Frequently Asked Questions
Find quick answers to common questions about CalHHS programs, services and resources.
Benefits Questions
Everything you need to know about Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWorks, and General Assistance.
Visit the BenefitsCal website to apply for, manage, and explore resources for food, cash aid, and health coverage benefits.
You may also contact your local county social services office for assistance.
Locate the nearest office in your area, then call or visit in-person.
If you are unable to get the assistance you need, please contact the California Department of Social Services’ Public Inquiry and Response (PIAR) Unit for assistance.
Phone: (916) 651-8848
Email: piar@dss.ca.gov
Out of State Inquiries Email: cdss.osi@dss.ca.gov
Visit the BenefitsCal website to apply for, manage, and explore resources for food, cash aid, and health coverage benefits.
You may also contact your local county social services office for assistance.
Locate the nearest office in your area, then call or visit in-person.
If you are unable to get the assistance you need, please contact the California Department of Social Services’ Public Inquiry and Response (PIAR) Unit for assistance.
Phone: (916) 651-8848
Email: piar@dss.ca.gov
Out of State Inquiries Email: cdss.osi@dss.ca.gov
Visit the BenefitsCal website to apply for, manage, and explore resources for food, cash aid, and health coverage benefits.
You may also contact your local county social services office for assistance.
Locate the nearest office in your area, then call or visit in-person.
If you are unable to get the assistance you need, please contact the California Department of Social Services’ Public Inquiry and Response (PIAR) Unit for assistance.
Phone: (916) 651-8848
Email: piar@dss.ca.gov
Out of State Inquiries Email: cdss.osi@dss.ca.gov
Visit the BenefitsCal website to apply for, manage, and explore resources for food, cash aid, and health coverage benefits.
You may also contact your local county social services office for assistance.
Locate the nearest office in your area, then call or visit in-person.
If you are unable to get the assistance you need, please contact the California Department of Social Services’ Public Inquiry and Response (PIAR) Unit for assistance.
Phone: (916) 651-8848
Email: piar@dss.ca.gov
Out of State Inquiries Email: cdss.osi@dss.ca.gov
Visit the BenefitsCal website to apply for, manage, and explore resources for food, cash aid, and health coverage benefits.
You may also contact your local county social services office for assistance.
Locate the nearest office in your area, then call or visit in-person.
If you are unable to get the assistance you need, please contact the California Department of Social Services’ Public Inquiry and Response (PIAR) Unit for assistance.
Phone: (916) 651-8848
Email: piar@dss.ca.gov
Out of State Inquiries Email: cdss.osi@dss.ca.gov
Visit the BenefitsCal website to apply for, manage, and explore resources for food, cash aid, and health coverage benefits.
You may also contact your local county social services office for assistance.
Locate the nearest office in your area, then call or visit in-person.
If you are unable to get the assistance you need, please contact the California Department of Social Services’ Public Inquiry and Response (PIAR) Unit for assistance.
Phone: (916) 651-8848
Email: piar@dss.ca.gov
Out of State Inquiries Email: cdss.osi@dss.ca.gov
Visit the BenefitsCal website to apply for, manage, and explore resources for food, cash aid, and health coverage benefits.
You may also contact your local county social services office for assistance.
Locate the nearest office in your area, then call or visit in-person.
If you are unable to get the assistance you need, please contact the California Department of Social Services’ Public Inquiry and Response (PIAR) Unit for assistance.
Phone: (916) 651-8848
Email: piar@dss.ca.gov
Out of State Inquiries Email: cdss.osi@dss.ca.gov
Visit the California Department of Social Services’ webpage for information on how to report welfare fraud.
County Questions
Find answers about In Home Supportive Services.
Contact your local county IHSS office for assistance with any inquiries you have.
Visit the CDSS County IHSS Offices page to locate your local office, then call or visit in-person.
IHSS Service Desk for Providers & Recipients Phone: 866) 376-7066
Contact your local county IHSS office for assistance with any inquiries you have.
Visit the CDSS County IHSS Offices page to locate your local office, then call or visit in-person.
IHSS Service Desk for Providers & Recipients Phone: 866) 376-7066
Contact your local county IHSS office for assistance with any inquiries you have.
Visit the CDSS County IHSS Offices page to locate your local office, then call or visit in-person.
IHSS Service Desk for Providers & Recipients Phone: 866) 376-7066
Contact your local county IHSS office for assistance with any inquiries you have.
Visit the CDSS County IHSS Offices page to locate your local office, then call or visit in-person.
IHSS Service Desk for Providers & Recipients Phone: 866) 376-7066
Contact your local county IHSS office for assistance with any inquiries you have.
Visit the CDSS County IHSS Offices page to locate your local office, then call or visit in-person.
IHSS Service Desk for Providers & Recipients Phone: 866) 376-7066
Contact your local county IHSS office for assistance with any inquiries you have.
