Community Behavioral Health Services - San Francisco Department ...

Basic Benefit Eligibility OverviewBasic Benefits and Their AbbreviationsThis guide is intended as a brief overview only, and should not be construed as a thorough guideor legal advice. Prospective applicants may want to seek advocacy services and representationin order to obtain benefits.CAAP County Adult Assistance Program (previously called General Assistance):This financial benefit is administered and funded by the County (Human Services Agency). It is available tovery low-income/asset adults who are not eligible (or are not yet eligible) for other types of financial benefits.The current payment range as of 2007 is $59 (homeless), $65 (living in shelter), $342 (housed on GA), $422(housed on PAES/SSIP/CALM). CAAP eligibility does not make clients eligible for Medi-Cal, but recipients maybe eligible for Food Stamps. Information is available at 558-1000.SSDI Social Security Disability Insurance (SSA, Social Security):This program is administered by the federal government (Social Security Administration) and pays disabledindividuals a monthly benefit based on their prior work history. To be eligible, a person has to have paid intoFICA through earned income for a specific number of quarters. SSDI does not have financial eligibility criteria.The federal definition of disability must be proven by SSA adjudicators: the client is unable to earn substantialgainful activity (as defined by SSA) based on the medical condition for 12 months or more. Clients receivebenefits as long as they are still considered disabled. SSDI is also available for the children of disabled adults,spouses and widows. Medi-Cal must adopt the SSA disability determination, but a person also must meet theasset limits for Medi-Cal through the county (Human Service Agency). SSDI recipients may also be eligible forSSI (see below) and SSI linked Medi-Cal if SSDI is below the SSI threshold. Information about SSDI and SSI isavailable through SSA at www.ssa.gov, phone 1-800-772-1213, or through an advocacy group (see below).SSI Supplemental Security Income:This program is also administered by the Social Security Administration. It pays clients who are disabled orretired a monthly benefit based on financial eligibility. In general, a single person must have less than $2,000in assets. The monthly SSI level is a set amount based on the living arrangement of the client, and the client’sother income must be below the SSI threshold. Clients who receive SSI automatically get Medi-Cal with theirbenefits. Phone 1-800-772-1213CAPI Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants:Some immigrants who are not eligible for SSI may be able to receive cash assistance through CAPI, aCalifornia state SSI replacement program. CAPI provides cash assistance (approximately $10