The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) announced that its Aliso Viejo Regional Center (AVRC) located at 115 Columbia will close its doors on December 31, 2020. AVRC core operations and staff will be consolidated into SSA’s nearby Laguna Hills Regional Center (LHRC), located at 23330 Moulton Parkway, scheduled to re-open on January 4, 2021.

The decision to close AVRC was made as a result of the Agency’s analysis of long-term cost savings associated with the closure and determination that the consolidation of multiple programs into LHRC will allow SSA to more effectively serve the community.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Orange County households interested in applying for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, General Relief and CalWORKs benefits or wishing to review existing case information are strongly encouraged to visit SSA’s online portal or contact the SSA Call Center, as outlined below.

• Online: www.mybenefitscalwin.org
  • As another option, individuals applying for CalFresh benefits only may visit www.getcalfresh.org
  • Households interested in applying for Medi-Cal only may visit www.coveredca.com
• By Phone: please call SSA’s Call Center at (800) 281-9799
  • Call Center hours are Weekdays (Monday – Friday) from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

LHRC will join three other regional centers offering limited functionality, open to the public from Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. In-office visits are intended especially for those individuals who may have limited or no access to a phone or internet. SSA triage staff will continue to conduct brief visitor health screenings at these locations and all visitors must wear appropriate face coverings prior to entering the facilities.

With the addition of LHRC, the following SSA regional office locations open to the public will include:

Residents can also access other SSA services and programs as follows:

• SSA will continue to provide drive-through benefits issuance — for the distribution of new and replacement Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) and Benefits Identification Cards (BIC) — by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, please call the SSA Call Center at (800) 281-9799 or contact your assigned caseworker.
• To apply for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) or for questions related to ongoing IHSS cases, please call (714) 825-3000 or fax (714) 825-3001.
• To apply for Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI), please call (800) 281-9799.
• If you suspect a child is at risk of abuse or neglect, call our Child Abuse Registry at (800) 207-4464 or (714) 940-1000.
• Please call the Adult Protective Services Hotline at (800) 451-5155 if you suspect a senior or dependent adult is at risk of abuse or neglect.

For additional information on SSA programs, visit: www.ssa.ocgov.com.

To stay up-to-date on information concerning the COVID-19 situation in Orange County, go to: www.ochealthinfo.com/novelcoronavirus.

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) announced today it will close its four open public assistance lobbies effective Tuesday, December 29, 2020. This change in operations is being made as a precautionary measure to help slow the spread of COVID-19. 

Orange County households interested in applying for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, General Relief and CalWORKs benefits or wishing to review existing case information should visit SSA’s online portal or contact the SSA Call Center, as outlined below.

• Online: www.mybenefitscalwin.org
  • As another option, individuals applying for CalFresh benefits only may visit www.getcalfresh.org
  • Households interested in applying for Medi-Cal only may visit www.coveredca.com
• By Phone: please call SSA’s Call Center at (800) 281-9799
  • Call Center hours are Weekdays (Monday – Friday) from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The SSA lobbies closing to the public effective December 29th include:

SSA eligibility staff will be stationed in front of the Anaheim, Garden Grove, Santa Ana and Aliso Viejo Regional Centers on Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to provide critical benefits assistance to individuals who may not have access to telephone or internet services.

SSA’s other office locations will remain closed and services currently provided by appointment only will continue.

*Effective December 31, 2020, the Aliso Viejo Regional Center will shut its doors, with staff and services from that location transitioning to the Laguna Hills Regional Center (LHRC) at 23330 Moulton Parkway. The LHRC lobby will remain closed, however, eligibility staff will be stationed in front of the office on January 4, 2021 to assist individuals experiencing accessibility issues by phone/internet.

Residents can access other SSA services and programs as follows:

• SSA will continue to provide drive-through benefits issuance — for the distribution of new and replacement Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) and Medi-Cal Benefits Identification Cards (BIC) — by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, please call the SSA Call Center at (800) 281-9799 or contact your assigned caseworker.
• To apply for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) or for questions related to ongoing IHSS cases, please call (714) 825-3000 or fax (714) 825-3001.
• To apply for Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants (CAPI), please call (800) 281-9799.
• If you suspect a child is at risk of abuse or neglect, call our Child Abuse Registry at (800) 207-4464 or (714) 940-1000.
• Please call the Adult Protective Services Hotline at (800) 451-5155 if you suspect a senior or dependent adult is at risk of abuse or neglect.

For additional information on SSA programs, visit: www.ssa.ocgov.com.

To stay up-to-date on information concerning the COVID-19 situation in Orange County, go to: www.ochealthinfo.com/novelcoronavirus.

