Want to reduce your living costs?
You may be eligible for several public benefits. Our team can provide a comprehensive screening to determine your likelihood of eligibility for benefits and assist you with completing applications for all of our services. Please note that Community Action Marin can only determine eligibility for our Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and cannot determine eligibility or award CalFresh or Medi-Cal benefits and can only assist with screening and application submission for these two services.
The Benefits Enrollment Center team is bilingual and available to meet with you in person, on a video call, or over the phone. You can visit us in person at 555 Northgate Drive, Suite 201, San Rafael on Tuesday-Thursday between 9:30am – 4:30pm . You may also call 415.526.7550, email our Benefits Enrollment Manager or schedule an appointment! Please note that the eligibility requirements and process for each program varies. See complete details below.
Community Action Marin is also a Benefits Enrollment Center designated by the National Council on Aging to help older adults (age 50+) and people with disabilities learn about public benefits programs, be screened for eligibility, and receive application assistance at community-based locations.
Benefits Enrollment Centers are supported with funding from the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL) as part of NCOA’s MIPPA Resource Center. For more information on Benefit Enrollment Centers, please visit the NCOA website.
Check your eligibility now
Finding federal, state, and private benefit programs in your area is easy. Start by clicking the link to the tool below and learn more about which programs are available to you and how to apply.
LIHEAP
Community Action Marin is the local administrator of the federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. LIHEAP energy bill assistance helps those living on low incomes pay their heating bills in the form of a one-time payment. It is designed to help people in the neighborhood where they are currently living or at an agency where they may already be receiving services. For assistance, customers must choose a primary heat source; PG&E, Wood, or Propane, and may get help only once a year. Payment is sent directly to the utility company or fuel provider and appears as a credit on your bill.
Currently serving only households who meet both the income eligibility requirements and are in a high priority group.
In 2025, the State of California requires that we utilize a new priority plan to determine which households receive any initial funding. In past years we have had sufficient funding to assist all eligible applicants, no matter where they fell in plan. This year we expect to see a greater need, higher energy costs, and less available funding, so we will only be able to serve households who meet both the income eligibility requirements and are in a high priority group. Please note that even if you have received LIHEAP help in the past, unfortunately we cannot guarantee that you will receive it this year.
In 2025, households who meet both income eligibility requirements and are in the State of California’s following high priority groups will be served first.
- Households with the lowest income
- Households with the greatest energy burden (percentage of income spent on utilities)
- Those with children under age five
- Seniors
- Those that are disabled
Eligibility for LIHEAP services can also vary depending on income, household size, place of residence, and other factors. You may qualify for the LIHEAP or Wood & Propane program if your gross monthly household income is less than the 2024 LIHEAP Income Eligibility figures reflected below:
- $3,170.00 for a family of 1
- $4,145.41 for a family of 2
- $5,120.83 for a family of 3
- $6,096.25 for a family of 4
- $7,071.58 for a family of 5
- $8,047.00 for a family of 6
- $8,229.91 for a family of 7
- $8,412.75 for a family of 8
- $8.595.66 for a family of 9
- $8,778.58 for a family of 10
To apply, you’ll need the following:
- Recent copies of your utility bill (Must include all pages and show 30 billing days)
- Final Utility Termination Notice (If you’ve received a 14-day, 48-hour, or shutoff notice from your energy company, that should be included with your utility bill)
- Recent pay stubs or other proof of income that shows your current monthly gross income (This must account for 30 consecutive days of income)
- Documentation showing income from Social Security, Cal Fresh, Unemployment Insurance, Pension Funds, Disability, etc. (Examples: Notice of Action, Passport to Services, most recent bank statement showing direct deposit, copy of current check, dated annual benefit letter, payee letter showing income amount, Form 4926, Form 2458, or a HUD statement with a SS amount)
- Other income sources such as Self-employment, Child Support, Odd Job Requirements (Examples: current copy of ledger/journal, or a signed self-employment statement showing monthly gross income)
- For households with zero income, a self-declaration of zero income attestation form will be requested (Please speak to an intake specialist to request a copy of this form)
For Wood or Propane assistance the eligibility and the process are the same as those for LIHEAP with the following modifications:
- Propane customers: Need to bring their account information including their latest bill.
- The invoice must match your service address listed on your application.
- Wood customers: Work directly with Community Action Marin’s vendor to get them a cord of wood. No bill is required.
Applications can be requested by calling our bilingual intake specialist at 415.526.7550, sending us an email, or scheduling an appointment online. You may also apply directly through the California Online LIHEAP Application. Eligibility and assistance level is based on household size, gross monthly income, and program priorities. Having received LIHEAP assistance previously is not a factor.
