Assistance Program Guides

Free, confidential helpline that connects you with local assistance programs of every kind — rent, utilities, food, shelter, healthcare, and more. Available 24/7 in most areas, in many languages.

Free, confidential support 24/7 for anyone in emotional distress or crisis. Call or text 988.

Find your nearest food bank and free food distribution. No paperwork needed at most pantries.

Free or low-cost HUD-approved counselors who help with eviction prevention, foreclosure, renting, and homelessness — and know every local housing program.

Subsidized health insurance if you don't qualify for Medicaid. Losing a job or income counts as a special enrollment event.

Federal program that helps pay heating and cooling bills, and can help in a shutoff emergency. Run by state and local agencies.

Find free legal aid in your state for evictions, debt collection, benefits denials, and family issues.

Monthly discount on phone or internet service for low-income households.

Free or very low-cost health coverage for people with limited income, including children (CHIP), pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities.

Official state-endorsed search for money owed to you: old deposits, uncashed checks, forgotten accounts. Free — never pay anyone to claim it.

Free or low-cost counseling from nonprofit agencies: budgeting, debt management plans, and negotiating with creditors. A safe alternative to for-profit "debt relief" companies.

Monthly benefits on an EBT card to buy groceries. The largest food assistance program in the country — millions of eligible people never apply.

SSI provides monthly payments to people 65+ or with disabilities who have very limited income. SSDI covers workers who become disabled.

Monthly cash assistance and work support for very-low-income families with children. Run by states under different names.

Official government screening tool that checks 1,000+ federal and state programs you may qualify for in about 10 minutes.

Disability compensation, pensions, healthcare, housing help, and more for veterans and eligible family members.

Food benefits, nutrition support, and healthcare referrals for pregnant women, new mothers, and children under 5.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Alabama phone, or call 1-888-421-1266, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. 211 Connects Alabama answers 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also text your zip code, or the keyword 211KNOW, to 898211.

ALL Kids is Alabama's low-cost health coverage for children under 19 in families that earn too much for Medicaid but still need affordable coverage, reaching up to 312 percent of the federal poverty level. It covers checkups, immunizations, doctor and hospital visits, prescriptions, dental, vision, and mental health care through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama. Apply online or call ALL Kids at 1-888-373-5437.

Community Action Agencies are the local nonprofits that pull together help for low-income Alabama families in one place: utility and energy assistance including LIHEAP, weatherization, and often emergency aid, food, and job support. Find the agency serving your county through the Community Action Association of Alabama's agency locator, or dial 2-1-1.

Family Assistance is Alabama's TANF cash assistance for low-income families with a child under age 18, or 19 if the child is a full-time student. Most parents take part in the JOBS Program, which helps you find and keep a job. Apply online through OneAlabama at one.alabama.gov or at your county Department of Human Resources office. Cash comes on an EBT card.

Alabama Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant women, parents with very low income, older adults, and people with disabilities. Alabama has not expanded Medicaid, so adults without dependent children generally do not qualify no matter how low their income. Call the Medicaid Recipient Call Center at 1-800-362-1504, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm, to ask questions or find the district office that takes applications.

SNAP is Alabama's food assistance program: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through MyDHR at mydhr.alabama.gov, run by the Alabama Department of Human Resources, or at your county DHR office. Older adults with no earned income can use a shorter application through the Alabama Elderly Simplified Application Project.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children under age 5. Alabama WIC runs through county health departments of the Alabama Department of Public Health. Contact your county health department for an appointment, or call the statewide WIC line at 1-888-942-4673.

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps low-income Alabama households pay home heating and cooling costs, and it can step in during an energy crisis such as a shutoff. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs funds LIHEAP but does not take applications; you apply through the community action agency serving your county. Find your agency through ADECA, or dial 2-1-1.

Legal Services Alabama provides free civil legal help to low-income residents on the noncriminal problems that upend a household: eviction and housing, domestic violence, public benefits, consumer and debt issues, and more. Apply online at legalservicesalabama.org, or call the statewide intake line at 1-866-456-4995, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Alabama Department of Labor. File online through the Claimant Portal at uiclaimantportal.labor.alabama.gov, which is the fastest way. For questions about a claim's eligibility, call 1-855-234-2856.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Alabama households: an energy audit by trained staff, then improvements like air sealing and insulation that lower future bills, along with health and safety checks. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs runs the program through local agencies. Contact the agency serving your county to apply, since ADECA does not take applications directly.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Alaska phone for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, health care, and more. Alaska 2-1-1 is a statewide service of United Way of Anchorage that refers you to the programs and funds near you. You can also search at alaska211.org.

The Child Care Assistance Program helps low-income working families in Alaska pay for child care, funded through the federal Child Care Development Fund. It lowers what you pay a licensed or approved provider so you can work, look for work, or go to school. Call the Child Care Program Office at 907-269-4500 or toll-free 888-268-4632 to start.

The Heating Assistance Program, HAP, is Alaska's LIHEAP: a one-time seasonal payment sent straight to your heating vendor as a credit on your account. The heating season runs October 1 through April 30, and the deadline for regular, non-crisis help is April 30. Apply through the Alaska Connect portal or a local Public Assistance office, or call 800-478-7778.

Alaska Legal Services Corporation provides free civil legal help to low-income Alaskans on housing, family, consumer, public benefits, health care, and Alaska Native law matters. Call the statewide intake line at 1-888-478-2572 to reach the office serving your area, or apply online at alsc-law.org/intake. Offices are open Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Alaska Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, families, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. Alaska expanded Medicaid in 2015 to cover adults ages 19 to 64 without dependent children, and Denali KidCare covers children and pregnant people. Apply through HealthCare.gov or the Alaska Connect portal, or call the Virtual Contact Center at 800-478-7778.

SNAP is Alaska's food assistance program: monthly food money loaded onto an Alaska Quest EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. The fastest way to apply is online through the Alaska Connect portal, linked from the Division of Public Assistance SNAP page. You can also apply by phone through the Virtual Contact Center at 800-478-7778 (TDD or Alaska Relay 7-1-1) or at a local Public Assistance office.

The Alaska Senior Benefits Program pays a monthly cash benefit of $125, $175, or $250 to low-income Alaskans age 65 and older, with the amount set by your other income. Savings and resources do not count. Apply online through the Alaska Connect portal or by phone at 800-478-7778, and the benefit arrives by direct deposit or an Alaska Quest EBT card.

The Alaska Temporary Assistance Program, ATAP, is the state's TANF program: monthly cash assistance and work services for low-income families with children. Most adults follow a Work First plan of job search, training, or work experience while the cash steadies the household. Apply online through the Alaska Connect portal or by phone through the Virtual Contact Center at 800-478-7778.

WIC gives free healthy foods, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children under age 5. Alaska WIC runs through local clinics across the state. Call the state WIC office at 907-465-3100 to find your local clinic and start, or look up a clinic by region online.

Unemployment Insurance pays temporary weekly benefits if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The fastest way to file is online through myAlaska at my.alaska.gov. You can also reach a UI Claim Center by phone: Anchorage 907-269-4700, Fairbanks 907-451-2871, or Juneau 907-465-5552, open 10am to 3pm, Monday through Friday.

Alaska's Weatherization program makes energy-efficiency repairs at no cost to income-eligible households: air sealing, insulation, and heating-system work that lowers future bills. The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, AHFC, runs it through regional providers, and both homeowners and renters can qualify, including condos. Contact your regional weatherization provider to apply, or call AHFC at 907-338-6100 or 800-478-2432 in Alaska.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Arizona phone, or call 1-877-211-8661 from anywhere in the state, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, health, and more. 2-1-1 Arizona, a program of Solari, answers from 9am to 7pm, seven days a week, in English and Spanish. You can also search at 211arizona.org.

Cash Assistance is Arizona's TANF program: a modest monthly cash payment for low-income families with children, run by DES. Arizona holds adults to a lifetime limit of 12 months of Cash Assistance, one of the shortest in the country, and most adults take part in the Jobs Program. Apply online through Health-e-Arizona Plus at healthearizonaplus.gov or by phone at 1-855-432-7587.

LIHEAP helps low-income Arizona households pay home energy bills, run by DES through local Community Action Agencies. Standard help is up to $640 toward your utility bill, and a household facing a shutoff can qualify for an added one-time crisis payment of up to $500 per 12-month period. Apply through the DES online portal, or contact your local Community Action Agency, which takes applications and can help you complete them.

Arizona's legal aid programs give free civil legal help to low-income residents on housing, eviction, family, public benefits, and consumer problems. Community Legal Services covers Maricopa, La Paz, Mohave, Yavapai, and Yuma counties at 1-800-852-9075. For anywhere in the state, apply through AZLawHelp.org or call 1-866-637-5341 to be routed to the program serving your area.

AHCCCS, the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, is the state'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 through Health-e-Arizona Plus at healthearizonaplus.gov, or call 1-855-432-7587 to apply by phone.

Nutrition Assistance is what Arizona calls SNAP: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. The Department of Economic Security (DES) runs it. Apply online through Health-e-Arizona Plus at healthearizonaplus.gov, which also covers AHCCCS health coverage and Cash Assistance on one application, or call 1-855-432-7587.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. The Arizona Department of Health Services runs it through local clinics. Call 1-800-252-5942 to find the clinic nearest you, or start online at azdhs.gov.

KidsCare is Arizona's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), run by AHCCCS: low-cost health coverage for children under 19 whose family earns too much for regular AHCCCS but still needs affordable coverage. KidsCare monthly premiums are paused until further notice. Apply online through Health-e-Arizona Plus at healthearizonaplus.gov.

Arizona bars its regulated electric utilities from disconnecting your power during the hottest months. Under Arizona Corporation Commission rules, companies like Arizona Public Service, Tucson Electric Power, and UNS Electric cannot shut off service from June 1 through October 15, or when high heat is forecast. Your bill still adds up during the moratorium, so call your utility about a payment plan and apply for LIHEAP. To report a wrongful disconnection, call ACC Consumer Services at 1-800-222-7000.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Arizona Department of Economic Security. You file online, since DES has no walk-in unemployment offices, then file a weekly claim for each week you want to be paid. The UI Call Center is 1-877-600-2722, Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm Mountain Standard Time.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Arizona households: insulation, air sealing, and heating and cooling improvements that lower future bills and make the home safer in extreme heat. The Arizona Department of Housing runs it through local providers. Apply by contacting the weatherization provider for your county, listed on the Department of Housing program page.

ARHOME, Arkansas Health and Opportunity for Me, is Arkansas's expanded Medicaid for low-income adults ages 19 to 64. It uses Medicaid dollars to enroll most members in a private qualified health plan that covers doctor visits, prescriptions, and hospital care. Apply online through Access Arkansas at access.arkansas.gov, or call 1-855-372-1084.

ARKids First is Arkansas's health coverage for children, combining Medicaid as ARKids A and CHIP as ARKids B so kids get checkups, shots, dental, vision, and hospital care. Apply online through Access Arkansas at access.arkansas.gov, or call 1-855-372-1084. Children can qualify even when a parent does not.

Dial 2-1-1 for free, confidential help finding local assistance with food, housing, rent, utilities, and childcare. Arkansas 211 is run by Hark at the Excellerate Foundation and currently answers calls from Benton, Madison, and Washington counties in Northwest Arkansas, with service expanding. You can also call 1-866-489-6983 around the clock, or text your zip code to 898211.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP, helps Arkansas households pay heating and cooling bills, with extra crisis help when your power or heat is about to be shut off. Applications are taken by local community action agencies, not by a state office. Find the agency serving your county through the Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association at acaaa.org, or call 501-372-0807.

SNAP is Arkansas's food assistance program: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through Access Arkansas at access.arkansas.gov, the state's one application for SNAP, Medicaid, and TEA cash assistance, or at your local Department of Human Services county office. You can also get help by phone at 1-855-372-1084.

Transitional Employment Assistance, TEA, is Arkansas's monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children, paired with the Work Pays employment program. Apply online through Access Arkansas at access.arkansas.gov or at your local DHS county office. TEA carries a work requirement and a time limit on how long you can receive cash, so ask your caseworker where you stand.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Arkansas WIC runs through local health units of the Arkansas Department of Health. Apply through your local health unit, or call the state WIC office at 501-661-2508 for the clinic nearest you.

Legal Aid of Arkansas is a nonprofit law firm that gives free civil legal help to low-income Arkansans on eviction and housing, family and domestic abuse, consumer and debt, disability, and public benefits problems. As of 2026 it serves the whole state as the sole federally funded legal aid program. Call the free HELP Line at 1-800-952-9243, or apply online at arlegalaid.org.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services. File your first claim online through EZARC at ezarc.adws.arkansas.gov, then file weekly certifications through Arkansas LAUNCH at launch.arkansas.gov. For help, call the UI Service Center at 1-844-908-2178, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm.

The Weatherization Assistance Program makes free energy-efficiency repairs, insulation, air sealing, and heating and cooling fixes, so your utility bills drop over time. Income-eligible homeowners and renters both qualify. Arkansas delivers it through local community action agencies, so contact the agency serving your county through the Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association at acaaa.org, or call 501-372-0807.

Kern County's local 211 line, run by CAPK. Free, confidential referrals to rent help, shelters, food, utility assistance, and more, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Free job search help, resume workshops, training programs, and computer access at 1600 E. Belle Terrace in Bakersfield. A youth center serves job seekers ages 18 to 24.

CAPK (Community Action Partnership of Kern) helps income-qualified households pay electric, gas, and propane bills, and can weatherize your home to lower future bills. Apply by email, mail, or in person at 300 19th Street in Bakersfield.

Free food through more than 200 emergency food distribution sites across Kern County, plus a monthly Senior Food Box program. Call 211 to find the food distribution closest to you.

Free tax preparation and e-filing for low- and moderate-income families, year-round. They can help you claim tax credits like the EITC that put real money back in your pocket.

Housing help for veterans and their families: rental assistance to prevent homelessness (SSVF), short-term and transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing. Case managers walk with you through the whole process.

Free healthy food, nutrition help, and breastfeeding support for pregnant women, new moms, and kids under 5. Dads, grandparents, and foster parents caring for young children can also apply.

Monthly money on an EBT card to buy groceries. If you have very little income or cash on hand, you may qualify for expedited benefits within 3 days.

Monthly cash aid and job help for families with children and pregnant women. Can also help pay for childcare, diapers, transportation, and even housing assistance.

Emergency help with rent or mortgage payments, plus a food pantry and clothing for families in crisis. You do not need to be Catholic to get help.

Community health centers across Kern County offering medical, dental, and behavioral health care whether or not you have insurance. Staff can also help you sign up for Medi-Cal or Covered California.

A nonprofit, HUD-approved agency offering free credit counseling, debt management plans, and housing counseling (including foreclosure prevention) by phone. Your first session is free with no products to sell.

Cash help with rent, utilities, transportation, and personal needs for adults with no other means of support. A Disability Advocate can also help you apply for SSI if you have a long-term disability.

A Bakersfield food bank working with over 125 community agencies to get groceries to Kern County families in need. Call or stop by the warehouse on 30th Street to get connected to food help.

Free legal help for low-income Kern County residents: eviction defense, denied or cut-off benefits (CalWORKs, CalFresh, SSI), restraining orders for domestic violence survivors, health coverage problems, and a Seniors Law Center for people 60 and older.

Runs Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, Project-Based Vouchers, and affordable housing communities across Kern County. Some waiting lists open and close during the year, so check which programs are accepting applications.

