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Every year, an estimated one-quarter of benefits go unclaimed, leaving $80 billion worth of benefits on the table. One big reason: it is difficult for people to get a holistic view of all of the benefits they qualify for and how benefits might impact their household budgets.

United Ways of California’s Benefits Screener helps community members easily screen themselves for a wide range of public benefits. Caseworkers can also use the tool to screen clients.

In just ten minutes, you can see if you qualify for:

• Food Stamps (CalFresh SNAP)
• Cash Assistance (CalWORKs TANF)
• Women Infants & Children (WIC)
• Head Start
• School Meals
• Child Care Assistance (State+DOE)
• Medicaid/Medi-Cal (adult)
• Medicaid/Medi-Cal (child)
• ACA (adult)
• ACA (child)
• Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
• County Medical Services
• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
• Lifeline
• Subsidized High-Speed Internet
• Child Tax Credit (CTC)
• Child Care Tax Credit (CCTC)
• Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

Helping Families Reach Financial Stability

Easier access to health benefits, cash benefits, and low-copay child care helps put money back into families’ pockets and helps improve their health outcomes. For example:  

• Enrolling in public benefits is one of the first steps people can take when trying to reach financial stability. Access to these programs helps ease the day-to-day financial burden that Californians are facing and helps keep people healthy.
• Access to health benefits as well as adequate food and shelter plays a critical role in helping families live stable and stress-free lives.
• Access to free tax prep ensures that clients can maximize their tax refund and get credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit. The Earned Income Tax Credit is the largest, most successful anti-poverty program in the United States. The Child Tax Credit expansion in 2021 also led to a drastic reduction of poverty.  
• Benefits like Head Start allow families to provide education for their children and help parents return to work. Children who participate in Head Start have increased cognitive and social emotional skills; are 93% less likely to end up in foster care than children who do not participate in any early learning programs; have a higher likelihood of graduating high school, attending college, and receiving a post-secondary education; and are more likely to receive dental check-ups and have healthier BMI scores.