San Diego County Health and Human Services: Benefits, Care and Service Contacts
San Diego County's Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) connects residents with public benefits, health programs, housing resources and family support. Start with the service you need: benefit applications and case questions use different channels from medical appointments, crisis support and protective-service reports.
Mental health or substance use support: Call or text 988, or call 1-888-724-7240. Both numbers operate 24/7. For an immediate life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Independent guide. This website is not affiliated with the County of San Diego. Use the linked official sources for current program requirements, service areas and contact information. Submit applications and personal documents through the appropriate official service.
Which Service Should You Contact?
| What you need | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Apply for CalFresh, Medi-Cal or CalWORKs; ask about an existing benefits case | ACCESS at 1-866-262-9881, or BenefitsCal for online applications and document uploads |
| Mental health or substance use support and referrals | Call or text 988, or call 1-888-724-7240 |
| Older adult, disability or caregiver services | Aging and Independence Services at 800-339-4661 |
| General questions about child and family services | KidsLine at 877-792-5437 |
| Report suspected child abuse or neglect | Child Abuse Hotline at 858-560-2191; within California, toll-free 800-344-6000, available 24/7 |
| County housing or rental assistance information | Housing and Community Development Services at 858-694-4801; confirm the program's service area |
| Vaccinations, public health clinics or disease-related services | The relevant program on the Public Health Services page |
| A birth certificate | Use our birth certificate guide to choose the appropriate county office |
If your service is not listed, use the County's HHSA Services A–Z directory. It links to program-specific instructions rather than a single application covering every service.
ACCESS and BenefitsCal: Applications and Case Questions
ACCESS Customer Service: 1-866-262-9881
Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–5 p.m., excluding County holidays
Relay/TDD: 711
ACCESS helps with Family Resource Center programs, including CalFresh, Medi-Cal and CalWORKs. The County also directs questions about CAPI, County Medical Services and General Relief to this contact.
- Apply for benefits or request application forms.
- Check an application's status.
- Report changes affecting a case.
- Ask about requested verification or a county notice.
The official ACCESS page provides its contact options and links to online services.
Apply or upload documents online
The County links to BenefitsCal for online applications and document uploads. Keep any submission confirmation and note the date and documents provided.
An upload confirmation shows that you submitted material; it does not itself establish that eligibility has been approved or a pending case action completed. For case decisions, requested verification or reporting obligations, contact ACCESS and identify the program involved.
If you are considering submitting an application again because no update appears, check the existing application's status or ask ACCESS how to proceed. Follow any instructions to submit a new application. Checking a status or waiting for a response does not extend a deadline stated in a county notice.
CalFresh, Medi-Cal and CalWORKs
These programs address different needs. A household may apply for more than one, but eligibility and reporting requirements differ. Confirm the status and requested materials for each program rather than assuming approval of one means approval of all.
CalFresh: help buying food
CalFresh, California's SNAP program, provides eligible households with monthly food benefits through an EBT card. Eligibility and benefit amounts depend on household circumstances.
If you need food urgently, explain that when applying. The County states that qualifying applicants may receive benefits in as few as three days. This faster processing does not apply to every application.
For food while an application is pending, the County's CalFresh page also links to San Diego Food Bank and Feeding San Diego, and lists 211 for community resource information.
For a lost card or suspected benefit theft, use the EBT instructions linked from the official CalFresh page. A card problem and a change in benefit eligibility may require different actions.
Medi-Cal: health coverage
Medi-Cal provides free or low-cost health coverage to eligible children and adults. Use the County program page for application instructions, current eligibility information and notices about rule changes.
ACCESS can help with county eligibility matters, such as applications, renewals and verification requests. Treatment, appointments and provider questions should go to the relevant health plan or care provider.
If you receive a renewal or eligibility notice, follow its stated instructions and deadlines. General descriptions of Medi-Cal should not replace the requirements in your notice.