Free, confidential 24-hour support for mental health or substance use crises, or just to talk to a trained counselor without judgment. They can also send a Mobile Crisis Response team and connect you to ongoing care.

One phone call connects seniors and their families to meals on wheels, in-home care, transportation, utility rebate help, and legal services. Staff can also help you fill out forms and understand letters from other agencies.

Free help for veterans and their families filing VA claims: disability compensation, pensions, health care, education, and survivor benefits. Accredited officers handle the paperwork with you at no charge.

Kern County's public teaching hospital in Bakersfield, home to the region's only Level II trauma center. Covered California counselors are on site weekdays to help patients get insured.

A 24-hour shelter in Bakersfield with beds, meals, laundry, medical check-ups, and secure storage. Pets welcome. Staff help connect guests to longer-term housing.

Free or low-cost health insurance covering medical, dental, and vision care. You may qualify even if you work, own a home or car, or are not a U.S. citizen.

A network of health centers in Kern County providing medical, dental, and behavioral health care with a sliding fee scale if you are uninsured or money is tight. Call or text to make an appointment.

Overnight shelter, three hot meals a day, showers, and laundry at 816 East 21st Street in Bakersfield, every day of the year. Also offers recovery programs and support for women with children.

Shelter and support for people facing homelessness, domestic violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking in Kern County. Their crisis hotline answers 24 hours a day.

Free food distribution Monday through Thursday afternoons, a Tuesday senior lunch, and social services help during weekday business hours at 4417 Wilson Road.

Weekly payments of $40 to $450 if you lost work through no fault of your own. Apply online through myEDD; first payment usually takes about three weeks.

30-35% discount on electricity and 20% on gas bills from PG&E, SCE, SoCalGas, and SDG&E for income-qualified households. Enrollment is a short form with your utility.

Cash-back state tax credits worth hundreds to thousands of dollars for low-income workers — even if you owe no taxes. Free tax prep available.

California's food benefits program — monthly money on an EBT card for groceries. Apply through BenefitsCal, the state's official benefits site, or call 1-877-847-3663. (GetCalFresh no longer takes applications.)

Monthly cash assistance plus job services and child care for California families with children in need.

Official guides on responding to an eviction notice in California — you typically have only 5 business days to respond to a court summons. Free self-help centers at every courthouse.

Help paying energy bills and shutoff emergencies, delivered through local community action agencies.

California's health insurance marketplace with income-based subsidies if you earn too much for Medi-Cal.

Unemployment benefits if you lost work, State Disability Insurance if you can't work due to illness/injury, and Paid Family Leave.

Free or low-cost health coverage for low-income Californians — doctor visits, prescriptions, mental health, and dental for most members.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Colorado phone, or call 1-866-760-6489, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. 211 Colorado covers all 64 counties and updates its resource database daily. You can also text your zip code to 898-211 or search at 211colorado.org.

The Colorado Child Tax Credit is a refundable credit for lower-income families with young children, so it can come back as cash even if you owe no state tax. It is available on tax year 2025 returns for families with a child under 17 who meet the income limits. Because of state revenue rules, the credit is not offered for tax year 2026. Claim it on your Colorado return.

Colorado's Earned Income Tax Credit is a refundable credit worth a percentage of your federal EITC, so it can pay out as cash even if you owe no state tax. For tax year 2025 it equals 50 percent of your federal EITC. For tax year 2026 the rate drops to 25 percent. Claim it on your Colorado income tax return.

The Low-income Energy Assistance Program, LEAP, helps low-income Colorado households pay a portion of winter home heating costs, whether you heat with gas, electric, propane, or wood. LEAP runs one season a year, November 1 through April 30. Apply online through Colorado PEAK at colorado.gov/PEAK during the season, or call 1-866-HEAT-HELP, that is 1-866-432-8435, to request a paper application or apply by phone.

Colorado Legal Services provides free civil legal help to low-income and older Colorado residents on housing, family, public benefits, consumer, and other noncriminal matters. Call the intake line at 303-837-1313 to reach the office serving your area, or apply online at coloradolegalservices.org. Free plain-language legal information and self-help forms are at lawhelp.colorado.gov.

SNAP is Colorado's food assistance program: monthly food money loaded onto a Colorado Quest EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through Colorado PEAK at colorado.gov/PEAK, which also handles Health First Colorado, Colorado Works cash, and other benefits, or at your county human services office. The state SNAP customer service line at 1-800-816-4451 answers questions about an existing case.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Colorado WIC runs through local clinics. Start by filling out the online referral form at coloradowic.gov and a staff member contacts you within 10 days, or call your local WIC clinic directly. The state WIC office line is 303-692-2400.

Colorado Works is the state's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, program: monthly cash assistance for low-income families with a child in the home, paired with job training and employment support. Apply online through Colorado PEAK at colorado.gov/PEAK or at your county human services office. Counties run the program and have up to 45 days to process a completed application.

Health First Colorado is the state's Medicaid program: free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, adults, older adults, and people with disabilities. Child Health Plan Plus, CHP+, covers children and pregnant people at slightly higher incomes. Apply online through Colorado PEAK at colorado.gov/PEAK or at your county human services office. The Member Contact Center is 1-800-221-3943, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. File your claim online through MyUI+ at cdle.colorado.gov, which is the fastest way, or call the customer support center at 1-800-388-5515 or 303-318-9000, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Colorado households: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system repairs that lower future bills. The Colorado Energy Office runs the Weatherization Assistance Program through local providers across the state. Because the state office does not take applications directly, contact the weatherization provider serving your county to apply.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Connecticut phone, or call 1-800-203-1234, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. 211 Connecticut is a program of United Way of Connecticut and answers around the clock, every day. You can also chat or search at 211ct.org.

Care 4 Kids helps low-to-moderate-income Connecticut families pay for child care, so a parent can work, train, or attend school. Run by the Office of Early Childhood, it pays part of the cost directly to an approved provider. Apply online through the Care 4 Kids portal, or call 1-888-214-5437 with questions.

Connecticut offers a refundable state Earned Income Tax Credit worth 40 percent of your federal EITC. Because it is refundable, it pays out as a refund even when it is larger than the state tax you owe. Claim it on your Connecticut income tax return using Schedule CT-EITC.

The Connecticut Energy Assistance Program, CEAP, is the state's LIHEAP: help with winter heating bills for income-eligible households, with payments usually made straight to your utility or fuel dealer. The Department of Social Services runs it through nine regional Community Action Agencies. To apply, dial 2-1-1 to be connected to the agency serving your town. For the 2025-2026 heating season, applications opened September 1, 2025 and run through May 29, 2026.

Connecticut's legal aid programs give free civil legal help to low-income residents on housing, family, public benefits, consumer, and other noncriminal matters. Call Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut at 1-800-453-3320 to reach the legal aid program serving your area, or apply online any time at apply.slsct.org. Free self-help legal information is at ctlawhelp.org.

SNAP is Connecticut's food assistance program: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through ConneCT at connect.ct.gov or the MyDSS mobile portal, by mail, or in person at a DSS office. You can also call the DSS Benefits Center at 1-855-626-6632, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Connecticut WIC runs through local agencies of the state Department of Public Health. Start online with the WIC interest form, or call the state WIC office at 1-800-741-2142 to find your local clinic.

HUSKY Health is Connecticut's Medicaid and CHIP program: free or low-cost coverage. HUSKY A covers children, parents, caretakers, and pregnant people; HUSKY B is CHIP for children; HUSKY C covers adults 65 and older and people with disabilities; HUSKY D covers low-income adults under 65. Enroll through Access Health CT at 1-855-805-4325, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm, or apply through ConneCT.

Temporary Family Assistance, TFA, is Connecticut's monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children, the state's part of the federal TANF program. Most adults take part in Jobs First, which pairs the cash with employment services. Apply online through ConneCT at connect.ct.gov or at your local Department of Social Services office.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Connecticut Department of Labor. File online through ReEmployCT, the state's unemployment system, which is the fastest way. If you need help, the Consumer Contact Center is 1-800-956-3294, Monday through Friday, 7:30am to 4:30pm.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Connecticut households: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system improvements that lower future bills. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection runs the Weatherization Assistance Program through local Community Action Agencies. Contact the Community Action Agency serving your area to apply, and note that applying for energy assistance generally screens you for weatherization too.

The Community Legal Aid Society, CLASI, provides free civil legal help to low-income Delawareans on housing, public benefits, family, immigration, disability, and elder-law matters, with offices in Wilmington, Dover, and Georgetown. Call the New Castle County office at 302-575-0660, the Kent County office in Dover at 302-674-8500, or the Sussex County office in Georgetown at 302-856-0038. For consumer, unemployment, and housing cases, Legal Services Corporation of Delaware also helps at lscd.com.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Delaware phone, or call 1-800-560-3372, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. You can also text your ZIP code to 898-211. Delaware 211 is staffed Monday through Friday, 8am to 7pm, and it refers you to local programs rather than paying bills itself.

Delaware offers two versions of the Earned Income Tax Credit, and you pick the one that helps most. One is refundable and equal to 4.5 percent of your federal EITC, so it can pay out even if you owe no tax. The other is nonrefundable and equal to 20 percent of your federal EITC, which can wipe out more tax but cannot drop below zero. Claim it on your Delaware return using DE Schedule II.

The Delaware Energy Assistance Program helps low-income households with home energy costs in three parts: winter heating assistance from October 1 through March 31, year-round crisis assistance for a shutoff or empty fuel tank, and summer cooling assistance that can include a free window air conditioner. Community partners run intake. Apply through Delaware ASSIST at assist.dhss.delaware.gov, call the Division of Social Services at 302-255-9875, or call Catholic Charities in your county.

The Delaware Healthy Children Program is the state's CHIP coverage for uninsured children under age 19 whose family earns a little too much for Medicaid. As of July 1, 2024, there are no monthly premiums, and there are no copays for medical care or prescriptions except for non-emergency use of the emergency room. Apply through Delaware ASSIST at assist.dhss.delaware.gov, or call 1-800-996-9969 to request an application.

Delaware Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. Delaware expanded Medicaid, so low-income adults ages 19 to 64 can qualify on income alone. Apply online through Delaware ASSIST at assist.dhss.delaware.gov, or call the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance at 302-255-9040.

SNAP, called the Food Supplement Program in Delaware, loads monthly food money onto an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through Delaware ASSIST at assist.dhss.delaware.gov, which handles SNAP, Medicaid, cash assistance, energy help, and WIC on one application, or at any State Service Center. For help, call the Division of Social Services at 302-255-9040.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, is Delaware's monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children. Most adults must take part in work or approved work activities for at least 30 hours a week. Apply online through Delaware ASSIST at assist.dhss.delaware.gov or at any State Service Center, then attend an interview with a DSS social worker. Call 302-255-9040 for help.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Delaware WIC runs through the Division of Public Health. Start your application through Delaware ASSIST at assist.dhss.delaware.gov, then call your county WIC office to set up an appointment. In New Castle County, call 302-605-4066.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Delaware Department of Labor, Division of Unemployment Insurance. File your claim online through the Division's claim system, linked from labor.delaware.gov, which is the fastest way. For help, call the statewide Unemployment Insurance line at 302-761-8446.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Delaware households: air sealing, insulation, duct and pipe sealing, and a heating-system safety check that together typically cut energy bills by 30 to 50 percent. The DNREC State Energy Office runs the program through a statewide administrator, the Energy Coordinating Agency. To apply, call the Energy Coordinating Agency at 302-504-6111; for other questions, call DNREC at 302-735-3480.

Dial 2-1-1 from any District phone, or call (202) 463-6211 from out of state, to reach the 211 Warmline, the District's centralized hub for social service resources and referrals. Staff help you find local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. The Warmline answers Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm; after hours, leave a detailed voicemail and a call agent returns your call within 1 to 2 business days.

The District's Earned Income Tax Credit is one of the most generous in the country. For Tax Year 2025, the DC EITC equals 100 percent of your federal EITC, and it is refundable, so you may receive a refund even if you owe no DC income tax. Claim it on your DC individual income tax return, the D-40. Questions go to the Office of Tax and Revenue at (202) 727-4829, which spells (202) 727-4TAX.

The Department of Energy and Environment, DOEE, runs the District's home energy help. As of the last check, DOEE has stopped taking new LIHEAP applications and is directing residents to the Utility Discount Program, UDP. The regular LIHEAP benefit ranges from $200 to $1,800 based on household size, income, heating source, and dwelling type, with a separate crisis benefit for households facing disconnection. Call 311 or (202) 737-4404 to check an application status or ask what help is open right now.

The DC Health Care Alliance is a locally funded program that provides medical coverage to District residents who are not eligible for Medicaid, have no other health insurance, and are not eligible for Medicare. Because federal Medicaid requires a qualifying immigration status, Alliance is often the coverage route for residents who cannot get Medicaid for that reason. Alliance and the Immigrant Children's Program combined into one program, Health Care Alliance for Adults and Children. Apply the same way as Medicaid, online at districtdirect.dc.gov or by phone at (202) 727-5355.

DC Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. The District expanded Medicaid to cover low-income adults, so apply even if you were turned down years ago. Apply online at districtdirect.dc.gov or by phone at (202) 727-5355. There is no in-person interview requirement, and it can take up to 45 days to hear back, or 60 days if you are disabled.

SNAP is the District's food assistance program: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online at districtdirect.dc.gov, by phone through the Department of Human Services Public Benefits Call Center at (202) 727-5355, or in person at an Economic Security Administration service center. The District also adds a local Temporary Local Benefit, Give SNAP a Raise, of up to 10 percent of a household's federal maximum benefit.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, is the District's monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children. Most adults take part in the TANF Employment and Education Program, TEP, which coaches you toward work and education goals. Apply online at districtdirect.dc.gov or by phone through the Public Benefits Call Center at (202) 727-5355. Effective October 2025, the maximum monthly benefit runs from $504 for a household of one up to larger amounts for bigger families.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. DC Health runs it through local WIC clinics. To start, call your local WIC site, or reach the DC WIC team at (202) 442-9397. You can find site locations at dcwic.org/wic-locations.

Legal Aid DC, the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia, provides free civil legal help to low-income residents on housing and eviction, family and domestic violence, public benefits, and consumer and debt matters. Call the intake line at (202) 628-1161, or apply online at legalaiddc.org/help. Intake hours are limited to certain days, so check the site before you call.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the DC Department of Employment Services, DOES. File your claim online through DCNetworks at dcnetworks.org, which is the fastest way, or get help by phone at (202) 724-7000, toll-free at 1-877-319-7346, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible District households: energy audits, insulation, duct sealing, and heating and cooling repairs that lower future bills. DOEE runs the program through local nonprofit contractors. Openings are delayed this fiscal year, and DOEE contacts waitlisted applicants first. Apply online, or email your application to energyefficiency.conservation@dc.gov, and reach the Residential Service Line at (202) 299-3316, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 2:30pm.

Dial 2-1-1 anywhere in Florida for free, confidential, 24/7 help finding local assistance: food, housing, utility bill help, health care, and crisis support. Eleven accredited centers cover all 67 counties.

Health and dental insurance for Florida children from birth through age 18, combining Medicaid for children, MediKids, Florida Healthy Kids, and the Children's Medical Services plan. Most families pay $15 or $20 a month; many pay nothing.

