California Eligibility Finder
Answer one set of questions to see which California benefit, incentive and compliance programs on this site you could qualify for. Each result links to that program's own calculator for a full figure.
This tool compares your income, household size, housing, vehicle and business details with about 20 California programs at once: utility bill assistance, EV rebates, property tax exemptions, solar incentives, business programs, and your local minimum wage, rent cap and sales tax. If it doesn't have the figure needed for your inputs, it tells you so and shows no estimate for that program.
Fill in what applies to you. Only income, household size and homeowner or renter status are required.
California Eligibility Finder
Programs You May Qualify For
How this is calculated
Each program below has its own real eligibility gate, pulled from the same data that drives its dedicated calculator:
- Income tables by household size for CARE, FERA, LIHEAP and CalFresh, all keyed off the federal poverty level or state median income.
- Flat gates for MyFirstEV and the property tax exemptions.
- Per-air-district or per-city lookups for Clean Cars 4 All, minimum wage, rent cap, and sales tax.
Some programs need information this one-page form doesn't collect, such as a GPA for Cal Grant, a wage history for SDI, or details about dependent children for the full CalWORKs formula. Those programs are left out of this tool, not approximated. The FAQ below lists them.
Every result links to that program's own full calculator or the administering agency's page for the exact number.
Where to get free help
These are official state programs, and their help costs nothing.
- Covered California: Free in-person help choosing a plan, applying and estimating financial help, in many languages. Call (800) 300-1506 (TTY (888) 889-4500), Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Find a free enroller near you
- California Department of Insurance: Questions or complaints about an insurance company or agent: auto, home, life and health policies. Call 1-800-927-4357. File a complaint online
- HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program): Free, confidential one-on-one counseling on Medicare and long-term care insurance. Call 1-800-434-0222. About HICAP
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the California Eligibility Finder check?
It compares your answers with about 20 programs that have an income, age, household or ownership test: utility bill assistance (CARE, FERA, LIHEAP, ESA), CalFresh, Covered California subsidies, CalEITC/YCTC/FYTC, EV incentives (MyFirstEV, Clean Cars 4 All, CALeVIP), property tax exemptions (homeowners', disabled veterans', Prop 19), solar and SGIP incentives, business incentives and compliance (CalSavers, GO-Biz programs, business licensing), and your local minimum wage, rent cap and sales tax rate. It does not cover Cal Grant, SDI/PFL, EDD unemployment, Medical Baseline, the full CalWORKs grant formula, or situation-specific calculators such as overtime and PAGA. Those need inputs a one-page form can't collect well.
Is this an official government tool?
No. This is an independent educational estimate, not affiliated with the CPUC, FTB, BOE, GO-Biz, CDSS, Covered California, CARB or any other agency. Every program listed links to its own calculator or to the administering agency's official page. Confirm eligibility and amounts there before relying on anything shown here.
Why does it ask for my city instead of just my ZIP code?
Location-based results (local minimum wage, rent caps, business licenses and sales tax) are set by city, and one ZIP code can cross city lines. Entering a ZIP fills in the city our ZIP table matches it to; check it, and change it if your address is in a different city.
Why do some results say "Check Manually" instead of a clear answer?
The tool shows that message when it lacks the figure needed for your inputs, for example when a required field is blank or the program publishes no table for your situation. We would rather say "we can't tell from this form" than show a wrong "you qualify."
What if my city isn't in the dropdown?
The dropdown lists every incorporated California city. If you live in an unincorporated area, choose 'Other / Not Listed': sales tax falls back to the statewide base rate. For cities outside our local minimum wage, rent cap and business license tables, those results say so and show the statewide rule; results that don't depend on city are unaffected.
This tool provides an educational estimate only and is not affiliated with any California state agency, county, or utility. Eligibility rules, income tables and program funding change often. Confirm current status and amounts with each program's own calculator or administering agency before relying on this for a financial or legal decision.