Benefit offers free or low-cost internet

Do you need affordable high-speed home internet service? You could get it for as little as $0 per month, thanks to a federal pandemic relief benefit, together with a low-cost plan from your local internet provider.

What is the benefit?

The FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) offers qualifying households up to $50 per month credit on their internet bill (or up to $75 on tribal land). Households can apply for EBB if they lost income due to furlough or unemployment, or are enrolled in government assistance such as CalFresh, MediCal or CalWORKs. For more information on who qualifies, visit https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit.

How do I apply for the benefit?

There are two steps.

1. Go to GetEmergencyBroadband.org to submit an online application or print out a mail-in application.
2. Contact your preferred participating internet provider to select an eligible plan and have the discount applied to your bill. Some providers have special low-cost plans available for low-income people and people receiving government assistance (such as CalFresh or CalWORKs).

Eligible households must both apply for the program and contact a participating provider to select a  plan. Some internet providers may have an alternative application they will ask you to complete. 

Your local internet provider may have low-cost plans available for low-income people. By enrolling in a low-cost plan and applying the EBB benefit, you may be able to reduce your net cost to as little as $0.

What is the future of the benefit?

The EBB is a temporary benefit and it is ending soon. It will be replaced by a new long-term program, the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), on December 31, 2021. 

The ACP is similar to the EBB, but the maximum benefit will decrease from $50 to $30 per month for most qualifying households (it will remain $75 for those on tribal lands). Households enrolled in the EBB Program as of December 31, 2021 will continue to receive their current monthly benefit during the 60-day transition period from the EBB to the ACP. So apply for EBB by December 31, 2021 to maximize your benefit!

There will be some new ways to qualify for ACP, such as receiving WIC benefits or having an income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Some households that qualify for EBB will need to requalify for ACP. (This includes households that qualified for EBB due to substantial income loss, or who meet the eligibility criteria for a participating provider’s COVID-19 program).

Is a low-cost plan offered in my area?

Contact your local internet provider for information on the plans they offer. To see if your provider participates in the EBB program, or to find one that does, visit https://www.fcc.gov/emergency-broadband-benefit-providers.

By combining the EBB or ACP credit with a low-cost plan, your net cost could be as little as $0. 

For example, here are the low-cost plans offered by Cox:

• Cox offers two low-cost plans for households enrolled in government assistance programs (such as CalFresh or MediCal). These programs do not require a credit check, long-term agreement, or deposit. They include a home wi-fi modem and a free self-installation kit. (Professional installation may be available for $20).
• Connect2Compete (about $10 per month) is for families with children in grades K-12.
• ConnectAssist (about $30 per month) is for households who do not qualify for Connect2Compete.
• For households that do not qualify for Connect2Compete or Connect Assist, two other reduced-cost options are available.
• Starter Internet is about $30 per month for 1 year with a 1-year agreement.
• Straight Up Internet is $50 per month including taxes, fees, and modem, with no long-term agreement. 
• These plans also include access to Cox wifi hotspots, a security suite, and a digital academy educational videos and tutorials on how to stay safe and effective online.
• For more information or to apply, visit Cox.com/digitalequity. 

Other providers operating in our county also offer low-cost plans for qualifying households. For example:

• AT&T's Access plan offers service for about $10 per month, with a free wireless router, and the option to buy a computer for about $150. It is available to households with at least one resident who participates in CalFresh (SNAP), SSI, or free school lunch, or meets income criteria. Visit https://accessatt.solixcs.com/#/home
• The Comcast/Xfinity Internet Essentials plan offers service for about $10 per month, with a free wireless router, and the option to buy a computer for about $150. It is available to households with at least one resident who participates in CalFresh, CalWORKs, MediCal, SSI, free school lunch, Head Start, public housing, Head Start, LIHEAP, WIC, Pell grant, VA pension, or tribal assistance (TTANF / FDPIR). Visit https://www.internetessentials.com/apply
• Spectrum's Internet Assist plan offers service for about $23 per month (including $5/month wireless router rental). It is available to households with a child who qualifies for free school lunch, and to seniors age 65 and over who receive SSI. Visit https://www.spectrum.com/internet/spectrum-internet-assist
• The Frontier Essentials Internet plan offers service for about $20 per month, with free installation and no deposit (there is a credit check). Visit https://www.getfrontierfiber.com/ebb-offer?icid=21july23_national_discountprograms_emergency_ebb_banner

Some companies may limit eligibility for these plans to people who do not already have a plan; be sure to ask.

Beware: EBT cardholder scam

BEWARE! 

If you are an EBT cardholder and receive a text, call or email asking for your card number, PIN or any personal information, do NOT provide it. There are reports of an EBT scam and attempts to steal benefits. For any questions regarding your EBT card, please call 1 (877) 328-9677 or visit MyBenefitsCalWIN.org.

