Disabled Widow or Widower protection
Health coverage, Medicare savings, prescriptions, and help understanding your options.
A directory listing, not an eligibility decision.
UniHealth can identify a possible match, but the responsible program makes the final decision.
What to know
- Why it may fit
- Your circumstances can be checked against the program’s published guidelines.
- What to do next
- Free, full Medi-Cal for widows and widowers ages 50 to 64 who lost SSI. SSI is a monthly payment for people with little income. They lost it when Social Security widow's or widower's benefits started. It lasts until Medicare Part A starts.
- Who runs it
- Santa Clara County / DHCS
What the program may consider
- Age 50 through 64
- You get disabled widow or widower benefits now
- You are not entitled to premium-free Medicare Part A
- Your SSI ended because widow or widower benefits began
How to get it
Free, full Medi-Cal for widows and widowers ages 50 to 64 who lost SSI. SSI is a monthly payment for people with little income. They lost it when Social Security widow's or widower's benefits started. It lasts until Medicare Part A starts.
Before you start
- You need this first Social Security retirement benefits. You must get Social Security widow's or widower's benefits now.
How to apply
California's one application for Medi-Cal, CalFresh and cash aid
Online it is BenefitsCal. On paper it is the SAWS 2 PLUS. One application can ask for several programs at once.
The same application can also ask for CalFresh Food, CalWORKs, Extra Help with Medicare drug costs, General Assistance, Aged, Blind and Disabled Federal Poverty Level Medi-Cal and 11 more.
- OnlineBenefitsCal websiteApply online for Medi-Cal, CalFresh and cash aid, any time of day.
- PhoneMedi-Cal health plan choice line (Health Care Options): 1-800-430-4263
- PhoneSocial Security: 1-800-772-1213TTY 1-800-325-0778
- PhoneSanta Clara County benefits line: (408) 758-3800Apply or ask questions by phone, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- FaxSanta Clara County benefits fax: (408) 295-9248
- MailSanta Clara County benefits mail: P.O. Box 11018, San Jose, CA 95103
- In personSanta Clara County benefits offices: 1867 Senter Rd, San Jose; 1330 W. Middlefield Rd, Mountain View; 379 Tomkins Ct, Gilroy
Getting help
Someone can apply for you
Anyone can help you fill out the application. You can also name a person or an organization to act for you on form MC 382. They can sign your application and renewals, send papers, and ask about your case. You can limit what they may do. They cannot get your Medi-Cal card. They get copies of your letters only if you ask on the form. You can cancel at any time. In Santa Clara County, a name typed into a helper's own app does not count as your signature. Sign in ink, by phone with the county, or through an approved e-signing service.
You can name a person or an organization to act for you: ask for Appointment of Authorized Representative (MC 382).
What happens after you apply
Each month, the county gets a list of people who may qualify.
The state
You can also apply for Medi-Cal and ask the county to check this program. The county records the day your application arrives.
The county
The county checks if you would get SSI if your widow's or widower's benefits were not counted. If so, you qualify.
The county
Send a Social Security letter that shows why you get your benefit and how much it is.
Only if the county cannot check something itself
The countyA helper can do this for you You get 10 days. If they do not arrive, the county asks again and gives 10 more days.
You get a letter that says yes or no.
The countyWithin 45 days of applying.
If you are new to Medi-Cal, a plastic Medi-Cal card comes by mail. Sign the back. If you had Medi-Cal before, keep your old card. Show it at the pharmacy too. Need care before the card comes? Ask the county about a temporary paper card.
The stateOnly you can do thisIt is mailed about 2 business days after approval.
Health Care Options, a state helper line, mails you a plan packet. In Santa Clara County, you can pick Santa Clara Family Health Plan or Anthem Blue Cross. Kaiser is only for some people, such as recent Kaiser members, their family, and people with Medicare. Pick within 30 days, or one is picked for you. With Medicare, this choice is yours alone. HICAP gives free, unbiased help.
The stateOnly you can do thisYou have 30 days to choose.
Your health plan mails you its own member card. It names your main doctor if you did not pick one. Bring both cards to visits.
Your health plan
What only you can do
- Sign the application, or have the person or organization you named on form MC 382 sign it.
- Only you, or someone with legal power over your affairs, can name a helper on form MC 382.
- Send any papers the county asks for that it cannot check itself.
- Get your Medi-Cal card at your address and sign the back. A helper cannot receive it for you.
- Choose your Medi-Cal health plan within 30 days, or one is picked for you.
- Tell the county about changes within 10 days, including changes in savings or property.
- How long it takes
- The county must decide within 45 days of your application. Then you have 30 days to pick a health plan.
- You are enrolled when
- You are enrolled when your approval letter shows this program with no share of cost. Your Medi-Cal card must also work. A share of cost is an amount you pay each month before Medi-Cal pays. Then a health plan is set up for you.
- To keep it
- Renew once a year. The county checks your Social Security benefits and other income again. Report changes within 10 days. This coverage ends when Medicare Part A starts. The county then checks other Medi-Cal for you. Disagree with a county letter? Ask for a hearing within 90 days.
Can’t be combined with
- Supplemental Security Income / State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP). This is for people who no longer get SSI. SSI already comes with Medi-Cal.
- Original Medicare. This coverage ends when Medicare Part A starts. The county then checks other Medi-Cal for you.
- Qualifying Individual (QI). You cannot get QI help with Medicare costs while you have this Medi-Cal.
- Qualified Disabled and Working Individual (QDWI). You cannot get QDWI help with Part A costs while you have this Medi-Cal.
Coming changes
- Starting January 1, 2027: For applications from January 1, 2027, Medi-Cal can pay bills from only 2 months back, not 3.