Free or low-cost health coverage for low-income Florida children, pregnant women, parents, seniors, and people with disabilities. SSI recipients are enrolled automatically; everyone else applies through MyACCESS.

Free healthy foods, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and referrals for pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children under 5 in Florida. Apply through your county health department; being on Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF qualifies you automatically on income.

Free legal information for Floridians on evictions, foreclosures, family law, public benefits, and debt, with a search tool that connects you to legal aid providers by location and topic. Available in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole.

Florida's LIHEAP helps income-qualified households pay home cooling and heating bills, including year-round crisis help when service is about to be shut off. FloridaCommerce funds local agencies across the state that take applications.

Florida's unemployment benefits: temporary, partial income replacement if you lost work through no fault of your own. FloridaCommerce runs the program; apply online through the Reconnect system at FloridaJobs.org.

Florida SNAP puts monthly grocery money on an EBT card that swipes like a debit card. One MyACCESS application at myaccess.myflfamilies.com can start SNAP, cash assistance, and Medicaid together.

Monthly cash for very-low-income Florida families with children under 18, plus pregnant women in some circumstances. The Relative Caregiver Program pays monthly amounts to relatives raising a court-ordered dependent child. Apply through MyACCESS.

Free home energy improvements for income-qualified Florida households so future utility bills shrink. FloridaCommerce funds local weatherization agencies statewide; apply through the office that serves your county.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Georgia phone for free, confidential help finding local assistance: food, housing, utility bills, health care, and more. Regional United Way centers answer for their own service areas across the state.

Free or low-cost health coverage for eligible Georgia children, pregnant women, seniors, people who are blind or disabled, and some low-income parents. One Georgia Gateway application screens every Medicaid category and PeachCare for Kids together.

Nutritious foods on an eWIC card, breastfeeding support, health education, and referrals for pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and young children in Georgia. Apply through Georgia Gateway or your county health department; call 800-228-9173 with questions.

Free plain-language legal information for Georgians on eviction, foreclosure, public benefits, family law, and debt, run by Atlanta Legal Aid and the Georgia Legal Services Program, with self-help forms and a virtual assistant.

Georgia's LIHEAP helps income-qualified households pay heating and cooling bills, with crisis help for life-threatening energy emergencies. DFCS funds community action agencies that take applications; seniors 65+ and the medically homebound get an early application window.

Georgia's CHIP: affordable health coverage for uninsured children up to age 18 whose families earn too much for Medicaid. DCH now charges no premiums for PeachCare; small copays of $0.50 to $12.50 apply for some services.

Georgia SNAP puts monthly grocery money on an EBT card. Apply through Georgia Gateway at gateway.ga.gov, where one account also handles Medicaid, TANF, WIC, and child care assistance, or call DFCS at 877-423-4746.

Monthly cash for very-low-income Georgia families with children under 18, and pregnant women. Apply at gateway.ga.gov or by paper Form 297 to your county DFCS office; adults are limited to 48 months in a lifetime.

Georgia's unemployment benefits: temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own. File online through the Georgia Department of Labor's MyUI Claimant Portal or at a local career center; the maximum duration adjusts between 14 and 26 weeks with the state unemployment rate.

Free whole-house energy efficiency improvements for income-qualified Georgia households: air and duct sealing, insulation, and HVAC upgrades that shrink future bills. The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority runs it through local community action agencies.

Dial 2-1-1 anywhere in Hawaii to reach the Aloha United Way 211 helpline, a free and confidential service that connects you to local help with food, rent, utilities, healthcare, and more, drawn from a database of over 1,400 agencies and 4,000 programs. Specialists answer from 7am to 10pm, seven days a week. From outside Hawaii, or to text, use 1-877-275-6569, and you can search anytime at search.auw211.org.

Hawaii's Earned Income Tax Credit is refundable and equal to 40 percent of the federal earned income credit you claim on your federal return. Because it is refundable, it can pay out as a refund even when it is larger than the tax you owe. Claim it on your Hawaii return using Form N-356; you must qualify for the federal EITC first.

General Assistance (GA) is Hawaii's state cash program for adults ages 18 through 64 who have little or no income, do not have minor children, are temporarily disabled, and do not qualify for federal aid like Social Security. A DHS medical board must certify that you cannot work at least 30 hours a week for at least 60 days. Apply through the Department of Human Services, and call the Public Assistance Information Line at 1-855-643-1643 for information.

The Hawaii Home Energy Assistance Program (H-HEAP), formerly LIHEAP, gives income-eligible households a one-time payment toward an electric or gas bill for heating or cooling. It has two parts: Energy Crisis Intervention (ECI) for households with a utility disconnect notice, accepted year-round with a limited number of approvals each month, and Energy Credit (EC) for bill help without a crisis, accepted only June 1 through June 30 each year. Applications are processed only by the Community Action Agency serving your island, not by DHS offices.

SNAP is Hawaii's food assistance program, run by the Department of Human Services (DHS): monthly food money loaded onto an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. The fastest way to apply is online through the DHS Public Assistance Information System (PAIS) at pais.dhs.hawaii.gov, which handles SNAP and financial assistance on one application. You can also mail or drop off a paper form at a processing center, or call the Public Assistance Information Line at 1-855-643-1643, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is Hawaii's monthly cash assistance for low-income families that include a minor child and a caretaker relative. Families with mixed or non-citizen immigration status may instead qualify for the state-funded Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families (TAONF), which provides the same benefits. Apply online through the DHS Public Assistance Information System at pais.dhs.hawaii.gov or by paper form. As a condition of eligibility, most families take part in the First-To-Work program.

WIC gives healthy supplemental foods on an eWIC card, plus nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and health referrals for pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, and for infants and children under age 5. Hawaii WIC runs through the Department of Health. Apply online at hiwic.org and find your nearest clinic. For information, call the WIC Info Line at 808-586-4400.

The Legal Aid Society of Hawaii provides free civil legal help to low-income residents statewide on housing and eviction, public benefits, family, elder, and consumer matters. It does not handle criminal or personal injury cases. Call the intake line at 808-536-4302 on Oahu, or 1-800-499-4302 from the neighbor islands, Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 11:30am and 1:00 to 3:30pm. You can also start an application through online intake.

Med-QUEST is Hawaii's Medicaid program: free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant women, parents, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. Hawaii expanded Medicaid, so low-income adults without children can qualify too. Apply online at the Med-QUEST Online Portal, medical.mybenefits.hawaii.gov, or call Med-QUEST Customer Service at 1-800-316-8005.

Unemployment Insurance from the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) pays weekly benefits if you lost work through no fault of your own. File your claim online through the UI website at labor.hawaii.gov/ui, then file a claim certification for each week. For help, the statewide UI Call Center is 1-833-901-2272 toll-free, or 808-762-5752.

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) makes free energy-efficiency improvements so your utility bill shrinks, based on a home energy audit. Measures can include high-efficiency faucet aerators and shower heads, LED lighting, and an energy-efficient solar water heater, all at no cost. On Oahu the program is run by the Honolulu Community Action Program (HCAP), funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Hawaii State Office of Community Services. Neighbor-island households apply through their county Community Action Agency.

Dial 2-1-1 or call 1-800-926-2588 for free, confidential help finding local Idaho assistance with food, housing, utilities, health care, and more. The Idaho CareLine is run by the Department of Health and Welfare and connects you to programs and community resources near you.

The Idaho Child Care Program helps eligible parents pay part of their child care costs while they work, go to school, or attend job training. It covers children under 13, or older children who have a disability. Apply online at idalink.idaho.gov or by phone at 1-877-456-1233.

LIHEAP helps low-income Idaho households pay winter heating bills, with a Crisis part that works year-round to stop a shutoff or restore disconnected service. The program runs through Community Action Partnership agencies that serve every Idaho county. Find your local agency by dialing 2-1-1, and watch the seasonal application dates.

Idaho's grocery credit refunds part of the sales tax you pay on groceries, generally $155 per person for the year, or up to $250 per person if you save your food receipts. You claim it on your Idaho income tax return, and residents who are not required to file can still claim the refund using Form 24. Idaho has no state Earned Income Tax Credit, so this is the main state tax refund working families should not miss.

Idaho Legal Aid Services gives free civil legal help to low-income Idahoans on housing, family safety, public benefits, and consumer problems. Call the Legal Advice Line at 208-746-7541 to start; intake is open Monday through Wednesday only. You can also apply online and use the free self-help forms at idaholegalaid.org.

Idaho Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. Idaho voters approved Medicaid expansion in 2018, and coverage for low-income adults began in 2020. Apply online at idalink.idaho.gov or by phone at 1-877-456-1233.

SNAP, still called food stamps, puts monthly food money on an Idaho EBT card you use like a debit card at grocery stores. Apply online at idalink.idaho.gov, the state benefits portal that also handles Medicaid, cash assistance, and child care help, or by phone at 1-877-456-1233. As of February 15, 2026, candy and soda are no longer SNAP-eligible purchases in Idaho.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Idaho WIC runs through local public health districts and loads benefits onto a WIC card you use at approved grocery stores. Find your nearest clinic through the WIC clinic finder on the Department of Health and Welfare site.

TAFI is Idaho's monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children, worth up to $309 a month, with a 24-month lifetime limit for adults. Most parents take part in the Employment and Training Program while they receive it. Apply online at idalink.idaho.gov or by phone at 1-877-456-1233.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Idaho Department of Labor. File online through the Claimant Portal at labor.idaho.gov, which is the fastest way, or call the claims line at 208-332-8942. You must file a weekly certification to keep payments coming.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Idaho households: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system repair or replacement that lower future bills. Community Action Partnership agencies run the program locally, so contact the agency serving your area to apply. Renters can qualify with written landlord permission.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Illinois phone, or text your zip code to 898211, for free, confidential help finding local assistance: housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and mental health. As of 2026, 211 covers all 102 Illinois counties around the clock.

All Kids is Illinois' health coverage for children, covering doctor visits, dental, vision, and more. Many families pay no premiums or co-payments. Apply online, on paper, or with help from a partner; the All Kids Hotline is 1-866-255-5437.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Illinoisans: air sealing, insulation, and heating-system repairs that lower future bills. Run through Community Action Agencies and overseen by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The Help Illinois Families call center is 1-833-711-0374.

Illinois' state Earned Income Credit is a refundable tax credit worth 20 percent of your federal Earned Income Tax Credit. If you qualify for the federal EITC, you qualify for the Illinois credit. Claim it on your Illinois state return; free tax-prep sites can file it.

Free, plain-language legal information for Illinoisans, guided court-form tools, and a directory to find a local legal aid provider. Illinois Legal Aid Online covers eviction, benefits, family law, debt, and more.

Healthy food on a WIC EBT card, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support for pregnant and new mothers, infants, and children under 5. Find your local office through the DHS Office Locator and make an appointment; the State WIC Office is 1-844-901-0962.

Illinois LIHEAP helps low-income households pay heating and cooling bills, with priority help for emergencies. Apply during your assignment month at helpillinoisfamilies.com or through a local Community Action Agency; the Help Illinois Families hotline is 1-833-711-0374. For the 2025-2026 program year, applications run from fall 2025 through August 15, 2026, or until funding runs out.

Illinois Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage run by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Adults 19 to 64 can qualify with income up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level under the ACA Adult category. Apply online at ABE (abe.illinois.gov), by phone at the DHS Help Line 1-800-843-6154, or at a Family Community Resource Center.

Illinois SNAP loads monthly food money on the Illinois Link card, which works like a debit card at grocery stores. Apply online at ABE (abe.illinois.gov), by phone, or at your local Family Community Resource Center. The DHS Help Line is 1-800-843-6154.

Illinois TANF pays monthly cash to pregnant people and families with children, loaded on the Illinois Link card. Adults are limited to 60 months of cash assistance in a lifetime. Apply online at ABE (abe.illinois.gov) or at your local Family Community Resource Center; the DHS Help Line is 1-800-843-6154.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Illinois Department of Employment Security. File your claim online, or call IDES Claimant Services at 1-800-244-5631. Certify for each week you claim through the automated Tele-Serve line at 1-312-338-4337.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Indiana phone, or call 1-866-211-9966, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. Indiana 211 is a statewide service with trained navigators answering around the clock, every day. You can also text your zip code to 898-211 or search at in211.org.

Indiana has its own Earned Income Credit worth 10 percent of your federal Earned Income Tax Credit, and it is refundable, so it can come back as cash even if you owe no state tax. You claim it by filing an Indiana income tax return and attaching Schedule IN-EIC. You generally must qualify for the federal credit first.

The Energy Assistance Program, Indiana's LIHEAP, helps low-income households with winter heating and summer cooling costs, paid straight to your utility. It runs through the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority and local service providers. Applications open for the heating season each fall and typically close in mid-April. Find the provider serving your county through IHCDA or by dialing 2-1-1.

Indiana Legal Services is the statewide nonprofit law firm that gives free civil legal help to low-income residents on housing and eviction, family, public benefits, consumer, and other noncriminal matters. Apply online at indianalegalservices.org, or apply by phone at 1-844-243-8570, Monday through Thursday, 10am to 2pm Eastern.

Indiana Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage. Hoosier Healthwise covers children and pregnant people, and the Healthy Indiana Plan, HIP, covers low-income adults ages 19 to 64. Apply online through the FSSA Benefits Portal at fssabenefits.in.gov, or by phone at 1-800-403-0864. For help with HIP enrollment, call 877-GET-HIP-9, which is 1-877-438-4479.

SNAP is Indiana's food assistance program: monthly food money on a Hoosier Works EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. The Division of Family Resources runs it. Apply online through the FSSA Benefits Portal at fssabenefits.in.gov, which also handles Medicaid and TANF cash on one application, or at your local DFR office. You can also call 1-800-403-0864, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm local time.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, is Indiana's monthly cash assistance for low-income families with a child under 18. Most adults take part in IMPACT, the state's employment and training program, which includes an Applicant Job Search step before benefits start. Apply online through the FSSA Benefits Portal at fssabenefits.in.gov or at your local DFR office. Call 1-800-403-0864 for help.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Indiana WIC runs through the Indiana Department of Health and local clinics. Find your local clinic through the INWIC app or at in.gov/health/wic, or call 1-800-522-0874 for more information.

Every Indiana township has a trustee who by law provides emergency poor relief to residents in need: help with rent to stop an eviction, a utility bill to prevent a shutoff, food, clothing, and sometimes burial costs. Help usually comes as a voucher paid to the landlord or utility, not cash. You apply at the trustee's office for the township where you live. Find yours through your county website or the Indiana Township Association at ita-in.org.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. File your claim online through Uplink, the Claimant Self Service system, at uplink.in.gov, which is the fastest way. For help, call 1-800-891-6499. You must file a weekly voucher for each week to be paid.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Indiana households: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system improvements that lower future bills. The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority runs the program through local service providers. IHCDA does not take applications directly, so contact the provider serving your area to apply. To find your provider, dial 2-1-1.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Iowa phone, or call 1-800-244-7431, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. 211 Iowa connects you to thousands of local programs and answers every day. You can also text your zip code to 898211 or search at 211iowa.org.

Hawki, short for Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa, is low-cost health and dental coverage for children under 19 in working families who earn too much for Medicaid. Most families pay nothing, and no family pays more than $40 a month for all of its children combined. Apply online through the HHS Services Portal at hhsservices.iowa.gov, or call Hawki Member Services at 1-800-257-8563.

Iowa offers a refundable Earned Income Tax Credit worth 15 percent of your federal EITC. Because it is refundable, it pays out as cash even if you owe no state tax. Claim it on your Iowa income tax return after you qualify for the federal credit.