¡TENER CUIDADO!

Si es titular de una tarjeta EBT y recibe un mensaje de texto, una llamada o un correo electrónico solicitando su número de tarjeta, PIN o cualquier información personal, NO lo proporcione. Hay informes de una estafa de EBT e intentos de robar beneficios. Si tiene alguna pregunta sobre su tarjeta EBT, llame al 1 (877) 328-9677 o visite MyBenefitsCalWIN.org.

Eviction Resource Guide Available

 

Now that the eviction moratorium has expired, a coalition of local agencies (including Social Services, CommUnify, the Courts, Sheriff, Legal Aid, and SBACT) and has developed this brochure to answer the questions and provide the resources people need when they are losing their housing -- including information and links to:

• emergency rent & utility aid
• one-stop services
• shelter & housing 
• mail services
• pet services
• legal services
• food & groceries
• showers
• laundry
• cash aid & job services
• counseling & mental health
• transportation
• computer & wi-fi access
• other services

The brochure is also hosted at the 2-1-1 COVID-19 resources webpage. 

Changes to CalFresh benefits

What is the change?
CalFresh households will receive an increased monthly benefit amount starting on October 1, 2021.

What to expect:
The average benefit increase will be $12-16 per person per month. The new monthly minimum is $20. No action is required. 

Why the change?
Benefits were increased by 15% due to the pandemic, but this increase ends on September 30, 2021. On October 1, 2021, benefit amounts will increase again by 21%.

Need to share the news?

See this printable flyer (2-sided, English & Spanish. Note: if printing, in the Print dialog box set the Scale setting to "Fit to Page.")

Rental Assistance Program

The County of Santa Barbara Emergency Rental Assistance Program, administered through United Way of Santa Barbara County, is now accepting applications. 

  
The program is open to Santa Barbara County tenant-households with an annual income at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), who have experienced a loss of income due to or during the COVID-19 pandemic and are experiencing a risk of homelessness or housing instability. Qualified applicants may apply for rent and utility debt dating back to March 2020. To apply, go to at www.unitedwaysb.org/rent. To check the status of an application already submitted to United Way, tenants or landlords may call (805) 965-8591. 

  
A separate California Emergency Rental Assistance application portal is closed to new applications for Santa Barbara County residents. Applications already received will continue to be processed. Tenants or landlords who need to confirm the status of an application with the state program may call (833) 430-2122 or go to their application at https://housing.ca.gov/.

(https://mailchi.mp/ff191f44e632/emergency-rental-assistance-press-release?e=c30d71f4ee)

CARES Act Unemployment Benefits End 9-4-21

The temporary Federal pandemic unemployment benefit programs added under the CARES Act will expire on September 4, 2021. For details on the affected claim types, see this EDD webpage. 

While these pandemic unemployment benefits are ending, other assistance programs are still available, including:

• Up to $235 per person per month in food aid from CalFresh*
• Cash aid for chidren and families through CalWORKs
• Rental & utility assistance up to 100% through Housing is Key

To learn more about benefits ending and other assistance programs still available, view this 2-minute YouTube video, this EDD webpage, or this fact sheet (also available in additional languages). 

You may also find this article helpful: https://www.sacbee.com/news/california/article253918203.html

*Maximum benefit will increase to $250 on 10/1/21

Eighteen Santa Barbara County Museums Announce Access Program for Low-Income Families

The Museums for All program offers free or greatly reduced price admission to some of the region’s most popular destinations and access to high-quality museum learning resources.

Eighteen museums across Santa Barbara County have joined Museums for All, a signature access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), administered by the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM), to encourage people of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum-going habits. 

The program supports those receiving food assistance (CalFresh/SNAP) benefits by offering admission to these 18 Santa Barbara County museums for a minimal fee of $0-3 per person, up to four people, with the presentation of a CalFresh (SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer – EBT) card. 

Similar free and reduced price admission is available to eligible members of the public at more than 700 museums across the country. Museums for All is part of these Santa Barbara County museums’ broad commitment to seek, include, and welcome all audiences. 

 Participating Santa Barbara County museums are:

– Art, Design & Architecture Museum, UC Santa Barbara 

– Casa del Herrero 

– Dunes Center 

– Elverhoj Museum 

– Goleta Valley Historical Society 

– Lompoc Museum 

– Ganna Walska Lotusland 

– MOXI, The Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation 

– Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara 

– Museum of Sensory & Movement Experiences 

– Old Mission Santa Barbara 

– Santa Barbara Botanic Garden 

– Santa Barbara Historical Museum 

– Santa Barbara Maritime Museum 

– Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History & Sea Center 

– Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation 

 – Santa Barbara Zoo 

– Wildling Museum of Art & Nature 

P-EBT 2.0 benefits are coming soon!

