Public Assistance

Public Assistance Home | CalWORKs | Medi-Cal | CMSP | Food Stamps - SNAP | General Assistance

The Public Assistance Branch of the Division of Social Services is responsible for the administration the major public assistance programs in Marin County. Division staff provide eligibility determinations and related services for the following programs:
CalWorks, Medi-Cal, CMSP, Food Stamps - SNAP, General Assistance

Verifications Required

When applying for public assistance programs, certain items are required to determine if an individual or family is eligible. The verifications needed may vary depending on the program you are applying for.

Please provide the following items for each family member applying for aid, if applicable:

• Picture identification card
• Social Security card
• Medicare card or other health insurance card
• Proof of citizenship or immigration status (birth certificate, passport, immigration card or VISA)
• Proof of address (lease, rent receipt, utility bill)
• Proof of income (paystubs, Federal income tax return with all attachments for self-employed, unemployment or disability payments, cash gifts or loans received)
• Verification of property/assets (checking, savings, IRA or retirement account statements, car registration(s), land owned, etc.)
• Additional verification may be requested

Welfare Fraud

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) is responsible for maintaining the integrity of public assistance programs. Welfare fraud investigators are charged with deterring, detecting and prosecuting fraud. This ensures that our programs are available for those in need of assistance. Referrals are received from the community, automated detection systems, eligibility staff and other agencies, hotlines, etc. All referrals are investigated, and the caller may remain anonymous. We have a bilingual speaking investigator available for Spanish referrals and assisting in translations.

SIU also contains the Collections Unit, which is responsible for billing and collecting overpayments due to administrative errors, client caused errors, and intentional program violations. Marin participates in the Tax Intercept Program which enables our Department to collect money from clients that are not paying by intercepting their tax returns.

To report suspected fraud for CalWORKs, Food Stamps, General Assistance or In-Home Support Services (IHSS) please call (415) 473-7071 or fax (415) 473-7166.

To report Medi-Cal suspected fraud for Medi-Cal, please call 1-800-822-6222, email stopmedicalfraud@dhcs.ca.gov, or submit a complaint form online at https://apps.dhcs.ca.gov/AutoForm2/default.aspx?af=1828.

Additional Information and Resources on Assistance Programs in Marin County:
Assistance Programs in Marin County
Applying for Public Benefit Programs

Online Eligibility Screener: find out if you might qualify for helpful benefits.