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) announced that it will re-open four regional offices with limited functionality effective Monday, February 1, 2021, in accordance with the State’s lifting of the stay-at-home order. The re-opening will provide Orange County residents with additional access to public assistance benefits and related services, while continuing to provide safeguards that help maintain the protection of SSA clients and staff during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Orange County households interested in applying for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, General Relief and CalWORKs benefits or wishing to review existing case information are strongly encouraged to visit SSA’s online portal or contact the SSA Call Center, as outlined below, to avoid long in-person wait times and help prevent the spread of illness.

• Online: www.mybenefitscalwin.org
  • As another option, individuals applying for CalFresh benefits only may visit www.getcalfresh.org
  • Households interested in applying for Medi-Cal only may also visit www.coveredca.com
• By phone: please call SSA’s Call Center at (800) 281-9799
  • Call Center hours are Monday – Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 
• To apply for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) or for questions related to ongoing IHSS cases, please call (714) 825-3000 or fax (714) 825-3001.
• In addition, if you suspect a child is at risk of abuse or neglect, call our Child Abuse Registry at (800) 207-4464 or at (714) 940-1000.
• Please call the Adult Protective Services Hotline at (800) 451-5155 if you suspect a senior or dependent adult is at risk of abuse or neglect.

Beginning February 1, 2021, the following locations will be open to the public with limited functionality, Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.:

Clients who arrive at SSA facilities will go through a brief pre-check process prior to being allowed entry into an SSA lobby. SSA staff will inquire about the purpose of the client’s visit and will conduct a short health screening questionnaire. Visitors will be strongly encouraged to practice physical distancing throughout their visit. All visitors, unless under the age of two, those who have breathing issues or those with an underlying medical or mental health issue, are required to wear a face mask or cloth facial covering for the safety of others.

Limited visitations and Live Scan appointments will continue by appointment only for Children & Family Services clients.

All other SSA offices will remain closed to the public until further notice.

For additional information on SSA programs, please visit ssa.ocgov.com

To stay up to date with information concerning the COVID-19 situation in Orange County, please visit https://occovid19.ochealthinfo.com.

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) announced that maintenance of its benefits eligibility and determination system will be performed on Saturday, February 6 and Sunday February 7, 2021. This scheduled work will lead to a system outage. As a result, the SSA Call Center will have limited functionality on Saturday, February 6th, and drive-through benefits issuance of Golden State Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards and Medi-Cal Benefits Identification Cards (BIC) will be suspended for that day.

The system is expected to resume its full operations effective 6 a.m. on Monday, February 8, 2021.

Orange County households interested in applying for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, General Relief and CalWORKs benefits or wishing to review existing case information are strongly encouraged to visit SSA’s online portal at www.mybenefitscalwin.org. Individuals applying for CalFresh benefits only may visit www.getcalfresh.org and households interested in applying for Medi-Cal only may visit www.coveredca.com.

While the SSA Call Center will continue to receive calls this Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at (800) 281-9799, Call Center operators may not have the ability to fully assist clients with specific case information until the system is fully operational.

• To apply for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) or for questions related to ongoing IHSS cases, please call (714) 825-3000 or fax (714) 825-3001.
• In addition, if you suspect a child is at risk of abuse or neglect, call our Child Abuse Registry at (800) 207-4464 or at (714) 940-1000.
• Please call the Adult Protective Services Hotline at (800) 451-5155 if you suspect a senior or dependent adult is at risk of abuse or neglect.

For additional information on SSA programs, please visit ssa.ocgov.com

To stay up to date with information concerning the COVID-19 situation in Orange County, please visit ochealthinfo.com/novelcoronavirus. 

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) announced that it will extend in-person office hours at its four currently open public assistance regional centers, effective Monday, February 22, 2021. The expanded hours will help to ensure a greater number of Orange County residents have in-person access to public assistance benefits and related services, while planning for the safety and protection of SSA clients and staff during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Beginning Monday, February 22, 2021, the following locations will be open to the public with limited functionality, Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.:

Clients who arrive at SSA facilities will go through a brief pre-check process prior to being allowed entry into an SSA lobby. SSA staff will inquire about the purpose of the client’s visit and will conduct a short health screening questionnaire. Visitors will be strongly encouraged to practice physical distancing throughout their visit. Further, all visitors, unless under the age of two, those who have breathing issues or those with an underlying medical or mental health issue, are required to wear a face mask or cloth facial covering for the safety of others. 

SSA will continue to provide drive through benefits issuance of new and replacement EBT and Medi-Cal Benefits Identification Cards (BIC) by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, please call the SSA Call Center at (800) 281-9799 or contact your assigned caseworker. 