Pandemic EBT (or P-EBT) food benefits are coming soon for eligible families! These no-risk, additional food benefits will be arriving in the mail soon. 

Although the P-EBT card works much like the CalFresh EBT card, the P-EBT program is not administered by your County DSS office. It is administered by the California State Department of Social Services (CDSS) in collaboration with the Department of Education.

To learn more, see this flyer (English, Spanish) or read on.

Public Charge: what immigrants need to know.

Updated 3/16/21

UPDATE!

Important Change to Public Charge Rule

Immigrants and their loved ones across California can seek and accept medical care, food assistance and public housing without fear or confusion about public charge consequences, thanks to changes in federal policy. 

Important to know

The USCIS will not consider participation in Medi-Cal (except for long-term care), public housing, or CalFresh as part of the public charge determination.  You are also free to seek medical testing, treatment and preventive services for COVID-19, including vaccines: these are not considered for public charge purposes either.

Public Charge Guide 

See this flyer in English or Spanish.

Free legal services

If you have questions or need free legal advice about public charge, a list of nonprofit organizations qualified to provide assistance to individuals is available on the California Department of Social Services website. 

Further explanation

Following a court ruling, the 2019 Public Charge rule will not be enforced, and authorities will revert to the previous policy in place since 1999. This means the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will not consider participation in Medi-Cal (except for long-term care), public housing, or CalFresh as part of the public charge determination any longer. Additionally, a reminder: medical testing, treatment and preventative services for COVID-19, including vaccines, are not considered for public charge purposes.

Specifically, on November 2, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois vacated the 2019 Public Charge Final Rule nationwide. That decision was stayed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. On March 9, 2021, the Seventh Circuit lifted its stay, allowing the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois’ order vacating the 2019 Public Charge Final Rule to go into effect. As a result, the 2019 Public Charge Final Rule is vacated nationwide.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security [DHS] has stated that it will return to using policies in place before the 2019 Public Charge Final Rule. You can check the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) webpage on Public Charge for updates. California health and human services leaders issued a joint statement in response to the federal public charge changes.

Our original article, published 9/5/19 and updated 2/19/20, remains below in light gray text for context. However, it no longer applies. Again: as of March 2021 the 2019 Public Charge rule will not be enforced, and DSS programs will not be considered in the public charge determination.  

INTRODUCTION

You may have heard about a new Public Charge rule in U.S. immigration law. Below is a brief summary of what you need to know. Please note, this is for general information only; it is not comprehensive information and it is not legal advice. We cannot give legal advice.

WHAT IS PUBLIC CHARGE?

In immigration law, a Public Charge is a person likely to be dependent on public programs as their main source of support. Under longstanding policy, the Federal Government can deny an individual a visa to enter the United States, or deny an application for permanent residence (green card) through a relative, to a person determined likely to become a Public Charge. This is known as the Public Charge rule. Recently, the Public Charge rule has been updated.

WHO DOES PUBLIC CHARGE AFFECT?

Most immigrants are NOT subject to the Public Charge rule. The Public Charge rule ONLY applies to people applying for permanent residence (green card) through a relative, or for a visa to enter the United States. No other types of immigration cases are impacted.

WHAT DOES THE NEW PUBLIC CHARGE RULE SAY?

The Public Charge rule has been updated to set a stricter standard for people to show they will not depend on public benefits in the future.The old rule only considered cash assistance benefits in making a public charge determination (including CalWORKs/TANF, SSI, and GA/GR). The new rule considers a longer list of public benefits:

• CalWORKs (TANF)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• General Assistance / General Relief (GA/GR)
• CalFresh (SNAP)
• Non-emergency Medi-Cal or Medicaid (Adults >21 Only)
• In-Home Supportive Services (Adults >21 Only)
• Housing Assistance, which includes Section 8 Voucher Rental Assistance, Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance, and Public Housing

Under the new rule, if an immigrant receives one or more of these benefits for more than 12 months over a 36-month period, they may be considered a public charge. A public charge determination will take into account various other factors as well, including family income, receipt of certain public benefits, and how likely the applicant is to be employed.

WHEN WILL THE NEW PUBLIC CHARGE RULE TAKE EFFECT?

The new rule takes effect February 24, 2020. The Department of Homeland Security will NOT consider an immigrant's receipt of the newly listed benefits before February 24, 2020. (The new rule was originally scheduled to take effect on October 15, 2019. However, due to lawsuits, an injunction, or pause, was ordered. The injunction was lifted by the Supreme Court on January 27, 2020, allowing the rule to go forward. Other legal challenges still could impact the rule.)

DOES THE NEW RULE AFFECT MY ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS? 

No! The new public charge rule does not change eligibility for health and public benefits programs. If you qualify for public benefits, you are still eligible.

WHO IS NOT AFFECTED BY PUBLIC CHARGE?

