Assistance Programs in Maryland

The Office of Home Energy Programs, OHEP, helps low-income Maryland households with home energy costs. It runs the Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) for heating grants, the Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP) for electric bills, and arrearage retirement help for past-due balances. Apply online through MarylandBenefits at MarylandBenefits.gov, at your local home energy program office, or by phone at 1-800-332-6347.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Maryland households: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system improvements that lower future bills. The Department of Housing and Community Development runs the program through local weatherization agencies. Contact the local agency serving your area to apply, or call 1-855-583-8976 for help finding it.

SNAP is Maryland's Food Supplement Program: monthly food money loaded onto an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through MarylandBenefits at MarylandBenefits.gov, which also handles Medicaid, cash assistance, and energy help on one account, or at your local department of social services. You can also call the DHS Customer Call Center at 1-800-332-6347, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5pm.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Maryland WIC runs through local county offices of the Maryland Department of Health. Call 1-800-242-4942 to find your local clinic, or apply through the WIC Client Portal linked at health.maryland.gov/phpa/wic.

Maryland Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. Most members get care through HealthChoice, Maryland's Medicaid managed care program, and MCHP covers children through CHIP. Apply through Maryland Health Connection at marylandhealthconnection.gov, or call 1-855-642-8572, Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm.

Maryland offers a state Earned Income Tax Credit on top of the federal credit, and part of it is refundable, so it can pay out even if you owe no tax. The nonrefundable state credit equals 50 percent of your federal EITC, and the refundable credit equals 45 percent of your federal EITC. Claim it on your Maryland return at marylandtaxes.gov.

Temporary Cash Assistance, TCA, is Maryland's monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children, and it is the state's version of the federal TANF program. Most adults take part in work activities while they receive it. Apply online through MarylandBenefits at MarylandBenefits.gov or at your local department of social services, or call 1-800-332-6347.

TDAP is Maryland's monthly cash assistance for low-income adults with a disability who do not have dependent children. A licensed medical practitioner must verify the disability. Apply online through MarylandBenefits at MarylandBenefits.gov or at your local department of social services, or call 1-800-332-6347.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Maryland Department of Labor. File online through the BEACON system at beacon.labor.maryland.gov, which is the fastest way, or call a claims agent at 667-207-6520, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm. You must certify each week to keep payments coming.

Maryland Legal Aid provides free civil legal help to low-income residents on housing and eviction, public benefits, family, consumer, and other noncriminal matters. Call the statewide intake line at 1-888-465-2468 to reach the office serving your area, or start an application online and find your local office at marylandlegalaid.org.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Maryland phone for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. 211 Maryland is a statewide service that answers around the clock, every day of the year. You can also text your keyword to 898-211 for ongoing support, or search at 211md.org.