Limited visitations and Live Scan appointments remain by appointment only for Children & Family Services clients.

All other SSA offices will remain closed to the public until further notice.

Orange County households interested in applying for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, General Relief and CalWORKs benefits or wishing to review existing case information are strongly encouraged to visit SSA’s online portal or contact the SSA Call Center, as outlined below, to avoid long in-person wait times and help prevent the spread of illness.

• Online: www.mybenefitscalwin.org
  • As another option, individuals applying for CalFresh benefits only may visit www.getcalfresh.org
  • Households interested in applying for Medi-Cal only may also visit www.coveredca.com
• By phone: please call SSA’s Call Center at (800) 281-9799
  • Call Center hours are Weekdays (Monday – Friday) from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• To apply for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) or for questions related to ongoing IHSS cases, please call (714) 825-3000 or fax (714) 825-3001.
• In addition, if you suspect a child is at risk of abuse or neglect, call our Child Abuse Registry at (800) 207-4464.
• Please call the Adult Protective Services Hotline at (800) 451-5155 if you suspect a senior or dependent adult is at risk of abuse or neglect.

For additional information on SSA programs, please visit: ssa.ocgov.com. And, to stay up-to date with information concerning the COVID-19 situation in Orange County, visit occovid19.ochealthinfo.com. 

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) is pleased to announce the availability of its Families and Communities Together (FaCT) platform annual report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-2020, covering the period from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. The report addresses the critical role that FaCT and its network of 15 Family Resource Centers (FRCs) play in the County’s efforts to ensure children in Orange County grow up in stable, nurturing families and safe, supportive communities.

For over 25 years, FaCT has played an integral role in SSA’s efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect and help at-risk families thrive. FaCT FRCs provide family strengthening and support services to the community, ranging from counseling and parenting classes, comprehensive case management services, educational and training programs, as well as advocacy and community engagement. FaCT serves as a public-private partnership between SSA and numerous community-based organizations that collectively work to provide engagement and outreach, direct service delivery, fund development and professional/staff training on best practices.

In Fiscal Year 2019-2020, FaCT FRCs served more than 12,000 individuals and over 6,000 families.

To read the full report, please visit: www.factoc.org/newsletter/annual-reports

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) announced that it will re-open a fifth regional office location to the public with limited functionality effective Monday, March 15, 2021. The Agency’s Cypress Regional Center joins the following open SSA public assistance benefits offices, with lobby hours from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.:

In alignment with the other open regional centers, clients who arrive at the SSA Cypress location will go through a brief pre-check process prior to being allowed entry into an SSA lobby. SSA staff will inquire about the purpose of the client’s visit and will conduct a short health screening questionnaire. Visitors will be strongly encouraged to practice physical distancing throughout their visit. All visitors, unless under the age of two, those who have breathing issues or those with an underlying medical or mental health issue, are required to wear a face mask or cloth facial covering for the safety of others. 

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (OCSSA) provides Adult Services, Aid Programs, eligibility for public assistance benefits, Children & Family Services and Family Self-Sufficiency programs to the County’s residents. OCSSA employs more than 4,000 staff across Orange County. For more information, visit us at ssa.ocgov.com.

SSA continues to highly encourage Orange County households interested in applying for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, General Relief and CalWORKs benefits or wishing to review existing case information to visit SSA’s online portal or contact the SSA Call Center, as outlined below, to avoid long in-person wait times and help prevent the spread of illness.

• Online: www.mybenefitscalwin.org
  • As another option, individuals applying for CalFresh benefits only may visit www.getcalfresh.org
  • Households interested in applying for Medi-Cal only may also visit www.coveredca.com
• By phone: please call SSA’s Call Center at (800) 281-9799
  • Call Center hours are Monday – Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• To apply for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) or for questions related to ongoing IHSS cases, please call (714) 825-3000 or fax (714) 825-3001.
• In addition, if you suspect a child is at risk of abuse or neglect, call our Child Abuse Registry at (800) 207-4464 or at (714) 940-1000.
• Please call the Adult Protective Services Hotline at (800) 451-5155 if you suspect a senior or dependent adult is at risk of abuse or neglect.

Limited visitations and Live Scan appointments will continue by appointment only for Children & Family Services clients.

All other SSA offices will remain closed to the public until further notice.

For additional information on SSA programs, please visit: ssa.ocgov.com, and to stay up to-date with information concerning the COVID-19 situation in Orange County, please visit ochealthinfo.com/novelcoronavirus. 

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) is pleased to announce the availability of its Fiscal Year (FY) 2019-2020 Annual Report, covering the period from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. The report highlights the Agency’s accomplishments and initiatives and reflects on SSA’s efforts to ensure continued accessible and responsive services to the community during the pandemic.

