Public Benefits for Immigrants
SFHSA provides valuable public benefits for immigrants, including food, cash, and health care assistance.
Below, view the public benefits available based on your immigration status and the required documentation.
Every situation is different. To learn how getting public benefits may affect your immigrant status, call the Bay Area Legal Aid Free Advice Hotline (800) 551-5554.
For citywide services for immigrants, including legal help, job and career services, and housing and shelter, visit the City’s Immigrant Services and Resources page.
Program eligibility by immigration status
- CalFresh (food stamps)
- CalWORKs cash assistance for people with children or CalWORKs Diversion
- County Adult Assistance Programs (CAAP) cash assistance for individuals without dependents
- Medi-Cal health insurance
- Refugee Cash Assistance after cash assistance ends.
- Medi-Cal health insurance
- Medi-Cal health insurance
- CalFresh (food stamps)
- CalWORKs cash assistance for people with children or CalWORKs Diversion
- County Adult Assistance Programs (CAAP) cash assistance for individuals without dependents
- Medi-Cal health insurance
- Medi-Cal health insurance
- Refugee Cash Assistance - For Afghans, Cubans, Haitians, and Ukrainians who arrived in the U.S. on or before September 30, 2024
If granted parole for at least one year you can also get:
- CalFresh (food stamps)
- CalWORKs cash assistance for people with children or CalWORKs Diversion
- County Adult Assistance Programs (CAAP) cash assistance for individuals without dependents
- CalFresh (food stamps)
- CalWORKs cash assistance for people with children or CalWORKs Diversion
- County Adult Assistance Programs (CAAP) cash assistance for individuals without dependents once Refugee Cash Assistance ends
- Medi-Cal health insurance
- Refugee Cash Assistance
- CalFresh (food stamps)
- CalWORKs cash assistance for people with children or CalWORKs Diversion
- County Adult Assistance Programs (CAAP) cash assistance for individuals without dependents
- Medi-Cal health insurance
- CalFresh (food stamps)
- CalWORKs cash assistance for people with children or CalWORKs Diversion
- County Adult Assistance Programs (CAAP) cash assistance for individuals without dependents
- Medi-Cal health insurance
- Refugee Cash Assistance
- Medi-Cal health insurance if you are a California resident
- Medi-Cal health insurance
T-Visa and U-Visa allows you to get:
- CalFresh (food stamps)
- CalWORKs cash assistance for people with children or CalWORKs Diversion
- Medi-Cal health insurance
- Refugee Cash Assistance
- Trafficking and Crime Victim Assistance Program (TCVAP) cash assistance
U-Visa also qualifies you for:
- County Adult Assistance Programs (CAAP) cash assistance for individuals without dependents
- Medi-Cal health insurance
- County Adult Assistance Programs (CAAP) cash assistance for individuals without dependents - Only if you are catastrophically ill
You can apply on behalf of U.S.-born children for:
- CalFresh (food stamps)
- CalWORKs cash assistance for people with children or CalWORKs Diversion
- CalFresh (food stamps)
- CalWORKs cash assistance for people with children or CalWORKs Diversion
- County Adult Assistance Programs (CAAP) cash assistance for individuals without dependents
- Medi-Cal health insurance
- Medi-Cal health insurance
Depends on status or category on work permit:
- CalFresh (food stamps)
- CalWORKs cash assistance for people with children or CalWORKs Diversion
- Refugee Cash Assistance