General Relief / General Assistance

General Relief / Assistance is a cash aid program that provides money, vouchers and job-related services for needy persons not eligible for Federal and State aid programs.

Eligibility for General Relief

Anyone has the right to apply for General Relief. In order to receive General Relief, you must be a resident of Placer County. You may qualify if you are poor, destitute, have a mental health disability, or incapacitated by age, disease or accident and are not supported by relatives, friends or any other source. You must be actively seeking employment if you are able to work.

Your real and personal property, all of your income from any source, and ability to be employed are considered when calculating if you qualify for General Relief.

It is important if you or your family is in need of General Relief that you contact the Human Services department.

Benefits

Your worker will calculate the amount of benefits that you can receive. There is also a program that pays for mortuary expenses for deceased indigents when necessary.

Where to Apply

The General Relief program is administered by the Placer County Department of Human Services. You may apply for the program in person, by mail, or by telephone.

Location	Hours
Auburn at DeWitt Center Placer County Human Services 11519 B Avenue Auburn, CA 95603 (530) 889-7610 Fax - (530) 889-7608	10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Roseville Placer County Human Services 100 Stonehouse Court Roseville, CA 95678 (916) 784-6000 Fax - (916) 784-6100	10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
North Lake Tahoe at Carnelian Bay Placer County Human Services 5225 North Lake Blvd. Carnelian Bay, CA 96140 (530) 546-1900 Fax - (530) 546-1912	10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

What to Bring

To expedite your application you may wish to bring with you the following items of verification if applicable:

A picture identification card
Social security card
Rent and utility receipts
Vehicle registration
Bank account statements
Proof of any income you receive

FAQs

I’ve applied for SSI/SSP, but I am waiting for a decision. Can I get General Relief while I am waiting?	Yes. You will need to provide proof that you applied. With verification of your disability, you can continue to receive General Relief while you are waiting for Social Security to make a decision on your SSI/SSP application.
How long can I get General Relief?	If you are able to work, you can receive General Relief for up to three (3) months a year (in a twelve (12) month period). If you are not able to work due to a disability, you may continue to receive General Relief (as long as you still meet all other qualifications) for as long as you are unable to work.
Do I have to pay the money back?	In most cases, no. However, if you apply due to a long term disability, and you have applied for SSI/SSP, if you are later approved for SSI/SSP, the county will demand repayment of the General Relief you received while you were waiting. Those applicants are required to sign an agreement to repay at the time of application and renewal for General Relief benefits.