Iowa's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP, helps qualifying households pay part of their winter heating costs. You apply at your local community action agency, not online, and each agency serves a set of counties. Applications open October 1 for households with a member age 60 or older or with a disability, November 1 for everyone else, and close April 30.

The Family Investment Program, FIP, is Iowa's version of TANF: monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children. Most adults take part in PROMISE JOBS, the work and training side of the program. Apply online through Iowa's HHS Services Portal at hhsservices.iowa.gov or at your local Iowa HHS office.

Iowa Legal Aid provides free civil legal help to low-income Iowans on housing, family, public benefits, consumer, and other noncriminal matters. Call the statewide intake line at 1-800-532-1503 if you are under 60, open Monday through Friday, 9 to 11am and 1:30 to 3:30pm and closed Thursday afternoon. Iowans 60 and older have a separate line at 1-800-992-8161.

Iowa Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. The Iowa Health and Wellness Plan covers low-income adults ages 19 to 64 under Medicaid expansion. Apply online through the HHS Services Portal at hhsservices.iowa.gov, or call 1-800-972-2017.

SNAP is Iowa's food assistance program: monthly food money loaded onto an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through Iowa's HHS Services Portal at hhsservices.iowa.gov, which handles SNAP, FIP cash, and Medicaid on one application, or at your local Iowa HHS office. You can also apply by mail or ask questions at 1-800-972-2017.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Iowa WIC runs through local clinics, and you set up benefits at an appointment. Find your local clinic on the Iowa WIC map, or call 1-800-972-2017 to get started.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from Iowa Workforce Development. File your claim online at iowaworks.gov, which is the fastest way, or get help from the customer service line at 1-866-239-0843, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm.

Iowa's Weatherization Assistance Program makes free energy-efficiency improvements, like insulation and air sealing, that lower future utility bills for income-eligible households. Both homeowners and renters can qualify, with priority for older adults, people with disabilities, and families with children. Apply through your local community action agency, the same offices that run energy assistance.

KanCare is Kansas's Medicaid and CHIP program: free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, low-income parents, older adults, and people with disabilities. Kansas has not expanded Medicaid, so most adults without children or a disability do not qualify no matter how low their income. Apply at ApplyForKanCare.ks.gov, or call the KanCare Clearinghouse at 1-800-792-4884.

Dial 2-1-1 from a Kansas phone for free, confidential help finding local assistance with rent, utilities, food, health care, and more. Kansas 211 is run statewide by United Way of the Plains and is answered Monday through Friday, 7am to 7pm, with a recorded message pointing to resources after hours. You can also text your ZIP code to 898-211 or search anytime at 211Kansas.org.

Child Care Assistance pays part of the cost of child care so parents can work, look for work, or attend school, with the benefit loaded onto the Kansas Benefits Card and paid to DCF-enrolled providers. Apply through the DCF Self-Service Portal at cssp.kees.ks.gov, or call Benefits Assistance at 1-888-369-4777. Processing can take up to 30 days.

Kansas has a refundable state Earned Income Tax Credit worth 17 percent of your federal EITC. Because it is refundable, it can pay out as cash even when it is larger than the Kansas tax you owe. Claim it on your Kansas income tax return (Form K-40). You generally must qualify for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit first.

Food Assistance is Kansas's name for SNAP: monthly food money on a Kansas Benefits Card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. The Department for Children and Families runs it. Apply through the DCF Self-Service Portal at cssp.kees.ks.gov, at your local DCF service center, or by phone. Call Benefits Assistance at 1-888-369-4777 or the DCF Customer Service Center at 1-833-765-2003.

LIEAP is Kansas's Low Income Energy Assistance Program: a once-a-year benefit that helps pay winter heating costs, run by the Department for Children and Families. The application period is a set winter window that has closed for 2026, and DCF posts the next window when it is set. Apply through the DCF Self-Service Portal at cssp.kees.ks.gov during the window, or at a local DCF service center. Questions: Benefits Assistance at 1-888-369-4777.

Kansas Legal Services provides free civil legal help to low-income Kansans on housing and eviction, family, consumer and debt, public benefits, and other noncriminal matters, across all 105 counties. Call intake at 316-267-3975, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm, or apply online at kansaslegalservices.org (the online application is open 8am Monday through 4:30pm Thursday).

Kansas calls its TANF cash assistance the Successful Families Program: monthly cash for low-income families with children, paid on the Kansas Benefits Card, paired with work activities. Strict time limits apply. Apply through the DCF Self-Service Portal at cssp.kees.ks.gov or at your local DCF service center. For help, call Benefits Assistance at 1-888-369-4777 or DCF Customer Service at 1-833-765-2003.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition help, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children under age 5. Kansas WIC runs through the Department of Health and Environment and local clinics. Start the online pre-application at kswic.com/PreAppPortal, find your local clinic at kdhe.ks.gov/wic, or call the state WIC office at 785-296-3683.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Kansas Department of Labor. File your claim and your weekly certifications through the Claimant Self Service Portal linked at dol.ks.gov/unemployment. If you need help, the Contact Center is 1-800-292-6333 (local 785-575-1460), open during weekday business hours (Thursday closes earlier).

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Kansas households: air sealing, insulation, and heating and cooling repairs that lower future bills. Kansas Housing Resources Corporation runs the program through local provider agencies. Contact KHRC at 785-217-2001 to be connected to the provider serving your county, since KHRC does not weatherize homes directly.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Kentucky phone for free, confidential help finding local assistance with food, housing, utility bills, healthcare, and more. Kentucky 211 is a United Way service that answers around the clock, every day. You can also text your zip code to 898211 or search at kentucky211.org.

The Child Care Assistance Program, CCAP, helps low-income Kentucky families pay for child care while parents work, train, or go to school. Apply online through kynect at kynect.ky.gov or by phone at 1-855-306-8959. A prescreening tool on kynect can tell you if you likely qualify before you apply.

K-TAP, the Kentucky Transitional Assistance Program, is the state's monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children. It is Kentucky's version of TANF, and most adults take part in the Kentucky Works program, which helps you move toward a job. Apply online through kynect at kynect.ky.gov, by phone at 1-855-306-8959, or at your local DCBS office.

LIHEAP helps low-income Kentucky households with home heating and cooling costs. It runs through Community Action Kentucky's network of local Community Action Agencies, which cover all 120 counties, not through a single state office. Contact the Community Action Agency serving your county to apply, or call 1-800-456-3452 to find your local office. Applications open in set seasonal windows.

Kentucky has four regional civil legal aid programs that give free legal help to low-income residents on housing, family, public benefits, consumer, and other noncriminal problems. Which office serves you depends on where you live: Kentucky Legal Aid in the south and west, Legal Aid Society around Louisville, Legal Aid of the Bluegrass in the north, and AppalReD Legal Aid in eastern Kentucky. Find your program and free self-help legal information at kyjustice.org.

Kentucky Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. Kentucky expanded Medicaid in 2014 to cover adults ages 19 to 64 with income up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, and KCHIP covers children through CHIP. Apply online through kynect at kynect.ky.gov/benefits, or call kynect at 1-855-459-6328.

SNAP is Kentucky's food assistance program: monthly food money loaded onto an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through kynect at kynect.ky.gov, by phone at 1-855-306-8959, or at your local Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) office. The DCBS Family Support line answers Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm Eastern.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5. Kentucky WIC runs through local health departments. Call the state WIC line at 1-877-597-0367 to find your local clinic, or learn more at the Cabinet for Health and Family Services WIC page.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Kentucky Office of Unemployment Insurance. File your claim online at kcc.ky.gov, which is the fastest way, or by phone at 502-564-2900 using the automated system. Make sure you are on a .ky.gov website when you file, and only trust unemployment emails from an @ky.gov address.

Kentucky's Weatherization Assistance Program makes free energy-efficiency repairs for income-eligible households: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system fixes that lower future bills. Kentucky Housing Corporation runs the program and it is delivered by local Community Action Agencies, so you apply through the agency serving your county. Homeowners and renters can both qualify.

The City of King bills you for city water and sewer. If you cannot pay your bill on time, call the billing office before the due date. Unpaid bills can get late fees and your service can be shut off. You can pay in person at 229 S. Main Street, online, or by phone at 1-844-778-1892.

Crisis Control Ministry helps Stokes and Forsyth County residents in a short-term emergency. They can help pay rent or mortgage, utility bills, and heating fuel. They also run a food pantry where you choose your own food and a free licensed pharmacy. Call to set up a phone or in-person interview.

CIP helps if you are in a heating or cooling emergency, like a shut-off notice in winter or summer. It can pay up to $600 per crisis, sent straight to your utility company. You can get help more than once, up to $600 total per state fiscal year.

East Stokes Outreach Ministry serves people in the eastern part of Stokes County, near Walnut Cove. You can get fresh food from their pantry, low-cost clothing and household items from their thrift store, and emergency financial help when times are hard.

King Outreach Ministry helps families in western Stokes County during a crisis. You can get food from their pantry, clothing, help with prescription medicines, and help with energy and heating costs. They can also point you to other agencies that can help.

LIEAP pays part of your heating bill once a year. The money goes straight to your heat company, not to you. People age 60 or older and disabled people getting DAAS services apply in December. Everyone else applies starting in January, until money runs out or March 31.

The Child Care Assistance Program, CCAP, helps eligible Louisiana families pay for child care so parents can work, go to school, or train. The Louisiana Department of Education runs it. Apply through the CAFE portal at cafe-cp.doe.louisiana.gov or by paper application, or call 1-877-453-2721 for help.

Healthy Louisiana is the state's Medicaid program: free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. Louisiana expanded Medicaid, so adults 19 to 64 with income up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level can qualify. LaCHIP covers children. Apply at MyMedicaid.la.gov, or call Louisiana Medicaid at 1-888-342-6207, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm.

LIHEAP helps low-income Louisiana households pay home energy bills, through the Louisiana Housing Corporation and local Community Action Agencies. It covers heating help in winter, cooling help in summer, and year-round crisis help when your power is shut off or about to be. Apply online through LHC or through the local agency serving your parish.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Louisiana phone for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. Louisiana 211 answers around the clock, every day, with live specialists and interpreters. You can also text your zip code to 898211 or search at louisiana211.org.

Louisiana has a refundable state Earned Income Tax Credit worth 5 percent of your federal EITC. Because it is refundable, it can pay out as cash even if you owe no state income tax. You must qualify for the federal EITC first, then claim the Louisiana credit on Line 16 of your Louisiana IT-540 return.

The Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program, FITAP, is Louisiana's monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children. Most work-eligible adults take part in the STEP program (Strategies to Empower People), which pairs work activities with support like child care and transportation. Apply online through the CAFE Self-Service Portal or by phone at 1-888-524-3578. Federal and state time limits apply.

Louisiana's legal aid programs give free civil legal help to low-income residents on housing, family, public benefits, and consumer matters. Find your local office and free self-help guides at louisianalawhelp.org. Southeast Louisiana Legal Services covers 22 southeast parishes and takes intake at 1-844-244-7871. Acadiana Legal Service Corporation covers much of the rest of the state.

SNAP is Louisiana's food assistance program: monthly food money loaded onto a Louisiana Purchase EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. SNAP is now run by the Louisiana Department of Health's Office of Economic Stability, but you apply the same way as always: online through the CAFE Self-Service Portal, or by phone at 1-888-524-3578 (1-888-LA-HELP-U). You can also text GETSNAP to 898211 for information.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Louisiana WIC runs through local health units and clinics. Find your clinic and start an application at louisianawic.org, or call 1-800-251-2229 (1-800-251-BABY).

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Louisiana Workforce Commission. File online through the HiRE self-service system at louisianaworks.net, which is the fastest way, or call the UI Call Center at 1-866-783-5567, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Louisiana households: insulation, air sealing, and heating and cooling repairs that lower future bills. The Louisiana Housing Corporation runs the Weatherization Assistance Program through regional providers. Contact the provider serving your area to apply, since LHC does not take applications directly. Both homeowners and renters can qualify.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Maine phone, or call 1-866-811-5695, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. 211 Maine answers around the clock, every day, in all languages. You can also text your zip code to 898-211, or call 1-877-463-6207 from out of state.

General Assistance is Maine's municipal safety-net program that helps people meet immediate basic needs when they cannot afford them, including rent, mortgage, room rent, temporary housing, heating fuel, food, and household supplies. Apply in person at your local town or city office, and help is paid as a voucher directly to the vendor. If you cannot reach your local office, call the state hotline at 1-800-442-6003.

HEAP is Maine's LIHEAP heating help for income-eligible homeowners and renters, covering fuel costs, emergency fuel delivery, and some energy-related repairs and utility payments. Local Community Action Agencies handle applications, not MaineHousing directly. Apply online, or find your local agency by zip code. The 2026-2027 season opened August 3, 2026 and runs until funds run out or May 29, 2027. For more information call 1-877-544-3271.

Maine's Earned Income Credit is refundable and equal to 25 percent of your federal Earned Income Tax Credit, or 50 percent for workers with no qualifying children. Because it is refundable for Maine residents and part-year residents, it can pay out as cash even if you owe no state tax. Claim it on Form 1040ME, Schedule A. Questions go to Maine Revenue Services at income.tax@maine.gov.

SNAP, called the Food Supplement Program in Maine, puts monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through My Maine Connection at mymaineconnection.gov, the state's one application that also covers MaineCare and TANF, or by phone through the Office for Family Independence at 1-855-797-4357, Monday through Friday, 7am to 4pm.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, is Maine's monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children and pregnant people. Most adults take part in the ASPIRE work program, which helps you move toward a job. Apply online through My Maine Connection at mymaineconnection.gov, or call the Office for Family Independence at 1-855-797-4357, Monday through Friday, 7am to 4pm, and choose the TANF option.

WIC gives healthy food, nutrition education, breastfeeding and lactation support, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Maine WIC runs through local agencies across the state and is open to anyone living in Maine, including migrant workers. Contact your local WIC office to apply, or call 1-800-437-9300 for more information.

MaineCare is Maine's Medicaid program, free or low-cost health insurance for children, pregnant people, parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. Maine expanded MaineCare, so low-income adults now qualify on income alone. Apply online through My Maine Connection at mymaineconnection.gov, or call the Office for Family Independence at 1-855-797-4357.

Pine Tree Legal Assistance gives free civil legal help to low-income Maine residents on housing and eviction, public benefits like SNAP, TANF, and MaineCare, consumer and debt problems, and more. Call the statewide line at 207-942-8322 during call-in hours: Mondays 12pm to 2:30pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays 9am to 11:30am. Interpreters are free. Free legal information is at ptla.org.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Maine Department of Labor. File online through ReEmployME, which is the fastest way, or call the claim center at 1-800-593-7660, Monday through Friday, 8am to 3pm. TTY users dial Maine Relay 711.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Maine households: a home energy assessment first, then air sealing, insulation, and heating-system improvements that lower future bills. Community Action Agencies deliver the program across Maine. Homeowners, renters, and owners of small 2- to 4-unit buildings can qualify. Contact your local Community Action Agency to apply, since applying for HEAP also puts you in line for weatherization.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fuel Assistance, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), helps income-eligible Massachusetts households pay winter heating bills, whether you heat with oil, gas, electricity, propane, or wood. Local Fuel Assistance agencies take applications; the online season opens October 1. Find your agency or apply through the HEAP portal, and call the Cold Relief Heatline at 1-800-632-8175 with questions.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Massachusetts phone, or call 1-877-211-6277, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. Mass 211 answers around the clock, every day, with information in more than 150 languages. You can also chat or search the resource directory at mass211.org.

