California - CA

Acceptable Subsidies

The standard eligibility programs that may be used as proof of subsidy include Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Food Stamps (CalFresh), Medicaid - Medi-Cal, National Free School Lunch Program, Federal Public Housing Assistance (FPHA), and Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Veterans and Survivors Pension benefit.

State-Specific Eligibility Programs

• Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC)
• TANF Programs:

California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs), Stanislaus County Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (StanWORKs), Welfare-to-Work (WTW), Greater Avenues for Independence (GAIN)

State-Specific Tribal Eligibility Programs

• Tribal TANF
• Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
• Head Start Income Eligible (Tribal Only)
• Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

See General Rules for more information.

UNACCEPTABLE Subsidy Proof Examples

• Verification of Benefit forms
• Issuance Summary forms
• Human Services Agency Passport to Services forms

Acceptable Subsidy Proof Examples

CalFresh EBT Card

• An image of the front and back of the card (with the applicant’s signature) must be uploaded
• The card must display the applicant’s name, or the name of applicant’s benefit qualifying person (BQP)
• A purchase receipt that displays a date that is no more than 7 calendar days prior to the date of the application and that displays the last 4 digits of the accompanying EBT card must be uploaded with the SAME image of the EBT card

Notice of Approval for CalFresh Benefits

• Notice of Approval For CalFresh Benefits must appear on the document
• The applicant’s name, or the name of the applicant’s benefit qualifying person (BQP) must appear on the document
• A certification period “from” date that is not more than 7 calendar days prior to the date of the application must appear on the document

CalFresh Notice of Action

• The NOTICE OF ACTION form identifier must appear on the document
• The applicant’s name, or the name of applicant’s benefit qualifying person (BQP) must appear on the document
• Must specifically mention CalFresh on the document
• The Notice Date must be no more than 7 calendar days before the date of the application

Medicaid/Medi-Cal Cards

• BOTH sides must be uploaded.

• BOTH sides must be uploaded.

• BOTH sides must be uploaded.

• BOTH sides must be uploaded.

• Kern Family Health Care, Gold Coast Health Plan, and CalViva offer only Medi-Cal.

Medicaid/Medi-Cal Approval Letters

• Must show valid eligibility dates.

• Must show valid eligibility dates.

TANF

• No amount need be given; just participating in the program qualifies them

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

• Must be dated within the past year.

FPHA/Section 8

WIC

• cards that do not display a name must be accompanied by a grocery receipt that shows an active balance, be dated within 3 months of the LifeLine application, and the last 4 digits of the WIC card number shown on the receipt must match the WIC card number.

Acceptable WIC App screen shots

National Free School Lunch Program

Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations

Tribal TANF

Acceptable Income Proof Examples

SSDI (must be dated within the past year)

• NOT PROOF OF SSI
• Can be used to demonstrate low income eligibility.

Unemployment Benefits Printout

• Can be used to demonstrate low income eligibility.

Emergency Unemployment Benefits Extension Award Letter (Spanish)

• Can be used to demonstrate low income eligibility.

Disability Insurance Claim Letter

• Can be used to demonstrate low income eligibility.

Acceptable ID Examples

• Acceptable in California ONLY

• FOREIGN passports acceptable in California ONLY