Seaside Social Services Office Closes; Where to Get Medi-Cal and CalFresh Help Starting November 2

SEASIDE, Calif. — Residents accustomed to visiting Monterey County’s community benefits office at 1281 Broadway Avenue in Seaside will need to use a different location or a remote service beginning in November. The county closed the Seaside office after Friday, October 30, 2026, following an assessment of costly building accessibility repairs.

The change affects people seeking assistance with Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs and related benefits. The county’s Coastal Office at 2620 First Avenue in Marina is scheduled to begin providing limited in-person services and document drop-off on Monday, November 2, according to county guidance reported by Bay City News.

What services will be available in Marina?

The Marina office is expected to screen urgent cases, including homelessness, an immediate housing crisis, domestic violence or sexual assault. It can also handle EBT card issuance or replacement and emergency Medi-Cal paper cards. Residents should not assume it will offer the full range of walk-in services previously available in Seaside.

Apply or update benefits without traveling

The county says residents can apply, provide documents and report changes without an in-person appointment:

Online: BenefitsCal.com
Telephone: 877-410-8823
Fax: 831-784-5691
Mail: Monterey County Department of Social Services, 1488 Schilling Place, Salinas, CA

Full-service in-person offices remain available at 1000 S. Main Street, Suite 216, Salinas, and 116 Broadway Street, King City. People who need language assistance or a disability accommodation should request it when contacting the department.

Why Seaside lost the office

Local reporting says a June 2025 assessment identified accessibility deficiencies and estimated approximately $3.9 million in repairs. County leaders have discussed replacing the building, but no confirmed construction or reopening date has been announced. The closure means longer trips for some people who previously relied on its familiar location.

For urgent services, call the county before traveling and verify the scope of assistance and hours at the destination office. This article describes announced service changes, not a guarantee of same-day walk-in help.

Illustrative photograph: Gabrielle Henderson / Unsplash. This does not show the Seaside or Marina social services offices.

Sources: Bay City News / Local News Matters, October 8, 2026; Monterey County Now, October 29, 2026; BenefitsCal.

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