Federal legislation is expected to result in Medi-Cal changes beginning in late 2026 and continuing into 2027. TAD states that the changes may include updated noncitizen eligibility rules, potential work or community-engagement requirements for some adults, and more frequent renewal timelines. Existing Medi-Cal customers should rely on current notices and official program information rather than assuming that older renewal or eligibility requirements remain unchanged.

Medicare Savings Programs

TAD also states that people who are entitled to or receiving Medicare may qualify for assistance with Medicare Part A or Part B premiums, deductibles, or coinsurance through Medicare Savings Programs even if they are not otherwise receiving Medi-Cal.

The programs identified by TAD are the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary program, Specified Low Income Medicare Beneficiary program, and Qualifying Individual program. Property and income limits may change annually, so applicants should use current eligibility information when applying.

Welfare-to-Work Services

The Welfare-to-Work program is the employment and training component available to CalWORKs recipients. Activities are intended to help participants prepare for employment and progress toward self-sufficiency.

Possible Welfare-to-Work activities include employment, subsidized employment, work experience, vocational education or training, community service, job readiness and job-search activities, domestic abuse services, counseling, substance abuse services, and family stabilization.

Supportive Services

Participants in an approved Welfare-to-Work activity may receive supportive services connected to participation. These may include child care, transportation assistance, clothing needed for work, and other items required for an approved activity.

TAD states that failure to participate in a Welfare-to-Work activity, sign an assigned plan, or provide required attendance or progress information without good cause may lead to noncompliance and potentially a reduction in CalWORKs or CalFresh benefits. Participants having difficulty meeting required participation hours should work with their Employment Services Specialist because additional concurrent activities may be used to meet requirements.

Child Care Assistance

Welfare-to-Work child care can help reimburse child care expenses for children from birth through age 12 when program requirements are met. TAD describes eligibility for families living in San Bernardino County, receiving CalWORKs, and participating in Welfare-to-Work or the Cal-Learn program for teen parents.

Available provider types may include licensed child care centers, family day care homes, before- or after-school programs, and certain relatives or friends, subject to applicable fingerprint-clearance requirements.

Work Experience Program

The Work Experience program is a temporary paid employment training opportunity offered through Welfare-to-Work. It is designed to help CalWORKs customers build job skills, obtain professional experience, and prepare for future employment.

Participants in paid Work Experience earn the equivalent of California’s state minimum wage and may meet Welfare-to-Work participation requirements through their assignment. Subsidized placements can be approved for 12 months and may receive two additional three-month extensions with TAD approval when the worksite continues to have a need and funding remains available, allowing a maximum of 18 months.

Other Cash Assistance Programs

TAD administers additional forms of assistance for people whose circumstances do not fit the primary CalWORKs program. The county’s other programs information covers General Relief, CAPI, Refugee Cash Assistance, the Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program, and Foster Care-related assistance.

General Relief

General Relief is a San Bernardino County-funded and county-administered program that provides loan assistance to indigent individuals and families in temporary need of housing, food, or transportation. Applications may be submitted through BenefitsCal, in person at a local office, or by mail.

Cash Assistance for Immigrants

The Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants is a state-funded program providing monthly cash benefits to aged, blind, and disabled noncitizens who are ineligible for SSI/SSP solely because of immigration status. TAD directs applicants to contact the CAPI Unit or visit a local office to apply.

Refugee Cash Assistance

Refugee Cash Assistance provides cash assistance to refugees who are not otherwise eligible for another cash aid program. TAD states that assistance is available for up to 12 months from the individual’s date of admission to the United States. Applications may be made through BenefitsCal, in person, or by mail.

Crime Victim Assistance

The Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program provides cash assistance to qualifying noncitizen victims of crime who need immediate services and are obtaining legal status. Applications may be submitted through BenefitsCal, in person at a TAD office, or by mail.

Managing an Existing Case

TAD customers do not always need an office visit to obtain routine case information or complete common case tasks. The department’s self-service options allow customers to handle many functions remotely.

Available self-service functions include:

Accessing case information.
Viewing benefit amounts.
Submitting SAR 7 semiannual reports.
Uploading case documents.
Completing reevaluations or recertifications.
Receiving appointment reminders.
Using electronic notifications.
Using electronic signatures where available.
Accessing BenefitsCal tutorials.
Using kiosk and call-center options.

The Customer Service Center also provides an Interactive Voice Response system that current TAD customers can use 24 hours a day. The automated system can provide information such as benefit amounts, worker information, and office location and can allow customers to request forms by mail. Live Customer Service Center agents are available Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Web Chat Assistance

TAD offers web chat for general questions and technical assistance with BenefitsCal accounts. Web chat hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Web chat should not be confused with a channel for discussing detailed case information. TAD states that case information and case specifics will not be discussed through online comments. People seeking information about an active case should use the authorized case-management, telephone, or office channels provided by the department.

EBT Benefits and Accounts

CalFresh and certain cash benefits are issued through Electronic Benefit Transfer. TAD describes the EBT card as a debit-type card used with a personal identification number at authorized point-of-sale devices and ATMs where applicable.

A recipient may have separate CalFresh and cash accounts associated with the same card. Unused balances can roll over to the next month, and TAD states that the card may be used outside San Bernardino County.