CalWORKs: cash assistance and employment support
CalWORKs provides temporary cash assistance to eligible families with minor children, along with employment-related services. The program page also provides information about housing support and other program components.
When contacting ACCESS, specify whether your question concerns cash benefits, employment services, direct deposit, an EBT card or housing support. This helps staff identify the appropriate case function.
Health, Family and Housing Support
Mental health and substance use services
For support or help finding a service, call or text 988, or call 1-888-724-7240. The County's Behavioral Health Services page states that both numbers operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with language support available.
These services are separate from the ACCESS benefits call center. Explain whether you need immediate support, a treatment referral or help for someone else. For an immediate life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Older adults, disabilities and caregivers
Aging and Independence Services provides information about in-home support, Adult Protective Services, meals, caregiver resources and related programs. Call 800-339-4661 and identify the service you need.
For an existing In-Home Supportive Services or other program case, have the relevant notice or case details available so the inquiry can be routed correctly.
Children and family services
For general questions about child and family services, the County lists KidsLine at 877-792-5437. Its Children's Services directory links to child care, Child and Family Well-Being and other programs.
To report suspected child abuse or neglect, use the dedicated hotline: 858-560-2191, or toll-free within California 800-344-6000. Reports can be made 24 hours a day. The official reporting page also provides instructions for mandated reporters. Call 911 for an emergency.
Housing and rental assistance
Start with Housing and Community Development Services or call 858-694-4801 for general information.
Service areas vary by program. Check the department's Areas Served page before applying. The County housing agency is not the administrator of every housing program in every city.
Specify whether you are seeking a new application, updating a waiting-list application or asking about existing assistance. Review the instructions for the selected program, including any waiting-list information.
Public health clinics and records
The Public Health Services directory links to immunizations, tuberculosis services, HIV and STI services, maternal and child health, vital records and other programs.
Use the individual program page to confirm clinic locations, appointment requirements and available services. For birth certificate requests, see our birth certificate guide.
Find the Right In-Person Office
The HHSA facilities directory lists locations across the county by region. Select a facility that specifically lists your program, rather than choosing only the nearest building.
- Family Resource Centers: Start here for listed public-assistance services.
- Public Health Centers: Check the location's program list for clinics and prevention services.
- Live Well Centers: These may house several services; confirm the particular office you need.
- Specialized facilities: Aging, child welfare, behavioral health and veterans services may use separate locations.
Before traveling, confirm the address, service hours, appointment requirements and documents needed. The operating hours of ACCESS or an administrative office do not establish the hours of every facility.
Prepare Your Case Information and Documents
For a benefits inquiry or other case-specific request, gather:
- The program name and applicant's or client's full name.
- A case or application number, if one has been issued.
- The notice or request you are asking about.
- Application and document-submission dates.
- A brief explanation of the action you need.
- Current contact information for a response.
Use the number associated with the relevant program. A BenefitsCal account, health plan membership and county case may use different identifiers.
When submitting verification, follow the notice's instructions and retain a record of what you sent and how. Reporting requirements can differ between programs, so ask about the specific benefit if you are unsure what must be reported.
General Questions and Mailing Addresses
General HHSA inquiries
Call 619-515-6555, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., or use the official HHSA contact page. Include your name and contact information when requesting a response.
HHSA administrative mailing address — no in-person services
Health and Human Services Agency
County of San Diego
1600 Pacific Highway, Room 206
San Diego, CA 92101
General letters sent here are forwarded to the appropriate service. For a case-specific document, use the destination or upload method provided by that program.
ACCESS mailing address
ACCESS Customer Service Call Center
P.O. Box 939043
San Diego, CA 92193-9043
Before mailing application materials or verification, check the instructions on your form or county notice to confirm the correct destination.
Other official resources
For provider disease-reporting instructions and local health data, use the Public Health Services directory. For veterans assistance, privacy information or client-rights resources, start with the HHSA Services A–Z directory and select the relevant program.