Cash assistance programs help low-income Californians meet basic needs.
- According to the California Poverty Measure (CPM), cash-based programs kept 1.8 million Californians—including 760,000 children—out of poverty in early 2023. But not all who are eligible are enrolled.
- While tax credits reach more low-income Californians, the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) and Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payments (SSI/SSP) have the largest impact on poverty for participants because they provide higher levels of support.
- Eligibility, requirements, funding sources, and oversight vary widely across key cash-based programs.