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  "slug": "benefit-programs-what-each-gives",
  "title": "Public benefit programs: what each one gives",
  "kind": "procedure",
  "summary": "Food, health coverage, energy bills, phone and internet, a tax credit: what each program gives, in the agency’s own words, and where to apply. Amounts only where the agency states them.",
  "tags": [
    "benefits",
    "california",
    "federal"
  ],
  "facts": {
    "rows": [
      {
        "program": "CalFresh (SNAP in California)",
        "gives": "monthly food benefits",
        "who": "individuals and families with low income (eligibility by the county)",
        "amount": "UNKNOWN on the page the build read",
        "apply": {
          "url": "https://benefitscal.com/",
          "text": "BenefitsCal"
        },
        "source": {
          "url": "https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/calfresh",
          "text": "CDSS, CalFresh"
        }
      },
      {
        "program": "SNAP (federal)",
        "gives": "monthly food benefits (CalFresh is SNAP in California)",
        "who": "low-income families",
        "amount": "UNKNOWN on the page the build read",
        "apply": {
          "url": "https://benefitscal.com/",
          "text": "BenefitsCal"
        },
        "source": {
          "url": "https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/calfresh",
          "text": "CDSS, CalFresh (SNAP in California)"
        },
        "note": "USDA’s own SNAP page answers 403 to this site’s verifier; the California page is the source"
      },
      {
        "program": "WIC",
        "gives": "healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, referrals",
        "who": "pregnant, or a child under 5 (California WIC’s words)",
        "amount": "UNKNOWN on the page the build read",
        "apply": {
          "url": "https://myfamily.wic.ca.gov/",
          "text": "California WIC"
        },
        "source": {
          "url": "https://myfamily.wic.ca.gov/",
          "text": "California WIC"
        }
      },
      {
        "program": "Medi-Cal",
        "gives": "free or low-cost health insurance",
        "who": "Californians with limited incomes",
        "amount": "free or low-cost (the page’s words)",
        "apply": {
          "url": "https://www.coveredca.com/medi-cal/",
          "text": "Covered California"
        },
        "source": {
          "url": "https://www.coveredca.com/medi-cal/",
          "text": "Covered California, Medi-Cal"
        }
      },
      {
        "program": "LIHEAP (California)",
        "gives": "help with energy bills",
        "who": "low-income households",
        "amount": "UNKNOWN on the page the build read",
        "apply": {
          "url": "https://www.csd.ca.gov/energybills",
          "text": "CSD, Energy bills"
        },
        "source": {
          "url": "https://www.csd.ca.gov/energybills",
          "text": "California Department of Community Services & Development"
        }
      },
      {
        "program": "Lifeline",
        "gives": "a monthly discount on phone, internet or bundled service",
        "who": "eligible low-income subscribers",
        "amount": "up to $9.25 a month towards phone or internet; up to $34.25 on Tribal lands (USAC)",
        "apply": {
          "url": "https://www.usac.org/lifeline/",
          "text": "USAC, Lifeline"
        },
        "source": {
          "url": "https://www.usac.org/lifeline/",
          "text": "USAC, Lifeline"
        }
      },
      {
        "program": "Earned Income Tax Credit",
        "gives": "a tax credit that reduces the taxes owed and may increase the refund",
        "who": "low- to moderate-income workers and families",
        "amount": "depends on income, children and other criteria (the page); figures UNKNOWN on the page the build read",
        "apply": {
          "url": "https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc",
          "text": "IRS, EITC"
        },
        "source": {
          "url": "https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit-eitc",
          "text": "IRS"
        }
      },
      {
        "program": "California LifeLine",
        "gives": "discounted home phone and cell phone services",
        "who": "qualified households",
        "amount": "UNKNOWN on the page the build read (a broadband pilot: up to $20 standalone, up to $30 bundled, Decision 25-08-050)",
        "apply": {
          "url": "https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/consumer-support/financial-assistance-savings-and-discounts/lifeline",
          "text": "CPUC, California LifeLine"
        },
        "source": {
          "url": "https://www.cpuc.ca.gov/consumer-support/financial-assistance-savings-and-discounts/lifeline",
          "text": "CPUC"
        }
      }
    ],
    "not_read": {
      "what": "programs or pages that no official HTML page this page’s verifier can read answered for; each stays out of the table rather than be filled in",
      "tried_on": "2026-10-09",
      "ssi": {
        "program": "SSI (Supplemental Security Income)",
        "status": "UNKNOWN: not in the table",
        "tried": [
          {
            "url": "https://www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/SSI.html",
            "status": "403"
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          {
            "url": "https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-eligibility-ussi.htm",
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            "url": "https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/10/28/2025-19516/cost-of-living-increase-and-other-determinations-for-2026",
            "status": "200, but the page served is “Request Access: programmatic access to these sites is limited”"
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            "status": "404"
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          {
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            "status": "404"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://www.usa.gov/ssi",
            "status": "404"
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        ]
      },
      "snap_federal": {
        "program": "SNAP (federal page)",
        "status": "the California page (CDSS CalFresh) is used instead",
        "tried": [
          {
            "url": "https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/recipient/eligibility",
            "status": "403"
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        ]
      },
      "wic_federal": {
        "program": "WIC (federal page)",
        "status": "the California page (myfamily.wic.ca.gov) is used instead",
        "tried": [
          {
            "url": "https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic",
            "status": "403"
          }
        ]
      },
      "lifeline_fcc": {
        "program": "Lifeline (FCC page)",
        "status": "the USAC page is used instead",
        "tried": [
          {
            "url": "https://www.fcc.gov/lifeline-consumers",
            "status": "403"
          }
        ]
      }
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  "body": [
    "## What each program gives\n\nSeven programs, each described in its agency’s own words, with the place to apply. An amount appears only where the agency’s page states one; otherwise the cell says UNKNOWN.",
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          "key": "gives",
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      "title": "Benefit programs"
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      "ref": "#facts.not_read",
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      "id": "s1",
      "url": "https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/calfresh",
      "title": "CalFresh",
      "publisher": "California Department of Social Services",
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      "url": "https://www.coveredca.com/medi-cal/",
      "title": "Medi-Cal",
      "publisher": "Covered California",
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      "quote": "It gives free or low-cost health insurance to Californians with limited incomes.",
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      "title": "Energy bills (LIHEAP)",
      "publisher": "California Department of Community Services & Development",
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      "quote": "Behind on your energy bills? LIHEAP may be able to help.",
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      "title": "Lifeline",
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