Visit the CDSS County IHSS Offices page to locate your local office, then call or visit in-person.
IHSS Service Desk for Providers & Recipients Phone: 866) 376-7066
Contact your local county IHSS office for assistance with any inquiries you have.
Visit the CDSS County IHSS Offices page to locate your local office, then call or visit in-person.
IHSS Service Desk for Providers & Recipients Phone: 866) 376-7066
County Questions
Find answers about Child Support Services.
Contact your local county child support office for assistance with any inquiries you have.
Visit the California Child Support Services page to locate your local office, then call or visit in-person.
You may also refer to the California Department of Child Support Services’ Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.
Contact your local county child support office for assistance with any inquiries you have.
Visit the California Child Support Services page to locate your local office, then call or visit in-person.
You may also refer to the California Department of Child Support Services’ Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.
Contact your local county child support office for assistance with any inquiries you have.
Visit the California Child Support Services page to locate your local office, then call or visit in-person.
You may also refer to the California Department of Child Support Services’ Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.
Contact the child support agency handling your case.
The following resources are also available:
- The California Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) information page on licenses and passports.
- The Administration for Families and Children’s Office of Child Support Services information page on the Passport Denial Program.
You may also contact the Passport Denial Program in California
DCSS Passport Denial Program
PO Box 419064,
Mail Stop A-310
Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-9064
Phone: (888) 898-1745
Fax: (916) 636-2470
Email: passport@dcss.ca.gov
Vital Records Questions
Answers about vital records such as birth and death certificates.
If you know the county where the birth/death occurred, you may request the records from that county registrar/recorder.
Find your county’s registrar/recorder office.
Birth/death certificates and amended birth/death certificates can be requested from the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) Vital Records office.
Visit the CDPH Vital Records page for more information on the request process.
For more information, visit the CDPH Vital Records Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page.
VITAL RECORDS
(916) 445-2684
Hours:
M-F 8am-4pm PT
Mailing Address:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
If you know the county where the birth/death occurred, you may request the records from that county registrar/recorder.
Find your county’s registrar/recorder office.
Birth/death certificates and amended birth/death certificates can be requested from the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) Vital Records office.
Visit the CDPH Vital Records page for more information on the request process.
For more information, visit the CDPH Vital Records Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page.
VITAL RECORDS
(916) 445-2684
Hours:
M-F 8am-4pm PT
Mailing Address:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
If you know the county where the birth/death occurred, you may request the records from that county registrar/recorder.
Find your county’s registrar/recorder office.
Birth/death certificates and amended birth/death certificates can be requested from the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) Vital Records office.
Visit the CDPH Vital Records page for more information on the request process.
For more information, visit the CDPH Vital Records Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page.
VITAL RECORDS
(916) 445-2684
Hours:
M-F 8am-4pm PT
Mailing Address:
California Department of Public Health
Vital Records – MS 5103
P.O. Box 997410
Sacramento, CA 95899-7410
Filing a complaint
Visit the California Department of Public Health’s Licensing and Certification webpage for information on how to file a complaint against a health care facility or certain health care professionals under CDPH’s purview.
Visit the Department of Health Care Services’ Licensing and Certification webpage for information on how to file a complaint against a licensed, certified AOD service provider, or a registered or certified AOD counselor.
Visit the California Department of Managed Health Care’s webpage for information on how to file a complaint against your health plan
Before filing a complaint with the Department of Managed Health Care, you must first file a Grievance/Complaint with your Health Plan. Find your Health Plan’s member services contact information on the DMHC website.
Visit the Medical Board of California’s webpage for information on how to file a complaint against medical doctors, licensed midwives, and polysomnographic trainees, technicians, and technologists.
Visit the California Board of Registered Nursing’s webpage for information on how to file a complaint against a registered nurse.
To file a complaint about a county employee, please contact the Director of the county agency where the person is employed. Visit the CDSS ‘Contact Your County’ page to find the address of the appropriate county department of human/social services.
If your complaint relates to discrimination by a California county welfare department, please visit the California Department of Social Services’ webpage for more information on filing discrimination complaints against a California county welfare department or county welfare department staff worker.
Visit the California Department of Social Services’ Community Care and Licensing webpage for more information on filing a complaint against a California state licensed child care or residential facility.
Visit the California Civil Rights Department’s webpage for information on how to file a discrimination, harassment, or retaliation complaint.
Visit the US Department of Health & Human Services Office of the Civil Rights webpage for information on how to file a civil rights complaint.
Suspected Fraud
View the US Department of Health and Human Services’ bulletin on Grant Frauds on social media.
If you’d like to report this as fraud, please contact the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Visit the OIG Website
Phone – 1(800) 447-8477
Public Records Act Request
To request public records from the California Health & Human Services Agency, please visit our PRA Request page for more information.