MISSION

"Our responsibility to the community is to provide benefits and services in a quality manner. We promote personal responsibility, safety,  job readiness and self-sufficiency in order to strengthen individuals and families. These services will be performed with the highest degree of integrity, trust and mutual respect. Our goal is to be one of the best service organizations of our kind and to be viewed as a model of quality."

 

SOCIAL SERVICES CONTACT INFORMATION
Address	10877 Conductor Blvd. Ste. 200 Sutter Creek, CA 95685
Telephone	(209) 223-6550 Toll Free (844) 835-3685
Business Hours	Monday –Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm

 

Interactive Voice Response Telephone System-

The number to call is: 1-877-410-8802

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS 

Amador County Department of Social Services has a 24 hour access telephone number for our clients with active cases. You can call the Interactive Voice Response Telephone system (IVR) for information regarding:

• SAR Status	• Office hours and location
• Benefit Amounts	• Case status and activity
• Reimbursements	• Medi-Cal share of cost

 

The first time you call in you will need to know your case number and Social Security number to create a Personal Identification Number (PIN). If you are unable to access the new interactive Voice Response telephone system, please call our office and we will be happy to assist you. 

Benefits

• CalFresh
• Medi-Cal/County Medical Services Program (CMSP)
• CalWORKS
• General Aid/General Relief (GA/GR)
• Disaster CalFresh
• Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI)
• Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)
• Trafficking & Crime Victims Assistance Program (TCVAP)

Ways to Apply

Electronically

www.BenefitsCal.com 

BenefitsCal will make it easier than ever to:

• Apply online
• Renew your benefits
• Upload documents
• Report changes
• Connect with a caseworker

NOTE: CAPI Applications ARE NOT accepted electronically.

In Person

Hand your application to a receptionist at our local Social Services office Monday - Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Drop Off

Drop your application in one of our drop boxes located outside the main building doors

Mail

Mail your application to:

Department of Social Services
10877 Conductor Blvd. Ste 200
Sutter Creek, CA 95685

Fax

Fax your application to 209-257-0242

Apply by Phone

You can apply over the phone by calling 209-223-6550 | Toll Free (844) 835-3685

Services and Special Programs

CalWORKs

Benefit payment program to help needy families.

Foster Care

Financial Assistance for those children who are in need of substitute parenting and who have been placed in foster care.

Former Foster Care Youth

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, individuals who were in foster care at age 18 or older are now eligible for Medi-Cal until age 26 regardless of income.  Please click the link below for more information.

www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal/eligibility/Pages/FFY.aspx

CalFresh (Formerly Known as Food Stamps) provides food assistance to low income families and individuals.  Follow the links below for more information on the Calfresh Program and how to apply.

Click here for more information and to apply online. 

CalFresh Poster - Amador County 

SP CalFresh Poster - Amador County 

CalFresh Power Outage Benefit Replacement Flyer FINAL 

Printable CalFresh Application

Application in Spanish 

If you are a student who is eligible for state OR federal work study OR have an Expected Family Contribution of $0, you may be eligible for CalFresh food benefits. Visit https://www.getcalfresh.org/students for more information. 

 

If you need help filling out forms or completing the application process, please let us know right away.  You may also qualify for expedited CalFresh benefits.  If you qualify, you may get your CalFresh within 3 days.  Your worker will explain it to you for more information on filing and application.

Changes in CalFresh (Formerly Food Stamps) Rules for Drug Felons.  Click here for more information.

Notice To: All Transitional Nutrition Benefit (TNB) Recipients: You are getting this message because your EBT food benefits is funded by the State of California and is called TNB. A new law was passed that pauses TNB recertification for two years beginning in November 2021. This means you can skip your TNB recertification (form number TNB 4) if it is due in November 2021 and you will still get your benefits. Your TNB benefits will continue for 2 years beginning November 2021. Recertification will start again in November 2023. You can still apply for regular CalFresh at any time if there are changes in your household or income. Your next TNB 4 recertification form will be sent to you between November 2023 and October 2024 depending on your renewal month. Please contact your county office if you have any questions. 

CFAP Outreach Campaign Survey

California currently provides state-funded food benefits to certain immigrants through the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP) who do not qualify for the federal CalFresh benefits. These benefits are available through the same Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card as CalFresh. On October 1, 2025, CFAP will expand to all noncitizens, age 55 or older, who do not qualify for CalFresh because of their immigration status.