MassHealth is Massachusetts's Medicaid and CHIP program: free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. The Children's Medical Security Plan covers uninsured children under 19 who do not qualify for MassHealth, regardless of immigration status. Apply online or call MassHealth Customer Service at 1-800-841-2900, Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.

Massachusetts has a refundable Earned Income Tax Credit worth 40 percent of your federal EITC, raised from 30 percent for tax years starting on or after January 1, 2023. Because it is refundable, it pays out as cash even if you owe no tax. You must qualify for the federal EITC and file a Massachusetts return to claim it.

Massachusetts legal aid programs provide free civil legal help to low-income residents on eviction, housing, family, public benefits, consumer, and other noncriminal matters. Find free plain-language legal information at masslegalhelp.org, and use the Massachusetts Legal Resource Finder at masslrf.org to see whether you qualify for a legal aid program that serves your city or town.

SNAP is Massachusetts's food assistance program, run by the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA): monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online at DTAConnect.com, which takes about 20 minutes, or by phone through the DTA Assistance Line at 1-877-382-2363, press 7, open Monday through Friday, 8:15am to 4:45pm.

Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children, TAFDC, is Massachusetts's monthly cash assistance for families with children and pregnant people in the last 120 days of pregnancy who have little or no income. It is run by the Department of Transitional Assistance. Apply online at DTAConnect.com or by phone at 1-877-382-2363. Approval also brings MassHealth automatically.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Massachusetts WIC runs through local clinics. Begin online at mass.gov, or call 1-800-942-1007, Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm, to reach the WIC clinic nearest you and set up an appointment.

RAFT is Massachusetts's active emergency housing assistance: up to $7,000 per household in a 12-month period to help with overdue rent, mortgage payments, utility bills, and moving costs when you face eviction, foreclosure, or loss of utilities. Apply online at ApplyHousingHelp.Mass.Gov, where your application is handled by a Regional Administering Agency. Both a tenant and a landlord application are needed for rental help.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA). File online through UI Online at mass.gov/dua, available daily from 6am to 10pm, or by phone through the TeleClaim Center at 1-877-626-6800, Monday through Thursday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. The phone line is closed Fridays so staff can process claims.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Massachusetts households: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system improvements that lower future bills. Your Fuel Assistance application also serves as your weatherization application, so households eligible for Home Energy Assistance are eligible for weatherization. Contact your local agency, or call the Cold Relief Heatline at 1-800-632-8175.

The Family Independence Program, FIP, is Michigan's TANF cash assistance for low-income families with children, paid monthly on the Bridge Card. Adults have a 60-month lifetime limit, and applicants take part in the PATH work program. Apply online through MI Bridges at newmibridges.michigan.gov or at your local MDHHS office.

The Food Assistance Program, FAP, is Michigan's name for SNAP: monthly food money on a Bridge Card you use like a debit card at the store. Apply online through MI Bridges at newmibridges.michigan.gov, or with a paper application at your local MDHHS office.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Michigan phone, or call 844-875-9211, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. Michigan 211 runs through seven regional call centers, covers the whole state, and answers around the clock. You can also text your zip code to 898211 or search at mi211.org.

Michigan's Earned Income Tax Credit for Working Families is worth 30 percent of your federal EITC and is refundable, so it can put money in your pocket even if you owe no state tax. Public Act 4 of 2023 raised it from 6 percent to 30 percent. Claim it by filing a Michigan MI-1040 return after you qualify for the federal EITC.

The Home Heating Credit is a refundable Michigan tax credit that helps low-income residents pay winter heating costs. You can claim it even if you are not required to file a state income tax return, and you do not have to owe tax to get it. File form MI-1040CR-7 by September 30.

Michigan Legal Help is a free website with plain-language legal information and do-it-yourself tools that build court forms for people without a lawyer. It covers eviction, family law, debt, and public benefits, and points you to legal aid and self-help centers across the state. The tools and information are free to everyone.

Michigan Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. The Healthy Michigan Plan covers adults 19 to 64 who meet the income rules. Apply online through MI Bridges at newmibridges.michigan.gov, by phone at 1-855-789-5610, or at your local MDHHS office.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5. Michigan WIC is offered through county health departments and local agencies. Call 800-942-1636 to find your local clinic, or find one at Signupwic.com.

State Emergency Relief helps Michigan residents through a crisis that threatens health or safety: heat and electricity shut-offs, plus rent, past-due rent, security deposits, and moving costs. Energy help has no copay for eligible households. Apply online through MI Bridges at newmibridges.michigan.gov or with form DHS-1514 at your local MDHHS office.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency. File online through MiWAM at michigan.gov/uia, which is the fastest way, or by phone at 1-866-500-0017. The customer service line is open Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Michigan households: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system repairs that lower future bills. MDHHS runs the program through local Community Action Agencies. Contact the Community Action Agency serving your area to apply.

Medical Assistance is Minnesota's Medicaid program, free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, adults, older adults, and people who are blind or have a disability. MinnesotaCare covers many people whose income is a little too high for Medical Assistance, for a low monthly premium. Apply through MNsure at mnsure.org, or reach DHS Health Care Consumer Support at 1-800-657-3672.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Minnesota phone, or call 1-800-543-7709, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utility bills, food, healthcare, and more. Minnesota 211, run by United Way, answers around the clock, every day, in many languages. You can also text your zip code to 898-211 or search at 211unitedway.org.

Minnesota's Child Tax Credit is a refundable credit of $1,750 for each qualifying child under age 18, with no limit on the number of children. Because it is refundable, it can come back to you as cash even if you owe no tax. The credit begins to phase out once income passes $31,950, or $37,910 for a married couple filing jointly. Claim it on Schedule M1CWFC with your Minnesota return.

The Energy Assistance Program helps income-qualified Minnesota households pay home heating and electric bills and covers emergencies like a broken furnace or a shutoff. Both homeowners and renters can apply. The program runs each year from October 1 through May 31 through the local service provider for your county. To find your provider, call the Commerce Energy Information Center at 1-800-657-3710.

MFIP is Minnesota's cash and food assistance for low-income families with children, and it is the state's version of TANF. It combines a monthly cash grant with food help and pairs most parents with MFIP Employment Services to move toward work. Apply online at mnbenefits.mn.gov or with a paper Combined Application Form (DHS-5223) at your county or Tribal human services office.

Minnesota's legal aid programs provide free civil legal help to low-income residents on housing, family, public benefits, consumer, and other noncriminal matters. Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid also helps people age 60 and older and people with disabilities. Call 1-877-696-6529 to reach intake, and find free legal information and your local office at lawhelpmn.org.

SNAP, still called Food Support by many Minnesota counties, puts monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores and many farmers markets. Apply online at mnbenefits.mn.gov, the state's one application that also covers cash and other help, or file a paper Combined Application Form (DHS-5223) at your county or Tribal human services office. A SNAP outreach specialist through MNFoodHelper (mn.gov/dhs/mnfoodhelper) can help you apply for free.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Minnesota WIC runs through local agencies of the Minnesota Department of Health. Apply online at health.state.mn.us/wicapply, or call 1-800-942-4030 to find the WIC clinic nearest you.

The Working Family Credit is Minnesota's version of the Earned Income Tax Credit, a refundable credit for workers with low income. It equals 4 percent of your earned income, up to a maximum of $379, and it can pay out even if you owe no tax. You claim it on Schedule M1CWFC with your Minnesota return, the same form that carries the state Child Tax Credit.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from Minnesota's Unemployment Insurance program at DEED. Apply online at uimn.org, which is the fastest way, or by phone at 1-877-898-9090 for Greater Minnesota or 651-296-3644 in the Twin Cities, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm. Phone service is offered in English, Spanish, Hmong, and Somali.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-qualified Minnesota households: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system repairs that permanently lower your energy bills. Both homeowners and renters can qualify. The Department of Commerce runs the program through local service providers, and it shares one joint application with Energy Assistance. Call the Commerce Energy Information Center at 1-800-657-3710 to reach the provider serving your area.

Dial 2-1-1 for free, confidential help finding local Mississippi assistance with housing, utilities, food, and healthcare. If 2-1-1 does not connect from your phone, search your zip code at 211.org to reach the resource center that covers your area. It is available around the clock.

Free civil legal help for low-income residents of southern Mississippi on housing, family, public benefits, consumer, and other noncriminal matters. Call the intake hotline at 1-800-519-2915. You can also find free legal information and your local office at mslegalservices.org.

CCPP helps eligible working parents pay for child care through a certificate to a licensed provider, and families pay a monthly co-payment set by family size and income. MDHS fills open slots from a waitlist, so add your email to the waitlist to get a personalized application link. Questions go to 1-800-877-7882.

LIHEAP helps low-income Mississippi households pay heating and cooling bills and handle an energy crisis. Apply online through the Access MS portal at access.ms.gov and pick Community Services; your local Community Action Agency then processes the case and schedules an appointment. It runs in all 82 counties as funds last. Call the MDHS Community Services Division at 1-800-421-0762.

Mississippi Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents and caretakers of minor children, older adults, and people with disabilities, and CHIP covers children in families that earn a bit more. Mississippi has not expanded Medicaid, so most low-income adults without children or a disability do not qualify. Check eligibility and apply at medicaid.ms.gov, or call 1-800-421-2408.

SNAP is Mississippi's food assistance program: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through the Access MS Common Web Portal at access.ms.gov, or at your local MDHS county office. Questions about a SNAP or TANF case go to the MDHS EAE Client Services line at 1-800-948-3050.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, is Mississippi's monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children. Most adults take part in the TANF Work Program, which helps you build job skills and find work. Apply online through the Access MS portal at access.ms.gov or at your local MDHS county office. A 60-month lifetime limit applies.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants, and children under age 5. Mississippi WIC runs through county health department clinics of the Mississippi State Department of Health. Call 1-800-545-6747, or 601-991-6000 in the Jackson area, to find your local clinic and start.

Free civil legal help for low-income residents of the northern 39 counties of Mississippi. North Mississippi Rural Legal Services handles housing, elder law, domestic violence, foreclosure, and other noncriminal matters. Call the intake line at 1-800-898-8731, Monday through Thursday, 9:30am to 3:30pm.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. File online through the ReEmployMS portal at reemployms.mdes.ms.gov, which is fastest, or call the Claimants Line at 601-493-9427, Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Mississippi households: insulation, air sealing, and furnace repair or replacement that lower future bills. Apply through the Access MS portal at access.ms.gov, pick Community Services, and your local Community Action Agency handles the rest. Homeowners and renters both qualify. Call MDHS Community Services at 1-800-421-0762.

MO HealthNet is Missouri's Medicaid program: free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. Missouri expanded Medicaid, so adults ages 19 to 64 can now qualify. Apply online at mydss.mo.gov or by phone at 1-855-373-9994. General MO HealthNet questions go to 1-800-392-2161.

Missouri's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps low-income households pay home energy bills. It has two parts: Energy Assistance, a one-time payment toward heating or cooling from October through May, and the Energy Crisis Intervention Program, ECIP, for a disconnect notice or an emergency. Apply at mydss.mo.gov or call 1-855-373-4636 to have an application mailed.

Missouri's legal aid offices provide free civil legal help to low-income residents on housing, family, public benefits, consumer, and other noncriminal matters. In eastern Missouri, call Legal Services of Eastern Missouri at 1-800-444-0514. In western Missouri, call Legal Aid of Western Missouri at 1-816-474-6750. Find the right office and apply at lsmo.org.

SNAP is Missouri's food stamp program: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online any time through myDSS at mydss.mo.gov, run by the Family Support Division, or ask for a paper application. The FSD Information Center is 1-855-373-4636 (1-855-FSD-INFO), Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.

Temporary Assistance, TA, is Missouri's monthly cash benefit for low-income families with children, meant to help cover costs like clothing and utilities. Most adults take part in the Missouri Work Assistance program, which helps you move toward a job. Apply online at mydss.mo.gov or ask for a paper application through the FSD Information Center at 1-855-373-4636.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Missouri WIC runs through local agencies of the Department of Health and Senior Services. Call TEL-LINK at 1-800-835-5465 to find your local WIC agency, or reach the state WIC office at 1-800-392-8209.

Missouri's Working Family Tax Credit is a state earned income tax credit equal to 20 percent of your federal Earned Income Tax Credit for tax year 2024 and forward. It is nonrefundable, so it lowers the Missouri tax you owe but cannot go below zero, and it cannot be carried forward to a later year. Claim it on your Missouri income tax return.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Missouri Division of Employment Security. File online through UInteract at uinteract.labor.mo.gov, which is the fastest way and open 24 hours a day, or call a Regional Claims Center at 1-800-320-2519, Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm Central.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Missouri phone, or call 1-800-427-4626, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. United Way 211 answers around the clock, every day of the year, with multilingual specialists. You can also search the statewide resource directory at 211helps.org.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Missouri households: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system improvements that lower future bills. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources runs the program through a statewide network of local weatherization agencies. Contact the local agency serving your area to apply, since DNR does not take applications directly.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Montana phone for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. Montana 211 is a statewide service run by regional United Way partners, and it answers around the clock, every day. You can also search at montana211.org.

Montana offers a refundable Earned Income Tax Credit equal to 10 percent of your federal EITC, so it can pay out even when it is larger than the state tax you owe. If you qualify for the federal EITC, claim the Montana credit on your state income tax return using Form 2. Free tax-preparation sites can file both returns and claim the credit at no cost.

The Montana Elderly Homeowner/Renter Credit is a refundable credit of up to 1,150 dollars that helps older Montanans with the property taxes or rent they paid on their home. You may qualify if you were 62 or older at the end of the year and had total household income under 45,000 dollars. Both homeowners and renters claim it on Form 2 with Schedule 2EC, even if you do not otherwise have to file.

The Low Income Energy Assistance Program, LIEAP, helps low-income Montana households pay winter heating bills and covers furnace emergencies during the heating season. Apply from October 1 through April 30 by delivering or mailing the combined LIEAP and Weatherization application to your local eligibility office. For help, call the Human and Community Services Division at 406-444-1788.

Montana Legal Services Association gives free civil legal help to low-income Montanans on housing, family, public benefits, consumer, and other noncriminal matters. Call the HELP Line at 1-800-666-6899, open Tuesday through Thursday, 9am to 1pm, or find free legal information, forms, and your local provider at montanalawhelp.org.

Montana Medicaid and Healthy Montana Kids (HMK) Plus are free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. Montana expanded Medicaid, so adults ages 19 to 64 with low income may qualify through the HELP Plan. Apply online at apply.mt.gov or at your local Office of Public Assistance at 1-888-706-1535. For questions about current benefits, call the Member Help Line at 1-800-362-8312, Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.

SNAP is Montana's food assistance program: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online at apply.mt.gov, which also covers Medicaid and TANF cash on one application, in person at your local Office of Public Assistance, or by phone through the Public Assistance Helpline at 1-888-706-1535.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, is Montana's monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children. Most adults take part in TANF Pathways, the work program run for the state by Maximus, which helps you move toward a job. Apply online at apply.mt.gov, in person at your local Office of Public Assistance, or by phone at 1-888-706-1535.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. To start, find a clinic and prescreen at signupwic.com, or call 1-844-583-3237. A father, grandparent, foster parent, or guardian raising a child under 5 can apply for that child.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Montana Department of Labor and Industry. File online through the claimant portal at uiclaimant.mt.gov, then request payment each week you are unemployed. For help, call the Claims Processing Center at 406-444-2545.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Montana households: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system repairs that lower future bills. Both homeowners and renters can apply, at any time of year, using the combined LIEAP and Weatherization application filed with your local eligibility office. For help, call the Human and Community Services Division at 406-444-1788.

