If the ongoing pandemic has taken a toll on your income, then you may be able to get financial help from the state and the federal government. People with low or no income can get money for basic needs such as food and for medical and utility bills, get low-cost internet at home, childcare and education assistance, and even get their federal and state taxes done for free. If you live in California and you want to explore your benefits options within just a few minutes, then make sure to visit the website of the non-profit organization EKS California and use its online benefits finder tool.
Each benefits program uses its own eligibility criteria, but the applicant’s income level is typically used by all programs. To see if you qualify for a certain benefits program, you will need to go to the program’s website, and this can be time-consuming especially if you’re interested in multiple benefits. With EKS, you can not only immediately see the entire list of benefits that you are eligible for, but also get an estimate of the amount of money you would receive on a monthly basis, per available benefit. The benefits finder tool saves you time and provides you with the monthly amount that you’re undeniably interested in knowing beforehand.
You may not even be aware of the different benefits programs, which is why you can also use the EKS website to learn about these programs, from Covered California and Medi-Cal to CalFresh food stamps, CalSavers, VITA program, and many more. Furthermore, you can get guidance on free tax filing by accessing United Way’s where you can also see if you qualify for CalEITC, a cash-back credit for working California residents that make less than $30,000.
If you’re facing a period of financial strain, then do not hesitate to visit the EKS website ekscalifornia.org and click on Explore Your Options on the homepage to see all government benefits that you qualify for. You will be taken through a sign-in /sign-up portal ( simply use your google account or request a magic link via SMS or email to sign in), brought to you by United Way in collaboration with the app Benefit Kitchen. To use this popular benefits finder tool, you don’t need to provide any personal info like your name, address, and SSN. You just have to answer a few questions about your household, income, and other factors used to determine your eligibility for 18 county, state, and federal benefits.