Human Services

Overview

The 2025-26 spending plan provides around $38 billion from the General Fund for human services programs across ten state departments, councils, and commissions. This represents a net increase of more than $4 billion, or nearly 13 percent, compared to the revised prior-year spending level, as shown in Figure 1. The net increase is driven primarily by rate and caseload-driven spending increases for a few programs—most notably developmental services, child care, and In-Home Supportive Services. In addition to caseload growth and rate increases, a significant portion of the increase for child care in 2025-26 is due to the full expenditure of carry over funds that had offset some costs in 2024-25. The increase for California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids also reflects the reduced availability of federal funds that were used to offset General Fund costs in 2024-25. Figure 2 shows some major human services policy changes adopted by the Legislature as part of the 2025-26 spending plan. These changes are discussed in more detail in the issue-specific links provided on this page.

Figure 1

Human Services Programs and Departments—Spending Trends

General Fund (Dollars in Millions)

	2024‑25	2025‑26	Change From 2024‑25 to 2025‑26
	2024‑25	2025‑26	Amount	Percent
Department of Social Services (DSS)
In‑Home Supportive Services	$9,868.8	$11,105.3	$1,236.5	12.5%
SSI/SSP	3,706.1	3,531.4	‑174.6	‑4.7
Child Care	3,422.6	4,710.8	1,288.1	37.6
County Administration/Automation	1,461.6	1,664.7	203.0	13.9
Child Welfare Services	933.9	1,140.4	206.5	22.1
CalWORKs	665.7	1,340.8	675.1	101.4
All other funding under DSS (including state support)	2,555.9	1,292.5	‑1,263.4	‑49.4
Subtotals	$22,614.6	$24,785.8	$2,171.2	9.6%
Other Human Services
Department of Developmental Services	$10,149.3	$12,165.1	$2,015.7	19.9%
Department of Child Support Services	371.4	371.4	—	—
Department of Aging	166.1	163.1	‑2.9	‑1.8
Department of Rehabilitation	87.3	83.6	‑3.7	‑4.3
All other human services	6.3	0.3	‑6.0	‑94.5
Subtotals	$10,780.4	$12,783.5	$2,003.2	18.6%
Totals	$33,395.0	$37,569.3	$4,174.3	12.5%
Note: DSS 2025‑26 total is adjusted for post‑June budget and trailer bills, including AB 104, SB 105, SB 146, and SB 150.
SSI/SSP = Supplemental Security Income/State Supplemental Payment and CalWORKs = California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids.

Figure 2

Major Actions—Human Services Programs

2025‑26 General Fund Effect (In Millions)

Spending Plan Action	Amount
CalWORKs
Work Participation Rate Penalty Backfill	$21.1
Net Savings from Streamlining CalWORKs Participant Experience	‑18.0
IHSS
Reinstates MediCal asset test limit	‑$16.0
Shifts CFCO late penalty costs to counties	‑40.5
Funds for statewide collective bargaining	3.3
Child Welfare
Emergency Child Care Bridge program reduction	‑$30.0
FURS reduction	‑9.0
CWS‑CARES project increase	29.0
BH‑CONNECT implementation	13.0
Tiered Rate Structure automation and CANS support	11.0
One‑time augmentation for Bringing Families Home	81.0
One‑time augmentation for foster family agencies	23.0
Developing standardized mandated reporter curriculum	1.0
Food Assistance
One‑time augmentation for CalFood	$72.0
Strategies to reduce CalFresh error rate	27.6
Set asides for state and counties to implement upcoming federal CalFresh changes	35.0
Automation funding to enable upcoming federal CalFresh changes	3.2
CalFood diaper distribution	7.4
Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program extension	36.0
YMCA of Los Angeles food assistance and legal services	7.5
Other DSS
One‑time augmentation for Holocaust survivors assistance program	$14.5
One‑time augmentation for Home Safe	83.8
One‑time augmentation for HDAP	44.6
One‑time augmentation for CHIRP	10.0
One‑time augmentation for One California	15.0
Operational improvements^a	‑75.0
Developmental Services
Eliminate funding for regional centers to conduct internal implicit bias training	‑$5.6
Eliminate funding for regional centers to assist consumers with Health and Safety Waiver applications	‑3.0
New requirements for spending in the Self‑Determination Program	‑22.5
Accelerate end of “hold harmless” in rate reform implementation	‑75.0
Porterville Developmental Center funding reduction	‑15.0
^aAs of this writing, whether these savings will be achieved is unclear as the administration’s recently signed contract with a consultant to achieve operational improvements does not appear to include DSS.
Note: Child care programs are not included in this table. For more details regarding child care budget actions, please refer to the K12 Education Spending Plan section.
CalWORKs = California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program; IHSS = In‑Home Supportive Services program; CFCO = Community First Choice Option; FURS = Family Urgent Response System; CWS‑CARES = Child Welfare Services‑California Automated Response and Engagement System; BH‑CONNECT = Behavioral Health Community‑Based Organized Networks of Equitable Care and Treatment; CANS = Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths; DSS = Department of Social Services; HDAP = Housing and Disability Advocacy program; and CHIRP = Children’s Holistic Immigration Representation Project.

Department of Developmental Services »