Legal Aid of Nebraska provides free civil legal help to low-income residents on housing and eviction, family, public benefits, consumer, and debt matters. Call the AccessLine at 1-877-250-2016 to apply. Nebraskans 60 and older can use the ElderAccessLine at 1-800-527-7249, and a disaster line runs at 1-844-268-5627. Find more at legalaidofnebraska.org.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Nebraska phone, or call 1-866-813-1731, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, and more. Nebraska 211 is run by United Way of the Midlands. You can also text your zip code to 898211, or chat and search at ne211.org, with live chat open 7am to 10pm every day.

Aid to Dependent Children, ADC, is Nebraska's TANF cash assistance for low-income families with children. Most working-age adults take part in Employment First, which helps you move toward a job through training and work preparation. Apply online through iServe Nebraska at iserve.nebraska.gov or at your local DHHS office.

The Child Care Subsidy helps low-income families pay for child care while parents work, go to school, or train for a job. Apply online through iServe Nebraska at iserve.nebraska.gov. For questions about your eligibility, call the Child Care Subsidy Program at 402-471-9152.

Nebraska has a refundable Earned Income Tax Credit worth 10 percent of your federal EITC. Because it is refundable, it can come back to you as cash even when you owe no state income tax. Claim it on your Nebraska individual income tax return, Form 1040N, after you claim the federal credit.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP, helps low-income Nebraska households with home energy costs. Heating help runs October 1 through March 31, cooling help runs June 1 through August 31, and crisis help is available year-round for shutoffs, reconnects, and emergencies. Apply online through iServe Nebraska, or call ACCESSNebraska at 1-800-383-4278.

Nebraska 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 Heritage Health managed care plans. Nebraska expanded Medicaid, and the Heritage Health Adult program now covers low-income adults 19 to 64. Apply online through iServe Nebraska at iserve.nebraska.gov.

SNAP is Nebraska's food assistance program: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through iServe Nebraska at iserve.nebraska.gov, the state's one application for SNAP, ADC cash, Medicaid, energy help, and child care. You can also apply at your local DHHS office or call DHHS at 402-471-3121.

WIC gives healthy food at no cost, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Nebraska WIC runs through local clinics across the state. Find your nearest clinic on the DHHS WIC locator, then call it to book an in-person appointment.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Nebraska Department of Labor. File your claim online through NEworks at neworks.nebraska.gov, which is how Nebraska takes unemployment claims. Set up your NEworks account, file your initial claim, then file a weekly claim each week to keep payments coming.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Nebraska households: insulation, air sealing, heating-system safety checks, and repairs that lower future bills. The Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment runs the program through eight nonprofit community action agencies. Contact the provider serving your area to apply. Call 1-877-253-2603 or 402-471-2186 for help finding yours.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Dial 2-1-1 from any New Hampshire phone, or call 1-866-444-4211, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, health care, and more. 211 NH is answered by trained specialists 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can also reach them by text or email through 211nh.org.

603 Legal Aid runs New Hampshire's statewide intake for free civil legal help on noncriminal problems: eviction and housing, family, public benefits, consumer, and debt matters for low-income residents. Call the intake line at 1-800-639-5290 (or 603-224-3333), open 9am to 12:30pm, Monday through Wednesday. It works alongside New Hampshire Legal Assistance to serve the whole state.

Emergency Assistance, EA, helps New Hampshire families with children facing a housing or utility crisis: homelessness, a utility shutoff, or no heat, hot water, or cooking fuel. It can pay a rental security deposit or first month's rent, back rent, utility deposits or arrears, or a home heating fuel delivery. Families must meet the FANF eligibility rules but do not have to receive the cash benefit. Apply through your local DHHS District Office, or call 1-844-275-3447.

Financial Assistance to Needy Families, FANF, is New Hampshire's monthly cash assistance for low-income families with dependent children, also known as TANF. Most adults take part in the New Hampshire Employment Program, NHEP, which helps you move toward a job. Apply online through NH EASY at nheasy.nh.gov or at your local DHHS District Office.

The Fuel Assistance Program helps income-eligible New Hampshire households pay winter heating costs. The New Hampshire Department of Energy runs it through the state's Community Action Agencies, which take the applications and pay your heating vendor directly. Contact the Community Action Agency serving your area to apply, or dial 2-1-1 to find it.

New Hampshire Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. The Granite Advantage Health Care Program is the part that covers low-income adults age 19 through 64. Apply online through NH EASY at nheasy.nh.gov, or call the DHHS Customer Service Center at 1-844-275-3447, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm.

SNAP is New Hampshire's food assistance program: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through NH EASY at nheasy.nh.gov, the state's system that also covers cash assistance, Medicaid, and child care on one application, or at your local DHHS District Office. You can also call the DHHS Customer Service Center at 1-844-275-3447 to have an application mailed to you.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. New Hampshire WIC runs through local clinics statewide. To apply, find your nearest clinic at signupwic.com, or call the State WIC Agency at 1-800-942-4321.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from New Hampshire Employment Security. File online at nhes.nh.gov, which is the fastest way. If you need help, the NHES claims line is 603-271-7700, open Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible New Hampshire households: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system improvements that lower future bills. The New Hampshire Department of Energy runs it through the state's Community Action Agencies, and both homeowners and renters can qualify. Contact the Community Action Agency serving your area to apply, since the state does not take applications directly.

Legal Services of New Jersey gives free civil legal help to low-income residents on housing, family, public benefits, consumer, employment, and immigration matters. Call the statewide LSNJ-LAW hotline at 1-888-576-5529, open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5:30pm, or find free legal information and self-help tools at lsnjlaw.org.

Dial 2-1-1 from any New Jersey phone for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and legal services. NJ 211 is a statewide nonprofit that answers around the clock, every day, in many languages. You can also text your zip code to 898211 or search at nj211.org.

NJ FamilyCare is New Jersey's publicly funded health coverage, covering Medicaid and CHIP. It pays for doctor visits, prescriptions, vision, dental, mental health and substance use care, and hospital stays for qualified residents of any age. Apply online or call the hotline at 1-800-701-0710. Children under 19 can apply regardless of immigration status.

New Jersey runs two energy bill programs off one application through the DCAid portal. The Universal Service Fund, USF, gives a monthly credit on gas and electric bills year round. LIHEAP helps with heating and cooling costs on a seasonal schedule. Apply at dcaid.dca.nj.gov, or call the energy assistance hotline at 1-800-510-3102.

NJ SNAP is New Jersey's name for food stamps: monthly food money on a Families First EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores and some farmers markets. Apply online through the state's NJ One App, which also covers cash assistance and NJ FamilyCare, or at your county social service agency.

The New Jersey Earned Income Tax Credit, NJEITC, is worth 40 percent of your federal EITC and is refundable, so it can put cash back in your pocket even if you owe no state tax. New Jersey does not follow the federal age limits: residents at least 18 by year end can claim it, with or without children. File a New Jersey Resident Income Tax Return, the NJ-1040, to claim it.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5. New Jersey WIC is offered through local agencies statewide. Start a pre-screening at wic.nj.gov, then a local agency follows up to schedule your first appointment.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the New Jersey Department of Labor. File online any time at myunemployment.nj.gov, or by phone through a Reemployment Call Center: North Jersey 201-601-4100, Central Jersey 732-761-2020, South Jersey 856-507-2340. Call centers are open Monday through Friday.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible New Jersey households: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system improvements that lower future bills. The Department of Community Affairs runs the program through local agencies. Apply through the DCAid portal at dcaid.dca.nj.gov, or contact the WAP agency that serves your county.

Work First New Jersey, WFNJ, is the state's cash assistance program. WFNJ/TANF serves families with children, and WFNJ/General Assistance serves single adults and couples without children. It pays monthly cash and adds child care, job help, and short-term housing support. Apply at njhelps.gov or your county board of social services.

NM Energy$mart makes free energy-saving retrofits and home modifications for income-eligible New Mexico households, work that lowers future bills. Housing New Mexico (the Mortgage Finance Authority) runs it, and both homeowners and renters can qualify. There is no statewide intake line; you apply through one of three regional service providers assigned to the area where you live, listed on the Housing New Mexico site.

Dial 2-1-1 from any New Mexico phone for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. The service is run by United Way and routes your call by where you live. In the Albuquerque and Santa Fe area, United Way of North Central New Mexico answers direct at 505-245-1735, Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.

New Mexico has a refundable Child Tax Credit worth up to $637 per qualifying child for the lowest-income families, with the amount stepping down as income rises. Because it is refundable, it can come back as cash even if you owe no tax. There is no separate application: you claim it on your New Mexico personal income tax return, Form PIT-1, for each qualifying child.

LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, helps eligible New Mexico households with heating and cooling costs. Apply online through YESNM at yes.nm.gov, at your local Income Support Division office, or with a paper form the state offers in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Simplified Chinese. Call 1-800-283-4465 with questions, and include a disconnect notice if a shut-off is coming.

New Mexico Legal Aid gives free civil legal help to low-income residents on the noncriminal problems that upend a household: eviction and housing, family matters, public benefits, consumer and debt issues, and more. Call the statewide intake line at 1-833-545-4357 (1-833-LGL-HELP) or apply online. Free plain-language legal information for everyone is at LawHelpNewMexico.com.

New Mexico 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 Turquoise Care, the managed care program that replaced Centennial Care on July 1, 2024. Apply online through YESNM at yes.nm.gov, or call the Consolidated Customer Service Center at 1-800-283-4465.

SNAP is New Mexico's food assistance program: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through YESNM at yes.nm.gov, the state's one application that also covers cash assistance, Medicaid, and energy help, or at your local Income Support Division (ISD) office. You can also call the Consolidated Customer Service Center at 1-800-283-4465.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. New Mexico WIC runs through the state Department of Health. Request an appointment or check eligibility at nmwic.org, or call 1-866-867-3124 to learn more and find the clinic nearest you.

The Working Families Tax Credit is New Mexico's version of the Earned Income Tax Credit, and it is refundable, so it can pay out as cash even if you owe no tax. For tax year 2023 and after, the credit equals 25 percent of your federal Earned Income Tax Credit, up from 20 percent in 2022. Claim it on your New Mexico personal income tax return, Form PIT-1.

New Mexico Works, the state's TANF program, is a monthly cash benefit for low-income families with children, loaded onto an EBT card you can use like a debit card. It helps cover basics like housing, utilities, and clothing while adults work toward a job. Apply online through YESNM at yes.nm.gov or at your local Income Support Division office. Questions go to 1-800-283-4465.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. File online through the state's workforce portal at jobs.dws.nm.gov, which is the fastest way, then file a weekly certification for each week you want to be paid. You must be able to work, available for work, and looking for work while you claim.

Dial 2-1-1 from any New York phone, or text your zip code to 898-211, for free, confidential help finding local assistance: food, rent, utility bills, health care, and more. Regional 211 centers cover all of New York State around the clock.

New York's health coverage for children under 19 who don't qualify for Medicaid, with no income cap to enroll. Coverage is free for families under about 2.2 times the poverty level; higher-income families pay $15 to $60 per child per month. Apply through NY State of Health or call 1-800-698-4543.

New York's help with heating and cooling bills. The Regular benefit pays a seasonal credit toward your heating cost, and separate Emergency, heating-equipment repair or replacement, and Cooling Assistance benefits handle crises. Apply at myBenefits.ny.gov or your local HEAP office; the OTDA hotline is 1-800-342-3009.

Free, plain-language legal information for New Yorkers and a directory of local legal aid, covering eviction, debt, public benefits, family law, and more. Search by your county or zip code to find the programs and hotlines that serve your area.

Free or low-cost health coverage for low-income New Yorkers. Adults 19 to 64 can qualify with income up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level, about $1,836 a month for one person in 2026. Apply through NY State of Health, the state's official marketplace, or call the Medicaid Helpline at 1-800-541-2831.

A refundable state tax credit for low- and moderate-income workers, worth 30 percent of your federal Earned Income Tax Credit, reduced by any New York household credit. Because it's refundable, you can get money back even if you owe no state tax. Claim it by filing a state return with Form IT-215.

Healthy food on an eWIC card, nutrition counseling, and breastfeeding support for pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children under 5. Apply through your local WIC office; chat with Wanda, the online WIC assistant, or call the NYS WIC Program at 518-402-7093 to get connected.

New York SNAP puts monthly grocery money on an EBT card. Check eligibility and apply at myBenefits.ny.gov, or through your local department of social services. Questions go to the OTDA toll-free hotline at 1-800-342-3009.

New York's cash assistance for people who can't meet basic needs. Family Assistance helps families with children and carries a 60-month lifetime limit on federally funded aid; Safety Net Assistance covers single adults, childless couples, and families who have used up Family Assistance. Apply at myBenefits.ny.gov or your local social services district.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own. File your first claim online through your NY.gov ID at the Department of Labor, or by phone with the Telephone Claims Center at 1-888-209-8124, Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible New Yorkers: insulation, air sealing, and health-and-safety fixes that lower future bills, at no cost to those who qualify. Run by NYS Homes and Community Renewal through local agencies in all 62 counties, and combined with the EmPower+ application.

The Crisis Intervention Program helps when you are in or about to be in a heating or cooling emergency, such as a disconnect notice or no working heat or air. Unlike LIEAP, it runs year-round and covers both heating and cooling. Apply at your county Department of Social Services by mail, email, fax, or drop-off.

Food and Nutrition Services is North Carolina's name for SNAP, monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at the grocery store. Apply online at epass.nc.gov, in person at your county Department of Social Services, or by mailing a paper application to your county DSS.

Legal Aid of North Carolina is the statewide nonprofit law firm that gives free civil legal help to people with low incomes, covering eviction, unsafe housing, domestic violence, public benefits, and more. Apply by phone at 1-866-219-5262 or online through the JusticeHub portal at legalaidnc.org/apply.

LIEAP is a one-time yearly payment sent to your heating vendor to help with winter heating costs. The application window is set: households with someone 60 or older or a disabled person getting services through the Division of Aging and Adult Services can apply December 1-31, and all other households apply January 1 through March 31 or until funds run out. Apply at your county Department of Social Services or online at epass.nc.gov.

Dial 2-1-1 from any North Carolina phone, or call 1-888-892-1162, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. NC 211 is run by United Way of North Carolina, covers all 100 counties, and answers around the clock in English, Spanish, and other languages.

NC Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. Since December 2023, adults 19 to 64 can qualify with income up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. Apply at epass.nc.gov, at HealthCare.gov, or at your county Department of Social Services.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5. NC WIC is offered statewide through county health departments and community health centers. Call 1-844-601-6881 to find your local WIC clinic.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the NC Division of Employment Security. File online through MyNCUIBenefits at des.nc.gov, which is the fastest way. For help, call the UI Support Center at 888-737-0259.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible North Carolinians: insulation, air sealing, and heating and cooling repairs that lower future bills. The NC Department of Environmental Quality runs it through local agencies. Use the Find Your Agency tool on the DEQ site to reach the provider serving your county.