- Once an application is complete, we will notify you of approval or denial within 30 days. All payments are made within 45 days after approval of an application.
- The amount you may receive depends on your eligibility. You will be informed on the amount of assistance that you will receive at the time of your appointment.
- Assistance is a one-time payment that is sent directly to the utility company or fuel provider and will appear as a credit on your bill.
CalFresh
Federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), CalFresh supports the food needs of low-income households by providing a free food debit card. Individuals in the program receive a monthly food subsidy on their card and can use it to purchase groceries from participating grocery stores and farmer’s markets. They can also purchase seeds and plants that produce food.
Our Success Coaches and Client Intake Specialists screen individuals to determine if they are eligible for the program and provide assistance with onsite applications, document submission, and renewal. Families should be aware that it can take up to 30 days after you turn in your application to receive benefits. The amount of CalFresh you receive depends on many things, including your household’s size, income, and costs. The average CalFresh household gets over $300 each month.
For most households, the monthly gross income (before payroll deductions) must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level for the household size.
- $2,430 for a family of 1
- $3,288 for a family of 2
- $4,144 for a family of 3
- $5,000 for a family of 4
- $5,858 for a family of 5
- $6,714 for a family of 6
- $7,570 for a family of 7
- $8,425 for a family of 8*
*For families/households with more than 8 people, add $858 for each additional person. Also, if your household includes someone who is age 60 or older and/or disabled, your net monthly income will be used to determine eligibility instead of gross income reflected above.
These documents are usually required to get CalFresh:
- Picture identification card
- Social Security card
- Proof of citizenship or immigration status (birth certificate, passport, immigration card or VISA)
- Proof of address (lease, rent receipt, utility bill)
- Proof of earned and unearned income (paystubs, Federal income tax return with all attachments for self-employed, unemployment or disability payments, cash gifts or loans received, current benefit check, child support check, alimony check, award letter)
Please note that applicants should submit all relevant documents for everyone living in their household whom they include in the application.
Our bilingual Benefits Enrollment Team screens individuals to determine their likelihood of eligibility for CalFresh and provides assistance with the application, document submission, and renewal. Please be aware that Community Action Marin does not make the final eligibility decisions and can only let you know if it looks like you meet the requirements, and once your application is complete and has been submitted, help you prepare for your interview with a CalFresh eligibility worker.
Once your application has been submitted, it can take up to 30 days to receive a Notice of Action indicating if more information is needed, and/or you have been accepted or denied. Should you be denied, Community Action Marin can help direct you to other resources or educate you on how to file an appeal.
Medi-Cal
Medi-Cal provides free or low-cost health care to people who qualify. It can help pay for doctor visits, hospital care, immunization (vaccines), pregnancy-related services, nursing home care, and other services. This includes:
- Outpatient (ambulatory) services
- Emergency services
- Hospitalization
- Maternity and newborn care
- Mental health and substance use disorder services
- Prescription drugs
- Programs such as physical and occupational therapy (known as Rehabilitative & Habilitative Services) and device
- Laboratory services
- Preventive and wellness services & chronic disease management
Our team will review your income to see if you are likely eligible for Medi-Cal benefits.
If you are enrolled in one of the following programs, you are also eligible for Medi-Cal:
- SSI/SSP
- CalWORKS
- Refugee Cash Assistance
- Foster Care/Adoption Assistance Programs
Here are examples of information you may be asked to provide when you apply for Medi-Cal:
- Picture identification card
- Proof of earned and unearned income (paystubs, Federal income tax return with all attachments for self-employed, unemployment or disability payments, cash gifts or loans received, current benefit check, child support check, alimony check, award letter)
- Medicare card or other health insurance card (if applicable)
Please note that applicants should submit all relevant documents for everyone living in their household whom they include in the application.
Our bilingual Benefits Enrollment Team screens individuals to determine their likelihood of eligibility for Medi-Cal and provides assistance with the application, document submission, and renewal. Please be aware that Community Action Marin does not make Medi-Cal eligibility decisions and can only let you know if it looks like you may meet the requirements.
It can take up to 45 days after you turn in your application to receive a Notice of Action from the Public Assistance office indicating if more information is needed, and/or your application has been approved or denied. Should you be denied, Community Action Marin can help direct you to other resources or educate you on how to file a hearings request to appeal the denial.
Contact us to request assistance
You can visit us in person at 555 Northgate Drive, Suite 201, San Rafael on Tuesday-Thursday between 9:30am – 4:30pm . You may also call 415.526.7550, or click on the buttons below to email our Benefits Enrollment Manager or schedule an appointment!