Recipients should distinguish between their county benefits case and their EBT account. The TAD case contains eligibility, reporting, worker, and benefit information, while the EBT card is the mechanism used to access issued benefits. A problem with an online BenefitsCal login is also different from an issue involving the EBT card itself.

Overpayments and Over-Issuances

TAD provides an online credit or debit card payment option for CalWORKs and CalFresh over-issuances or overpayments. This payment function is specifically associated with public assistance repayment and is not intended for court or Central Collections payments.

Recipients should verify what debt or notice they are responding to before making a payment. A TAD benefit overpayment should not be confused with an unrelated county court obligation, collection matter, or another type of county payment.

Office Visits and Case Preparation

Residents who need in-person assistance can search TAD office locations through the county office locator. Before visiting, applicants and existing customers can reduce unnecessary follow-up by gathering notices, identifying the program involved, and bringing applicable documents related to the specific application or case issue.

For an existing case, the case number is particularly useful when contacting TAD. The department asks people submitting online comments or feedback to provide their full name, case number, and phone number so the inquiry can be handled more effectively, although case details are not discussed online.

For a new application, applicants should distinguish between documents that establish identity, household circumstances, income, resources, citizenship or immigration status, and other requested eligibility information. Submitting an application does not eliminate later verification, interview, reporting, or renewal requirements that may apply to the selected program.

Common Transitional Assistance Mistakes

Several avoidable problems can interfere with efficient case handling. One common mistake is using the wrong system for the task. BenefitsCal is used for applications and online case management, while the TAD Customer Service Center and IVR provide county case information. EBT services concern access to benefits that have already been issued.

Other mistakes include:

Assuming an existing case is linked to a BenefitsCal account without completing the required verification process.

Ignoring a one-time verification code or failing to maintain access to the email address or phone number connected to an online account.

Missing SAR 7, renewal, recertification, or other reporting requirements shown in case notices.

Failing to report changes that TAD requires a CalWORKs recipient to report within 10 days.

Assuming CalFresh work requirements apply to every recipient or, conversely, assuming that no work requirement applies without reviewing current rules.

Using an overpayment payment system for an unrelated court or Central Collections obligation.

Expecting detailed case information to be discussed through a general online comment or feedback submission.

Going to an office without available identification, income information, resource information, or other documents requested for the particular program.

Public benefit rules can also change. CalFresh work requirements changed in 2026, and TAD has announced Medi-Cal changes expected to begin in late 2026 and continue into 2027. Current county notices and BenefitsCal case information therefore matter when a recipient is deciding what action a notice requires.

Fraud Reports and Program Integrity

Suspected welfare fraud involving San Bernardino County public assistance programs is handled through the county Human Services Program Integrity Division rather than through a routine TAD case inquiry. The county accepts welfare fraud reports online or by phone and permits supporting hard-copy documents to be mailed or faxed with the printable report form.

The welfare fraud form allows a reporter to provide information about the person involved and the allegation. Reporter information is optional. The form also permits additional identifying information that may assist investigators in locating the appropriate records.

A fraud report serves a different purpose from correcting information on a person’s own benefits case, responding to a TAD eligibility notice, reporting an ordinary household change, or paying an established overpayment. Those case-management issues should be handled through the appropriate TAD or BenefitsCal process.

Departments and Offices

San Bernardino County Human Services Program Integrity Division – Fraud Investigation Unit
500 Inland Center Drive 301L
San Bernardino, CA
Phone: 877-605-2321

SBCO Welfare Fraud
P.O. Box 1409
San Bernardino, CA 92408
Phone: 877-605-2321

Transitional Assistance FAQs

How do I know a BenefitsCal text message is really about my case?

BenefitsCal states that text messages about benefits now come from the BenefitsCal system rather than CalSAWS. County-related BenefitsCal messages are sent from text code 72422. If a message asks you to take action, avoid relying on links or instructions from an unexpected source; instead, go directly to the official BenefitsCal website and review your account, electronic notices, case status, and reminders. This provides a safer way to confirm whether an action is actually associated with your benefits.

What if I get a BenefitsCal verification code I did not request?

A one-time verification code should normally appear when someone is attempting to access a BenefitsCal account. BenefitsCal advises users who receive a passcode when they were not trying to log in to go directly to BenefitsCal and change their password. Do not provide an unexpected verification code to another person. Account security is especially important because a BenefitsCal account may contain benefit details, electronic notices, uploaded documents, reports, and renewal information.

Can a community organization invite Transitional Assistance staff to an event?

Yes. San Bernardino County offers outreach activities that may include information booths, application workshops, program presentations, virtual engagements, BenefitsCal training, and mobile office services. Organizations planning community fairs, educational programs, or similar events can review the county’s Transitional Assistance outreach services and use the official invitation process described there.

Are Transitional Assistance brochures available in languages besides English?

County outreach materials are available in English and Spanish, with additional languages planned. San Bernardino County states that only the department is authorized to translate its materials so program information remains consistent. Organizations should therefore use the official versions rather than creating their own translations. The county also allows downloadable materials to be used without a stated download limit, while requests for printed copies are handled separately through its outreach materials process.