Assistance Programs in Washington

LIHEAP helps low-income Washington households pay home heating and energy bills. The state Department of Commerce funds the program, but you apply through the local community action agency that serves your county, not through Commerce directly. Each agency sets its own appointment process, so find your local provider on the Commerce LIHEAP page and contact them to apply.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Washington households: insulation, air sealing, ventilation, and related repairs that lower future bills. The Department of Commerce funds the work through local agencies. Both homeowners and renters can qualify. Contact the weatherization agency serving your county to apply, since Commerce does not take applications directly.

Basic Food is Washington's name for SNAP: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online at washingtonconnection.org, which handles Basic Food, cash assistance, and other help on one application, or by phone at 1-877-501-2233, Monday through Friday. You can also apply at your local DSHS Community Services Office.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Washington WIC runs through the Department of Health and local clinics. Find a clinic or apply by calling the WIC Cascades Support Line at 1-800-841-1410, or start at doh.wa.gov.

Apple Health is Washington's Medicaid program: free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. Apply online at wahealthplanfinder.org, or call the Washington Healthplanfinder Customer Support Center at 1-855-923-4633. For coverage questions, the Health Care Authority line is 1-800-562-3022.

ABD is a Washington cash program from DSHS for low-income adults who are 65 or older, blind, or likely to meet the Social Security disability standard. It pays a monthly cash grant while helping you apply for federal SSI, and it can connect you to the Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) program. Apply at washingtonconnection.org or by phone at 1-877-501-2233.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Washington Employment Security Department. File online through eServices at esd.wa.gov, which is the fastest way and open around the clock, or call the claims center at 1-800-318-6022. After you apply, you must file a weekly claim for each week to be paid.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, is Washington's monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children. Most adults take part in WorkFirst, the state's employment program, while the cash steadies the household. Apply online at washingtonconnection.org or by phone at 1-877-501-2233, or at your local DSHS Community Services Office.

The Working Families Tax Credit is Washington's refundable cash credit, run by the Department of Revenue. For the 2025 credit it pays up to $335 with no qualifying children, $660 with one child, $995 with two, and $1,330 with three or more, with a $50 minimum for those who qualify. Apply for free at workingfamiliescredit.wa.gov after you file your federal return.

CLEAR is Washington's toll-free legal aid intake line, run by the Northwest Justice Project, for low-income residents with civil, noncriminal problems like eviction, housing, family, and public benefits. Call 1-888-201-1014, Monday through Friday, 9:15am to 12:15pm. Residents 60 and older can call CLEAR*Sr at 1-888-387-7111. Free self-help guides are at washingtonlawhelp.org.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Washington phone, or call 1-877-211-9274, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. Washington 211 is a statewide service with a database of thousands of local resources. You can also text 211WAOD to 898211 or search at wa211.org.