Immigrants who do NOT have to worry about Public Charge include: 

• Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) who apply for citizenship
• Refugees and Asylees
• Special Immigrant Juveniles
• Trafficking victims
• Victims of qualifying criminal activity
• Certain domestic violence victims
• Immigrants with no legal status who are not eligible to status adjustment (undocumented population)
• U.S. Citizens

Remember, Public Charge does not apply to the majority of immigrants.

I WANT TO BECOME A U.S. CITIZEN. WILL IT HURT MY CASE IF I USE BENEFITS?

No! There is no public charge test for naturalization, which is the process to become a U.S. citizen. However, permanent residents that travel outside the United States for more than 180 days could be subject to public charge rules.

WHAT IF MY CHILDREN OR OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS RECEIVE BENEFITS? 

Family members aren't considered. The rule only considers benefits received directly by the person applying for a change in status (i.e. permanent residence or visa) or if they are listed as a beneficiary. Benefits received by family members, like U.S. citizen children, will not count against you. Note: If you are ready to become a permanent resident, consult with an immigration expert, especially if you have to leave the United States for your green card interview, because the rules are different for people in that situation.

ARE ALL PUBLIC BENEFITS PART OF THE RULE?

No! Many public benefits are not considered under the new rule. Public benefits that are NOT considered in a public charge determination, even under the new rule, include:

• Nutrition benefits through Women, Infants and Children (WIC)
• Free school breakfast or lunch
• Services provided to children under age 21 through Medi-Cal and/or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
• Services provided to pregnant persons or persons up to 60 days following their pregnancy on Medi-Cal
• Emergency medical services covered by Medi-Cal
• Covered California health care subsidies or Medicare coverage
• Non-cash benefits funded solely by the state or a local entity, like expanded Medi-Cal coverage for undocumented children and young adults, or the California Food Assistance Program (CFAP).
• Child care, Head Start, or public education

Eligible individuals and families  should continue to receive these important benefits! 

WHAT IF I FILED MY GREEN CARD APPLICATION ALREADY?

The new rule does NOT apply to cases filed before February 24, 2020. The old rule, which does not consider receipt of CalFresh, Medi-Cal, etc., is still in effect for cases filed before then.

WHAT IF THE RULE DOES APPLY TO ME?

There are many other factors considered when a public charge determination is made, like age, education, health, income level, and employment status – positive factors that can be weighed against negative factors in this forward-looking test.

WHAT IF I HEARD SOMETHING DIFFERENT?

Although the Public Charge rule does not apply to most immigrants, we know that rules like this can have a chilling effect on immigrants using public services because of confusion, misinformation, and fear. Individuals can be misinformed via resources they deem reliable such as word of mouth, non-traditional media and people who call themselves immigration attorneys or specialists but who don’t have training in these complex topics. This misinformation can result in families not signing up for benefits even when they are eligible, withdrawing from programs, or letting their benefits lapse. That is why it is critical that people ask a qualified legal resource before removing themselves or their families off public benefits that they qualify for and need to make ends meet.

I HAVE QUESTIONS…WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Consult an immigration expert to discuss your individual case before making important decisions about the well-being of your family. See this online list or this printable list of legal services providers in your area who can help with Public Charge questions. For tip sheets and other resources helpful for people who work with immigrant families, click here.

CalFresh student eligibility temporarily expanded

Effective immediately, students are encouraged to apply for CalFresh IF they are eligible for federal or state work study program, even if the student does not secure a work study job; OR if they have an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $0. 

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 temporarily changes the CalFresh student eligibility rule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The changes are effective immediately and will remain in place until 30 days after the COVID-19 public health emergency is lifted. If a student meets one of the following criteria, they are encouraged to apply for CalFresh:

• The student is eligible for state or federally financed work study during the regular school year, as determined by the campus financial aid office, OR
• The student has an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $0, as determined by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC).

Before the Act was passed, students had to be approved for work study (not just eligible) and anticipate working during the approved term(s). The Act temporarily expands the work study exemption to all eligible students. In other words, it is no longer required that a student be officially approved for work study or anticipate getting a work study job.

For more information, including a list of acceptable verifications, see this printable flyer and this printable FAQ sheet.

CalFresh benefits temporarily increasing

Due to increased need during the COVID public health crisis, all CalFresh benefits will be increased by 15% from January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021. Additionally, the minimum allotment for households of one or two members will increase from $16 to $19. 

CalFresh households will receive supplements for January and February in early February 2021 as a result of the increase. For March forward, the increase will be included in the regular allotment.

The increases are a result of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.

NOTE: CalFresh brochures are distributed with an income insert that lists the CalFresh maximum monthly allotment amount. Due to this temporary 15% increase, an updated version of that insert is available here  in English and Spanish. The updated insert is effective from January 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021 only.