How Do I Transfer My Benefits From One County To Another In California
Holy Moly, You're Moving! Navigating the California County-to-County Benefit Transfer (AKA, the Great Paper Chase)
Let's be real, moving in California is a saga. The packing, the traffic, the existential dread of finding a new go-to taco spot... it’s a whole thing. But if you're rocking benefits like CalFresh (that's food stamps, for the uninitiated) or Medi-Cal (California's Medicaid program), you’ve got one more bureaucratic beast to wrestle: the Inter-County Transfer, or ICT.
Don't sweat it, though. This isn't like trying to find a parking spot in downtown L.A. on a Friday night—it's actually doable, and your benefits are designed to follow you. California doesn't want you to starve or go without a doctor just because you decided to ditch your old zip code for a shinier one. This is your definitive, extra-long, and slightly-too-sarcastic guide to making that transfer happen without a full-blown meltdown. Get ready for a paperwork party!
Step 1: Immediate SOS - Dropping the Dime ☎️
Listen up, buttercup. This is the most important part. Your benefits don't have a built-in GPS that automatically pings the new county when your U-Haul crosses the line. You have to tell them! And you gotta do it fast.
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| How Do I Transfer My Benefits From One County To Another In California |
1.1 The Golden 10-Day Rule
You need to notify either your Sending County (the one you're leaving) or the Receiving County (the shiny new one) about your address change within 10 calendar days of your actual move. Seriously, set a reminder on your phone, write it on your hand, tattoo it on your forehead—just don't forget it!
Pro Tip: Most folks just call their current county social services office. It’s easier, like a breakup where you let them know you’re moving on.
1.2 Who You Gonna Call? (Not Ghostbusters)
QuickTip: Don’t rush through examples.
For CalFresh, CalWORKs (cash aid), and most Medi-Cal cases: You're calling your local County Welfare Department or Social Services Agency. Look up the phone number for the office in your current county, or the one you're moving to.
For Medi-Cal recipients who also receive SSI (Supplemental Security Income): You might need to notify the Social Security Administration (SSA) office about your move. This is a bit of a special lane, so make sure you clarify this with the office.
1.3 What to Say (Keep it Simple, Superstar)
You don't need to write a sonnet. Just state the facts:
"Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I need to report a change of address."
"I was living in [Old County] and have moved to [New County]."
"Please initiate an Inter-County Transfer (ICT) for my [CalFresh/Medi-Cal/CalWORKs] case."
Provide your new physical and mailing address, along with a new phone number if you got one. Make sure they get the new street address on record! That's the key that unlocks the transfer.
Step 2: The Great Hand-Off (The County Shuffle) 🤝
Once you drop that dime, the gears of bureaucracy start grinding—slowly, but surely. This is where your old county (the Sending County) and your new county (the Receiving County) start a little email chain to move your entire life (well, your case file) across county lines.
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2.1 The 7-Business-Day Clock
Whichever county you tell first (the "notifying" county) has seven business days to electronically send the request to the other county. Think of this as sending a giant, digital fax of your entire benefit history. They'll use a fancy statewide system to transfer your case data and any scanned documents.
2.2 Chill Out (But Stay Alert)
QuickTip: Return to sections that felt unclear.
This part can feel like watching paint dry. The good news? Your benefits are supposed to continue without interruption!
The Sending County will continue to issue your benefits until the Receiving County officially "picks up" the case.
The goal is to complete the transfer within 30 days of the county being notified.
Don't freak out if you get mail from your old county after you've moved. They are still responsible for your benefits until the new county takes over. Keep checking your mail and answering their calls! You are still required to report any other changes (like a new job or change in household income) to the Sending County until the transfer is complete.
2.3 No New Application? Say What?!
Here’s the sweet part: If your case is active when you move and you requested the transfer, the Receiving County cannot require you to:
Start a brand-new application (a new SAWS 2 Plus).
Attend a new interview or provide a whole new stack of verification documents.
Your current eligibility is simply being moved, not re-determined. You are the transfer king/queen! The Receiving County must accept the eligibility determination made by the Sending County.
Step 3: New County, New Rules (Especially for Healthcare) 🚑
Your cash aid and CalFresh benefits transfer pretty cleanly, but Medi-Cal is the drama queen of the group. Since Medi-Cal relies on Managed Care Plans, your health plan will almost certainly change.
3.1 The Medi-Cal Managed Care Swap
QuickTip: Scan the start and end of paragraphs.
Dis-enrollment: Once your address is updated, you'll be automatically dis-enrolled from your old county's Managed Care Plan (MCP). This usually takes effect on the first day of the next month.
New Enrollment: The new county might have different health plan options. You'll get a stack of mail from the state's Health Care Options (HCO) with information about your new options. You may have a limited time to pick a new plan, or you might be temporarily placed in a "Fee-for-Service" (non-managed care) Medi-Cal until you choose or are assigned a new plan.
Accessing Care: This is where it gets tricky. If you need to see a doctor right away after moving, your old Managed Care Plan might not cover you in the new county, except for emergency care and family planning. Be prepared to use the Medi-Cal Ombudsman's office (or Fee-for-Service) if you have an urgent, non-emergency need before your new plan is active. Always call your old plan first to check your options!
3.2 Check-in with the Receiving County
If you haven't heard from the Receiving County after about 30 days, or if your benefits have been delayed, don’t panic, but do get on the horn.
Call the new county's Social Services office.
Ask for an update on your Inter-County Transfer (ICT).
If your benefits are due for a periodic report (like a SAR 7) or a recertification/renewal, the Receiving County is usually responsible for handling that if the transfer happens close to the due date.
The bottom line is seamless service. If something feels off, you have the right to ask for an expedited transfer or even an appeal if your benefits are cut off improperly. Don't let them send you into a paperwork black hole!
FAQ Questions and Answers
How to ensure my benefits don't stop during the transfer?
The absolute best way to ensure your benefits don't stop is to report your move within the 10-day window to either your old or new county office and explicitly request an Inter-County Transfer (ICT). As long as your case is active in the Sending County, they are required to continue issuing benefits until the Receiving County officially takes over.
How long does an Inter-County Transfer (ICT) usually take?
Tip: The middle often holds the main point.
The official guideline states that the benefit responsibility should transfer to the new county no later than the first day of the benefit month following 30 days after a county was notified of your move. So, a typical transfer takes about 30 days.
How to find the contact number for my new County Welfare Department?
You can easily search on Google for "[Name of New County] Social Services Agency" or "[Name of New County] Welfare Department." Most counties have a dedicated phone number or a centralized call center for CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and CalWORKs.
How to use my EBT card in the new county before the transfer is done?
No sweat! Your CalFresh benefits are loaded onto your EBT card, which works statewide and even nationwide. You can continue to use your EBT card to buy food in your new county (or anywhere else) without any issues, even if the transfer hasn't been finalized.
How to deal with my Medi-Cal health plan changing?
Be proactive. Once you report your move and the Medi-Cal transfer is initiated, you will receive a packet from the state about your new Managed Care Plan (MCP) options. Open this mail immediately and select a new plan if you have a choice. If you have an urgent medical need before your new plan is active, contact the Medi-Cal Managed Care Office of the Ombudsman for assistance.
Would you like me to find the specific contact information for a county's social services office in California?
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