Work First is North Carolina's TANF program, giving short-term cash assistance and work services to low-income families with children. Cash is provided primarily for the children, and the program pairs it with help finding a job. Apply online at epass.nc.gov or at your county Department of Social Services.

Legal Services of North Dakota provides free civil legal help to low-income and older North Dakotans on housing, family, public benefits, consumer, and veteran matters. Call the statewide intake line at 1-800-634-5263, or if you are age 60 or older call the senior line at 1-866-621-9886. Intake runs Monday through Thursday, 9am to 3pm Central.

Dial 2-1-1 from any North Dakota phone, or text your ZIP code to 898211, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, and more. FirstLink runs 211 statewide and answers around the clock, every day. FirstLink's office line is 701-293-6462, and it also answers the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline locally.

The Child Care Assistance Program, CCAP, helps eligible low-income North Dakota families pay for child care while parents work, look for work, or attend school or training. Apply online through the Self Service Portal at applyforhelp.nd.gov, which also covers SNAP, Medicaid, LIHEAP, and TANF, or by phone through the HHS Customer Support Center at 1-866-614-6005.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP, helps income-eligible North Dakota households with home heating and energy costs, and it can also help in a heating emergency. Apply online through the Self Service Portal at applyforhelp.nd.gov, or by phone through the HHS Customer Support Center at 1-866-614-6005. Ask about the current application dates when you call, since the heating-season window matters.

North Dakota Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. The state expanded Medicaid, so low-income adults ages 19 to 64 can qualify. Apply online through the Self Service Portal at applyforhelp.nd.gov, or by phone through the HHS Customer Support Center at 1-866-614-6005.

SNAP is North Dakota's food assistance program: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through the state Self Service Portal at applyforhelp.nd.gov, which handles SNAP, Medicaid, LIHEAP, TANF, and child care on one application, or by phone through the HHS Customer Support Center at 1-866-614-6005.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, is North Dakota's monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children. Most adults take part in the JOBS program, Job Opportunities and Basic Skills, which helps you move toward work. Apply online through the Self Service Portal at applyforhelp.nd.gov or by phone through the HHS Customer Support Center at 1-866-614-6005.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition guidance, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. To start, call the statewide toll-free line at 1-800-472-2286, schedule online at signupwic.com, or call your local WIC clinic. The first appointment is in person and takes about 30 to 45 minutes.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from Job Service North Dakota. File online through the UI ICE claims system at apps.nd.gov, which is the fastest way, or get help from the Unemployment Insurance Customer Service line at 701-328-1680.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible North Dakota households: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system improvements that lower future bills and make the home safer. North Dakota's Community Action Agencies have weatherized homes since 1976, and both homeowners and renters can qualify. There is no fee for applicants. Call 1-800-726-7960 or contact the Community Action Agency serving your area to apply.

Ohio's Home Energy Assistance Program is a one-time benefit applied to your heating or cooling bill, plus a Winter Crisis Program (November 1 to March 31) and a Summer Crisis Program for emergencies. As of April 2026 it is run by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Apply online, by appointment, or by mail through your local Energy Assistance Provider.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Ohioans: insulation, air-leak sealing, and heating-system repairs that lower future bills. HWAP runs through local energy assistance providers serving all 88 counties, and as of April 2026 is administered by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.

Ohio Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, adults, older adults, and people with disabilities. Adults 19 to 64 can qualify with income at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level under the Group VIII adult category. Apply online through Ohio Benefits at benefits.ohio.gov or by phone at 1-844-640-6446.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Ohio phone for free, confidential help finding local assistance: housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and mental health. Ohio 211 runs through regional United Way hubs, and a 2026 statewide expansion is extending around-the-clock coverage toward all 88 counties.

Ohio's state Earned Income Credit is worth 30 percent of your federal Earned Income Tax Credit. It is nonrefundable, so it can lower your Ohio income tax to zero but does not pay out beyond that. Claim it on the Ohio Schedule of Credits with your state return.

Free, plain-language legal information for Ohioans, guided court-form tools through a MyOLH account, and a Find a Lawyer directory to reach local legal aid. Ohio Legal Help covers eviction, housing, debt, family law, and public benefits.

Healthy food, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support for pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5. WIC clinics operate in all 88 Ohio counties. Call the Help Me Grow Helpline at 1-800-755-4769 to find your local clinic.

Ohio Works First is the cash-assistance part of Ohio's TANF program, paying monthly cash on the Way2Go debit card to low-income families with children. Ohio sets a 36-month state time limit on benefits. Apply online through Ohio Benefits at benefits.ohio.gov or at your County Department of Job and Family Services.

PIPP Plus lets income-eligible Ohioans on a PUCO-regulated utility pay a set percentage of household income toward gas and electric bills instead of the full amount, with a $10 monthly minimum. As of April 2026 it is run by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Apply online, by appointment, or by mail through your local Energy Assistance Provider.

Ohio SNAP loads monthly food money on the Ohio Direction Card, which works like a debit card at grocery stores. Apply online through Ohio Benefits at benefits.ohio.gov, by phone at 1-844-640-6446, or at your County Department of Job and Family Services.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. File online at unemployment.ohio.gov, or by phone at 1-877-644-6562. The call center is open 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Oklahoma phone for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utility bills, food, healthcare, and more. A resource specialist searches for programs, agencies, and charities near you while you are on the line. You can also find and search your local 2-1-1 online at 211.org.

Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma provides free civil legal help to low-income residents on housing, family, public benefits, consumer, and other noncriminal matters. Call the statewide line at 1-888-534-5243 to reach the office serving your area, or find free legal information and self-help tools at oklaw.org.

The Oklahoma Child Care Subsidy helps eligible families pay for child care while parents work, train, or go to school. Apply online at OKDHSLive.org, at your local Oklahoma Human Services office, or by phone at 405-522-5050. Families may owe a copay based on income, family size, and how many children need care.

Oklahoma has a state Earned Income Tax Credit worth 5 percent of your federal EITC. As of tax year 2022 the Oklahoma credit is refundable again, so it can pay out as cash even when it is larger than the state tax you owe. Claim it on your Oklahoma income tax return.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP, helps low-income Oklahoma households with home energy costs in three seasonal parts: Winter Heating, the Energy Crisis Assistance Program for a heating or cooling emergency, and Summer Cooling. Apply online at OKDHSLive.org during each open enrollment window. For a life-threatening energy crisis, call 405-522-5050 year-round.

SNAP is Oklahoma's food assistance program: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online at OKDHSLive.org, the state benefits portal that also screens you for SoonerCare, TANF, and energy help, at your local Oklahoma Human Services office, or by phone at 405-522-5050. Most applications include a phone or in-person interview, and a case can take up to 30 days.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, is Oklahoma's monthly cash assistance for low-income families with a minor child in the home. Adults sign a personalized TANF Work Plan aimed at getting or keeping a job, and the cash comes on a time-limited basis. Apply online at OKDHSLive.org, at your local Oklahoma Human Services office, or by phone at 405-522-5050.

The Oklahoma Women, Infants and Children program, WIC, gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Apply through the online WIC enrollment tool or a local WIC clinic. For more information, call 1-888-655-2942 or 405-426-8500.

SoonerCare is Oklahoma's Medicaid program: free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. Oklahoma expanded SoonerCare in 2021 to cover adults ages 19 to 64. Apply online at mysoonercare.org, or call the SoonerCare Helpline at 1-800-987-7767.

Weekly unemployment payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, OESC. File online through the OESC Claimant Portal at claimantportal.oesc.ok.gov, which is the fastest way, or reach the unemployment support line at 405-525-1500 for help.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Oklahoma households: air sealing, insulation, weather-stripping, and heating-system repairs that lower future bills. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce runs the program through local Community Action Agencies. Contact the Community Action Agency serving your county to apply, since Commerce does not take applications directly.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Oregon phone for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. 211info is a statewide service. You can also text your zip code to 898211 to get connected to local resources, or search at 211info.org.

Legal Aid Services of Oregon provides free civil legal help to low-income Oregonians on housing, family, public benefits, consumer, and other noncriminal matters. For an eviction, call the statewide Eviction Defense Project at 888-585-9638. For public benefits problems, call the Public Benefits Hotline at 503-241-4111. Find your local legal aid office at lasoregon.org, and free self-help information at oregonlawhelp.org.

The Oregon Earned Income Credit is a refundable state credit for working people who qualify for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit. It is worth 9 percent of your federal EITC, and 12 percent if you have a dependent who is younger than 3 at the end of the tax year. Because it is refundable, it can come back to you as a refund even if you owe no Oregon tax. Claim it on your Oregon return.

Oregon Housing and Community Services helps income-eligible households with home heating and cooling bills through the federal LIHEAP program and the Oregon Energy Assistance Program. You do not apply to the state directly; you apply through the local Community Action Agency serving your county. Find your agency through Oregon Housing and Community Services at 800-453-5511 or by dialing 2-1-1.

The Oregon Health Plan, OHP, is free health coverage for Oregonians with lower incomes: working families, children, pregnant people, single adults, and seniors. Oregon expanded Medicaid, so low-income adults 19 to 64 can qualify. Apply online through ONE at one.oregon.gov or by phone at 800-699-9075, Monday through Friday, 7am to 6pm. Members with coverage questions call 800-273-0557.

The Oregon Kids Credit is a refundable state tax credit worth up to $1,050 for each qualifying child age 5 or younger, for up to five children. For the 2025 tax year the full credit goes to families with modified adjusted gross income of $26,550 or less, and it phases out completely at $31,550. Because it is refundable, it pays out even if you owe no Oregon tax. Claim it on your Oregon return.

SNAP is Oregon's food benefit program: monthly food money loaded onto an Oregon Trail Card (EBT) you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through ONE at one.oregon.gov, at a local Oregon Department of Human Services office, or by phone at 800-699-9075, Monday through Friday, 7am to 6pm. One ONE application also checks you for the Oregon Health Plan, TANF cash, and child care help.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, is Oregon's monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children, pregnant people, and young heads of household. A family of three with no other income can get up to $506 a month. Apply online through ONE at one.oregon.gov, at a local Oregon Department of Human Services office, or by phone at 800-699-9075. Most adults take part in the JOBS employment program.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Oregon WIC runs through local clinics in every county. Start with the online interest form at the Oregon Health Authority WIC site, call the state WIC office at 971-673-0040, or dial 2-1-1 to find your local clinic. You finish enrolling at an appointment with the clinic.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Oregon Employment Department. File online through Frances Online at frances.oregon.gov, which is available 24 hours a day and is the easiest way, or apply by phone at 1-877-345-3484 (1-877-File-4-UI). You then file a claim for each week to keep payments coming.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Oregon households: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system improvements that lower future bills, including a Home Oil Weatherization option for oil-heated homes. Oregon Housing and Community Services runs the program through local Community Action Agencies. Contact the agency serving your county, or reach Oregon Housing and Community Services at 800-453-5511, to apply.

Pennsylvania CHIP covers uninsured children and teens up to age 19 who are not eligible for Medical Assistance, with no family income limit that blocks enrollment. For most families CHIP is free; others pay low monthly premiums. Apply online or call the CHIP helpline at 1-800-986-5437.

Pennsylvania's LIHEAP helps low-income households pay heating bills with a cash grant, plus a separate Crisis grant when heat is shut off, about to be, or broken. Apply at COMPASS during the season; the LIHEAP Helpline is 1-866-857-7095.

Medical Assistance is Pennsylvania's Medicaid: free or low-cost health coverage delivered through HealthChoices managed care plans. Adults 19 to 64 can qualify with income at or below 133 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Apply at COMPASS, your county assistance office, or by phone at 1-866-550-4355.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Pennsylvania phone, or text your zip code to 898-211, for free, confidential help finding local assistance: housing, utilities, food, childcare, and more. PA 211 covers all 67 counties around the clock through regional United Way centers.

Free, plain-language legal information for Pennsylvanians and a directory of the legal aid programs that serve each county, from the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network. Covers eviction, benefits, family law, and more, with a Legal Help Finder to reach a local provider.

Healthy food on an eWIC card, nutrition counseling, and breastfeeding support for pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Start a pre-application online at pawic.com, or call 1-800-942-9467 to reach your closest WIC office.

Pennsylvania SNAP loads monthly food money on an EBT ACCESS card. Apply online at COMPASS (compass.dhs.pa.gov), at your county assistance office, or by mail. The DHS Helpline is 1-800-692-7462.

Pennsylvania's cash help for low-income families with children, paid on the EBT ACCESS card. Adults are limited to 60 months of TANF in a lifetime, though Extended TANF can continue benefits in specific hardship situations. Apply at COMPASS or your county assistance office.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own. File your initial claim online at the Department of Labor and Industry, or by phone with the UC Service Center at 1-888-313-7284, Monday through Friday 8am to 4pm. File weekly certifications through PA Teleclaims.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Pennsylvanians: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system fixes that lower future bills. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and run through Community Action Agencies in every county, overseen by the Department of Community and Economic Development.

Pennsylvania's new refundable state tax credit for low- and moderate-income workers, worth 10 percent of your federal Earned Income Tax Credit, up to $805. It starts with the 2026 tax season, and if you qualify for the federal EITC you automatically qualify. Claim it on your PA-40 state return.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Rhode Island phone, or call 401-519-0360, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, child care, healthcare, and more. 211 Rhode Island is run by United Way of Rhode Island and answers around the clock, every day of the year, with translation available in many languages. You can also chat with a resource specialist online.

The Child Care Assistance Program helps low- and moderate-income Rhode Island families pay for child care so parents can work or train for work. It covers children under 13, or up to 18 with special needs, at licensed and approved providers. Apply online through the HealthyRhode portal at healthyrhode.ri.gov or by phone through the DHS Call Center at 1-855-697-4347.

RI Works is Rhode Island's cash assistance and employment program for parents and families with little to no income who have children high school age or younger. It pairs a monthly cash payment with job readiness, training, and child care support, and kinship guardians such as grandparents raising a child can apply too. Apply online through the HealthyRhode portal at healthyrhode.ri.gov or by phone through the DHS Call Center at 1-855-697-4347.

Rhode Island's Earned Income Credit is a refundable credit worth 16 percent of your federal Earned Income Tax Credit for tax years 2024 and 2025, up from 15 percent in earlier years. Because it is refundable, it can pay out as cash even when it is larger than the tax you owe. Claim it on your Rhode Island income tax return; you generally must qualify for the federal EITC first.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP, helps income-eligible Rhode Island households with home heating and energy costs, and it runs through the RI Department of Human Services. Apply online through the HealthyRhode portal at healthyrhode.ri.gov, by mail, or by phone through the DHS Call Center at 1-855-697-4347. Weatherization is a separate program that fixes the home itself.

Rhode Island Legal Services provides free civil legal help to low-income residents on housing and eviction, family, public benefits, consumer, and elder law matters. Call the office at 401-274-2652, or the toll-free line at 1-800-662-5034, to reach intake, or apply for help online. This is civil legal help only, not criminal defense.

Rhode Island Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. RIte Care is the managed care part that covers most families and children. Rhode Island expanded Medicaid to cover low-income adults ages 19 to 64, so apply even if you were turned down before. Apply online through the HealthyRhode portal, or call HealthSource RI at 1-855-840-4774.

