Assistance Programs in Nevada

Nevada's Energy Assistance Program, the state's LIHEAP, helps low-income households pay heating and cooling bills. It runs year-round rather than in seasonal windows, but once you get a benefit you generally cannot reapply until about 11 months later. Apply online through Access Nevada at accessnevada.nv.gov, or submit a paper application by mail, fax, email, or at a welfare office drop box. Call 775-684-0800 with questions.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Nevada households: air sealing, insulation, and heating and cooling improvements that lower future bills. The Nevada Housing Division runs the program through local nonprofit agencies. Both homeowners and renters qualify, though the owner of a rental may have to cover part of the cost. Contact the agency serving your county to apply.

SNAP is Nevada's food assistance program: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. The fastest way in is Access Nevada at accessnevada.nv.gov, the state's online portal that also handles Medicaid, cash assistance, and energy help. You can also apply at a local Division of Welfare and Supportive Services office or by phone at 775-684-0800. Households with almost no money can get benefits within 7 business days.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Nevada WIC runs clinics in urban and rural communities statewide. Find your nearest clinic and apply at nevadawic.org, or call 1-800-863-8942 for help getting started.

Nevada Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. Nevada Check Up covers children through CHIP. Nevada expanded Medicaid, so low-income adults 19 to 64 can qualify too. Apply online through Access Nevada at accessnevada.nv.gov, which has a pre-screening tool, or at a local welfare office. Call 775-684-0800 with questions.

Nevada's Child Care and Development Program helps low-income working families pay for child care so a parent can work or go to school. The Division of Welfare and Supportive Services runs it, and you apply through Access Nevada at accessnevada.nv.gov. For questions about the program, call 775-684-0625.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, is Nevada's monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children. It comes with work requirements that help you move toward a job, and it carries a 60-month lifetime limit on how long an adult can receive benefits. Apply online through Access Nevada at accessnevada.nv.gov or at a local Division of Welfare and Supportive Services office. Call 775-684-0800 with questions.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, DETR. File online at ui.nv.gov, which is the fastest way and open around the clock. You file an initial claim, then a claim for each week to keep payments coming, and you must stay able, available, and looking for work while you claim.

Nevada's legal aid offices provide free civil legal help to low-income residents on housing, eviction, family, public benefits, consumer, and other noncriminal matters. Nevada Legal Services serves the whole state from offices in Las Vegas, Reno, Carson City, and Elko; call its toll-free line at 1-866-432-0404. In Clark County, the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada also helps at 702-386-1070.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Nevada phone, or call 1-866-535-5654, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. The call center answers Monday through Friday, 9am to 9pm Pacific time, and the online search and app work around the clock. You can also text your zip code to 898211.