Key accomplishments in response to COVID-19 include:

• Maintained connections with vulnerable clients during the pandemic to ensure their overall health and well-being, assessing and addressing immediate unmet needs. SSA staff across all divisions worked to conduct welfare calls to:
  • CalWORKs / Children & Family Services mutual clients: 22,000 cumulative calls made
  • Adult Protective Services: nearly 8,700 cumulative calls made
  • In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS): approximately 65,500 calls made
• Established an innovative drive-through benefits issuance solution for clients to safely pick-up new or replacement Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards and Medi-Cal Benefit Identification Cards. Over 10,000 customers were served through this offering in the last fiscal year.
• Expanded SSA’s online portal (www.mybenefitscalwin.org) to ensure coverage for Medi-Cal, CalFresh, General Relief and CalWORKs applications and/or inquiries on existing cases; extended SSA Call Center hours for evening and Saturday coverage to meet increased call volumes.
•  Activated the County’s critical Emergency Operations Center Mass Care and Shelter Branch to coordinate essential connections with schools, cities, food banks and elder residential care sites.

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) provides Adult Services, Aid Programs, eligibility for public assistance benefits, Children & Family Services and Family Self-Sufficiency programs to the County’s residents. SSA employs more than 4,000 staff across Orange County.

For more information, visit us at ssa.ocgov.com.

According to SSA Director Debra J. Baetz, “I am extremely proud of the numerous accomplishments made by SSA staff amid the tremendous challenges brought about by the pandemic.” She continued, “Our SSA team is to be commended on their ability to remain focused during a unique and difficult time and continue the charge to help individuals work towards self-sufficiency, strengthen families and protect our most vulnerable populations in Orange County.”

Click here to read the full report.

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) announced that it will reopen another regional office location to the public effective Tuesday, July 6, 2021. The Agency’s Central Regional Office joins the following open SSA public assistance benefits offices, with lobby hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday:

Per California Occupational Safety and Health guidelines, all visitors who are fully vaccinated are not required to wear a mask when visiting an SSA office but may do so for safety. Unvaccinated visitors are required to wear a mask or cloth facial covering when entering an SSA office and for the duration of their visit. Children younger than 2, those who have breathing issues or those with an underlying medical or mental health issue are exempt from wearing a mask.

SSA continues to highly encourage Orange County households interested in applying for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, General Relief and CalWORKs benefits or wishing to review existing case information to visit SSA’s online portal or contact the SSA Call Center, as outlined below, to avoid long in-person wait times and help prevent the spread of illness.

• Online: www.mybenefitscalwin.org
  • As another option, individuals applying for CalFresh benefits only may visit www.getcalfresh.org
  • Households interested in applying for Medi-Cal only may also visit www.coveredca.com
• By phone: please call SSA’s Call Center at (800) 281-9799
  • Call Center hours are 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays.
• To apply for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) or for questions related to ongoing IHSS cases, please call (714) 825-3000 or fax (714) 825-3001 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• In addition, if you suspect a child is at risk of abuse or neglect, call our 24-hour Child Abuse Registry at (800) 207-4464 or at (714) 940-1000.
• Please call the 24-hour Adult Protective Services Hotline at (800) 451-5155 if you suspect a senior or dependent adult is at risk of abuse or neglect.

Family visitations and Live Scan appointments will continue by appointment only for Children and Family Services customers.

SSA has modified the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Benefits Issuance hours of operation to 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Clients may contact their case worker or the SSA Call Center to make an appointment.

For additional information on SSA programs, please visit www.ssa.ocgov.com, and to stay up-todate with information concerning the COVID-19 situation in Orange County, please visit www.ochealthinfo.com/novelcoronavirus. 
 

The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) announced today that its public assistance benefits offices will be closed on Monday, September 6, 2021 and the SSA Call Center will be closed on Saturday, September 4 and Monday, September 6, 2021 in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Clients can visit www.mybenefitscalwin.org to apply for or check on existing Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs or General Relief public assistance benefits or alternatively through one of the following options:

• CalFresh only through www.GetCalFresh.org.
• Medi-Cal only may also visit www.coveredca.com.

In addition, if you suspect a child is at risk of abuse or neglect, call our 24-hour Child Abuse Registry at (800) 207-4464 or at (714) 940-1000.

Please call the 24-hour Adult Protective Services Hotline at (800) 451-5155 if you suspect a senior or dependent adult is at risk of abuse or neglect.

The SSA Call Center will reopen Tuesday, September 7 with operating hours from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and office locations will reopen at 8 a.m. that day.