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) will share information about the CFAP expansion through a media campaign, which includes social media, radio, and television advertisements. We want to know your thoughts about the CFAP expansion and how we should advertise this program to the community.  

This survey will remain open until May 31, 2024. We will not ask for any information that links you to your answers, all responses are anonymous. Your responses will be grouped with others and will only be used for analytical purposes. You can decline to answer any question in the survey.

Taking this survey will not impact you or your household members’ immigration status, or your CalFresh benefits. If you have any questions, please visit the CFAP website, or email us at CFAP@dss.ca.gov. Please click on the link for an accessible PDF of the Outreach Campaign Survey, which can be submitted by email to CFAP@dss.ca.gov.

Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI)

CAPI provides cash assistance to certain aged, blind and disabled legal non-citizens ineligible for SSI/SSP due to their immigration status. CAPI participants may be eligible for Medi-Cal, In-Home Supportive Services and CalFresh.

Eligibility is determined if the individual meets all the following conditions:

• Non-citizen who meets the immigration status criteria in effect for SSI/SSP
• Aged 65 or older, blind or disabled 
• Ineligible for SSI/SSP solely due to immigration status—this means the individual must apply for SSI/SSP or submit other proof of ineligibility from the Social Security Administration. 
• Resides in California
• Has income less than the CAPI standards
• Has resources below the allowable limits. 

Medi-Cal

California's Medical assistance program for eligible California residents.

MAGI is a Medicaid program that uses  Modified Adjusted Gross Income based budgeting is used to calculate a person's household size and income, using federal income tax rules and a tax filer's family size to determine eligibility for Medi-Cal. 

Medi-Cal for Kids and Teens:

What services can children and youth get if they are in Medi-Cal? Under California and federal law, all children and youth to age 21 enrolled in Medi-Cal have the right to regular check-ups and other preventive and treatment services needed to stay or get healthy.  This right is known in federal law as the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) requirement. It ensures that every child enrolled in Medi-Cal gets the care they need to grow up as healthy as possible. In California, EPSDT is called Medi-Cal for Kids & Teens. The services are free, unless the child or youth was found to have a Share of Cost when they qualified for Medi-Cal.   

Covered California

Covered California 

This is California's official health care marketplace where individuals, families & small businesses can find low cost health insurance.

County Medical Services Program (CMSP)
This program provides limited-term health coverage for uninsured low-income, indigent adults that are not otherwise eligible for other publicly funded health programs.

General Assistance Program

County funded assistance program for indigent adults not aided by other federal or state assistance programs.

Click here to view the latest General Assistance Program regulations approved by the Amador County Board of Supervisors:   GA Regulations

Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)

Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) is available for the first 12 months that a refugee (admitted for permanent residence) is in the U.S.

In California, the refugee must first have eligibility for CalWORKs determined. If it is determined that the refugee is eligible for CalWORKs, aid must be paid under that program rather than from RCA funds.

The 12 months of RCA benefits for refugees are generally based upon the date of entry into the U.S. Asylees are eligible for up to 12 months from the date their asylum is granted. Trafficking and victims of severe crimes, including non-citizen victims of domestic violence, can also qualify to receive RCA benefits after receiving certification. Again, eligibility for CalWORKs must first be determined and aid will be paid under that program if eligibility exists.

Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program (TCVAP)

The Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program (TCVAP) provides eligible non-citizen victims of human trafficking, domestic violence and other serious crimes, services such as cash assistance, food benefits, employment and social services. Benefits and services are modeled after the Refugee Resettlement Program which follows the same grant amounts, structure and time frames as RCA and CalWORKs.

Voter Registration

Are you registered to vote??? You can apply to register to vote right now by filling in the online application. If you have any questions, visit Frequently Asked Questions, contact the Secretary of State's Elections Division at (800) 345-8683 or by email.

For more information click the link below

http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/

 

NOTICE: Protect your personal information. 

Beware of potential EBT card scams.  Click on here for more information

EBT Scam Public Service Announcement Video

The PSA video outlines how public assistance benefits can be stolen from EBT cards utilizing text message and phone scams, card skimming technology, and fake websites. It also provides suggestions on what recipients can watch out for when using their EBT cards to make everyday purchases, tips on how to protect their personal and EBT card information, and what to do if they think they have been a victim of EBT or benefit theft.  

https://youtu.be/opg52FxKoSo