SNAP is Rhode Island's food assistance program: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through the HealthyRhode portal at healthyrhode.ri.gov, the state's one-stop site that also handles Medicaid, RI Works cash, child care, and energy assistance. You can also apply by phone through the DHS Call Center at 1-855-697-4347 (1-855-MY-RIDHS) or by mail to the RI Department of Human Services.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Rhode Island WIC runs through the RI Department of Health and local clinics. To apply, call the RI Department of Health Information Line at 401-222-5960 to reach a local clinic and set up an appointment, or start at health.ri.gov/wic.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the RI Department of Labor and Training. File online through UI Online at uionline.dlt.ri.gov, which is the fastest way, or call the call center at 401-415-6772. The call center is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 8am to 3pm, Friday from 9:30am to 3pm, and is closed Wednesday.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Rhode Island households: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system improvements that lower future bills. The RI Office of Energy Resources coordinates the program, and applications run through your local Community Action Program agency, the same agencies that take energy assistance applications. Call the Office of Energy Resources at 401-574-9117 or contact your local Community Action Program agency to start.

Healthy Connections is South Carolina Medicaid: free or low-cost health coverage run by the Department of Health and Human Services for children, pregnant people, low-income parents, older adults, and people with disabilities. South Carolina has not expanded Medicaid, so most adults without children do not qualify on low income alone. Apply online at apply.scdhhs.gov, or call the Member Contact Center at 1-888-549-0820, Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP, helps eligible South Carolina households pay home heating and cooling bills and covers energy crises. The Office of Economic Opportunity funds it, but you apply through the Community Action Agency serving your county, not through a central office. Find your local agency at oeo.sc.gov or dial 2-1-1. Application periods are seasonal and funds are limited, so ask your agency for the current open dates.

Dial 2-1-1 from any South Carolina phone, or call 1-866-892-9211, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. SC 211 is operated by the United Way Association of South Carolina and answers around the clock, every day. You can also text HELP or AYUDA to 211-211, or search at sc211.org.

SC Thrive is a nonprofit that helps South Carolinians apply for benefits like SNAP and Healthy Connections Medicaid over the phone, at no cost. Call 1-800-726-8774 and choose Option 1 to check what you may qualify for and apply with help. Staff assist in English and Spanish, so this is a good first call if the online forms feel like too much on your own.

South Carolina has a state Earned Income Tax Credit worth 125 percent of your federal EITC, fully phased in since the 2023 tax year. It is nonrefundable, so it lowers the state income tax you owe but does not pay out as a refund beyond that. Claim it with form TC-60 on your South Carolina return. You generally must qualify for the federal EITC first.

Family Independence, South Carolina's TANF program, gives monthly cash assistance to low-income families with children through the Department of Social Services. Most adults take part in a TANF work program run through SC Works. Apply online through the DSS Benefits Portal at benefitsportal.dss.sc.gov, at your county DSS office, or by mail or fax. Call 1-800-616-1309 for a form or a case question.

South Carolina Legal Services provides free civil legal help to low-income residents on housing and eviction, family, public benefits, consumer, and other noncriminal matters. Call the statewide intake line at 1-888-346-5592, or apply online at lawhelp.org/sc. A lawyer or paralegal screens your income and problem, and after you apply your local office usually contacts you within 5 to 7 business days.

SNAP is South Carolina's food assistance program: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. The Department of Social Services runs it. Apply online through the DSS Benefits Portal at benefitsportal.dss.sc.gov, in person at your county DSS office, or by mail or fax. To check a case or request a form, call the DSS Connect Call Center at 1-800-616-1309.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. The South Carolina Department of Public Health runs it through local health departments. Start with the online pre-application on the DPH WIC page, or call 1-855-472-3432 to make an in-person or phone appointment.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce. File your claim online through the MyBenefits portal at dew.sc.gov, which is the fastest way. For help, call 1-866-831-1724, or use Relay 711. You must file a weekly claim to keep payments coming.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible South Carolina households: insulation, air sealing, and heating and cooling improvements that lower future bills and make the home safer. The Office of Economic Opportunity runs it through eight Community Action Agencies that cover all 46 counties. Contact the agency serving your county to apply; find yours at oeo.sc.gov. Both homeowners and renters can qualify.

Dial 2-1-1, or call 605-339-4357, to reach the Helpline Center for free, confidential help finding local assistance with food, housing, utilities, healthcare, and more across South Dakota. The Helpline Center is a round-the-clock resource, and its specialists search for programs near you while you are on the line. You can also search at helplinecenter.org.

Reemployment Assistance is South Dakota's unemployment program: temporary weekly payments if you lost your job through no fault of your own, run by the Department of Labor and Regulation. File your claim online at sd.gov/rabenefits, which is the fastest way, or call the Reemployment Assistance line at 605-626-2452 for help.

The Child Care Assistance program helps low-income working families in South Dakota pay for child care. You qualify by meeting income guidelines and a minimum work or school requirement, and you may owe a small co-payment based on your income and family size. Apply through your local Department of Social Services office. Call 1-800-227-3020 for help.

South Dakota Housing helps income-eligible renters through the Housing Choice Voucher, also called Section 8, which pays part of your monthly rent, plus security deposit assistance and other programs. There is no open pandemic-era emergency rental assistance program right now, so for a rent crisis dial 2-1-1 for local funds. Call South Dakota Housing at 1-800-540-4241 to ask about vouchers and current waitlists.

The Low Income Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP, helps income-eligible South Dakota households pay winter heating costs and can step in for a heating emergency. Apply online through the state portal or with a paper application you email to DSSHeat@state.sd.us or mail to the Office of Energy Assistance in Pierre. Call 1-800-233-8503 to apply or check your status, Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm Central.

South Dakota's legal aid nonprofits provide free civil legal help to low-income residents on housing, family, consumer, public benefits, and other noncriminal matters. East River Legal Services covers eastern South Dakota; call 1-800-952-3015. Dakota Plains Legal Services covers western South Dakota and the tribal nations; call 605-856-4444. All three legal aid programs share one online application at sdlawhelp.org.

South Dakota Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, seniors, people with disabilities, and, since the state expanded Medicaid in 2023, low-income adults ages 19 to 64. CHIP covers children in families that earn a little more. Apply online through the DSS Benefits Portal at eaportal.sd.gov, or call the Department of Social Services at 605-773-3165.

SNAP is South Dakota's food assistance program: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through the DSS Benefits Portal at eaportal.sd.gov, at your local Department of Social Services office, or with a paper application you mail or drop off. For help, call the Department of Social Services at 605-773-3165.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, is South Dakota's monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children. Most adults must take part in work activities, generally 30 hours a week, or 20 hours if you care for a child under 6. Apply online at eaportal.sd.gov or at your local Department of Social Services office. Call 605-773-3165 with questions.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. South Dakota WIC runs through the Department of Health. Apply at sd.gov/wic, or call the Department of Health at 605-773-3361 to find your local WIC clinic.

The Weatherization Assistance Program makes free energy-efficiency improvements for income-eligible South Dakota households: weather-stripping and sealing, adding insulation in attics, walls, and under floors, and repairing or replacing a non-working heating system so future bills drop. It runs through local community action agencies alongside energy assistance. Contact the Office of Energy Assistance at 1-800-233-8503 to get started.

Families First is Tennessee's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, program: monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children, paired with a Personal Responsibility Plan that can include work, training, education, child care help, and transportation support. Apply online through the One DHS Customer Portal at onedhs.tn.gov/csp or at your local Family Assistance office. You can also call 1-833-772-8347.

LIHEAP, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, helps low-income Tennessee households pay home heating and cooling bills. The Tennessee Housing Development Agency, THDA, runs it through a network of local community action agencies that reach all 95 counties. Payments go straight to your utility company. Apply online at thda.org/liheap or through the agency serving your county.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Tennessee phone for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utility bills, food, health care, and more. TN 211 is a statewide United Way service that answers around the clock, every day of the year. You can also text your ZIP code to 898-211. Details at uwtn.org/tn-211.

TennCare is Tennessee's Medicaid program: free or low-cost health coverage for eligible children, pregnant women, low-income parents and caretakers, older adults, and people with disabilities. CoverKids is Tennessee's CHIP, covering children and pregnant women who earn a little too much for TennCare Medicaid. Apply online through TennCare Connect at tenncareconnect.tn.gov, or call 1-855-259-0701.

Tennessee's community action agencies help low-income households with utility bills, home energy costs, and other emergencies, and they deliver programs like LIHEAP and weatherization at the local level. There are 19 agencies covering all 95 counties. Find the one serving your county through the Tennessee Association of Community Action at tncommunityaction.org.

Tennessee's legal aid programs provide free civil legal help to low-income residents on housing and eviction, family, public benefits, consumer, and other noncriminal matters. Call the free HELP4TN legal advice line at 1-844-435-7486, which spells 1-844-HELP4TN, to be connected with a licensed Tennessee attorney, or find self-help information and your local legal aid office at help4tn.org.

SNAP is Tennessee's food assistance program: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through the One DHS Customer Portal at onedhs.tn.gov/csp, the same portal that handles Families First cash assistance, or at your local Family Assistance office. You can also call the One DHS Contact Center at 1-833-772-8347.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5. Tennessee WIC runs through county health departments and local clinics. Call 1-800-342-5942, which spells 1-800-DIAL-WIC, to find your local clinic and start, or visit tn.gov/health/wic.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. File online at Jobs4TN.gov, which is the fastest way, or call the Employment Security line at 1-844-224-5818.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Tennessee households: attic and wall insulation, air and duct sealing, and heating and cooling repairs that lower future bills. The Tennessee Housing Development Agency runs the Weatherization Assistance Program through local community agencies covering all 95 counties. Contact the agency serving your county to apply, since THDA does not take applications directly.

Texas's statewide helpline for finding local assistance of every kind: rent, utility bills, food, shelter, and healthcare. Run by Texas Health and Human Services; dial 2-1-1 or call the toll-free line, with help in English and Spanish.

Texas's LIHEAP utility assistance: helps low-income households pay electric, gas, and propane bills, including in a shutoff crisis. Local agencies in all 254 counties take applications; find yours through TDHCA's Help for Texans page.

Child care scholarships that pay most of the cost of care for low-income working Texas families, run by the Texas Workforce Commission through local Workforce Solutions offices. Apply through childcare.texas.gov.

Free women's health services for uninsured Texas women 15 to 44: annual exams, family planning, and screenings and treatment for conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. Use the site's Find a Doctor tool to locate a provider.

Texas SNAP puts monthly grocery money on a Lone Star Card that works like a debit card at any store that accepts SNAP. Apply online at YourTexasBenefits.com or call 2-1-1 for help.

Monthly cash payments for very-low-income Texas families with children 18 and younger, paid on the Lone Star Card. One-Time TANF also gives a single crisis payment, and certain relatives raising a child can get a once-in-a-lifetime $1,000 payment.

Temporary, partial income replacement if you lost your job or had hours cut through no fault of your own. Apply online through Unemployment Benefit Services or by phone at the TWC Tele-Center.

Free or low-cost health coverage for low-income Texas children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities. CHIP covers children in families that earn too much for Medicaid; one application at YourTexasBenefits.com checks both.

Healthy foods, breastfeeding support, and nutrition help for pregnant women, new mothers, and children under 5 in Texas. Apply online or find a local WIC office; benefits start at pregnancy and continue until a child turns 5.

Free legal information, forms, and guides for Texans, run by the nonprofit Texas Legal Services Center. The eviction section explains the notices, deadlines, and court steps, and connects you with legal aid.

Free home energy improvements for low-income Texans: insulation, caulking, duct work, and repair or replacement of inefficient heating and cooling systems, so future bills shrink. Apply through the weatherization agency that serves your county.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Utah phone, or call 1-888-826-9790, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. 211 Utah answers by phone seven days a week, 8am to 6pm. You can also text your zip code to 801-845-2211 on weekdays or search at 211utah.org.

The Family Employment Program, FEP, is Utah's monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children, run by the Department of Workforce Services. It pairs the cash with an employment plan and one-on-one help from a case manager to move you toward work. Apply online through myCase at jobs.utah.gov/mycase. State and federal time limits apply to how long you can receive cash.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Utah Department of Workforce Services. File online at jobs.utah.gov/ui, which is the fastest way, or call the claims center. The statewide line for counties outside the Wasatch Front is 1-888-848-0688. You must file a weekly claim to keep payments coming.

Utah CHIP is low-cost health coverage for uninsured children and teens whose family earns too much for Medicaid but still needs help paying for care. It covers checkups, doctor visits, dental, vision, and prescriptions. Apply online through myCase at jobs.utah.gov/mycase, the same application used for Medicaid, or call 1-877-543-7669, which spells 1-877-KIDS-NOW.

Utah offers a state Earned Income Tax Credit worth 20 percent of your federal EITC. It is nonrefundable, which means it lowers the Utah income tax you owe but does not pay out as a refund on its own, and you cannot carry any unused part to another year. Claim it on your Utah income tax return if you qualified for the federal EITC.

HEAT is Utah's home energy assistance program, the state's version of LIHEAP, helping low-income households with heating and other home energy costs. Priority households, those with someone age 60 or older, a person with a disability, or a child under 6, can apply starting October 1, and the general public can apply starting November 1, running through September 30 or until federal funds run out. Contact your local HEAT office or call 801-526-9240.

Utah Legal Services provides free civil legal help to low-income Utahns on housing and eviction, family, public benefits, consumer, and other noncriminal matters. Call 801-328-8891 or apply online at utahlegalservices.org. In Utah County, Timpanogos Legal Center runs a free legal advice hotline for self-represented people at 801-649-8895, Monday through Friday, 9am to 2pm.

Utah Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. Utah expanded Medicaid in 2020 to cover adults with low income, so it is worth applying even if you were turned down before. Apply online through myCase at jobs.utah.gov/mycase, or call the Medicaid information line at 1-866-608-9422.

SNAP is Utah's food assistance program: monthly food money loaded onto an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. The easiest way to apply is online through myCase at jobs.utah.gov/mycase, the state's one application for food, medical, financial, and child care assistance. You can also apply at a Department of Workforce Services employment center or by calling 1-866-435-7414.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. To apply, call or text your local WIC clinic to set up an appointment. For general information call 801-273-2991, or find your clinic and how to apply at wic.utah.gov.

Utah's Weatherization Assistance Program makes free energy-efficiency improvements, insulation, air sealing, and heating-system repairs, so your utility bills drop over time. The Division of Housing and Community Development runs it through local agencies across the state, and you apply to the agency serving your county. Households save an average of about 583 dollars a year, and you can ask for a weatherization referral when you apply for HEAT.

3SquaresVT is Vermont's name for SNAP: monthly money for food, loaded onto a Vermont EBT card you use like a debit card at many stores and farmers markets. Apply online through the myBenefits portal, or submit a paper Form 202 by mail, at a district office, or through the document uploader. Call the Benefits Service Center at 1-800-479-6151 to apply by phone or request a form. If everyone in the home is 65 or older or gets SSI, benefits come as cash to a bank account instead of an EBT card.

Crisis Fuel Assistance helps when you have a winter heating emergency, like running out of fuel with no money to buy more. It can buy your primary heating source, pay for electricity needed to run your heating system, and help set up payment plans or prevent a gas or electric disconnection. Apply in person at your local Community Action Agency, and call first so they can tell you what to bring. Do not wait until you run out, because the program cannot help once fuel is already delivered or furnace work is done.

Green Mountain Care is the umbrella name for Vermont's public health coverage, including Medicaid and Dr. Dynasaur, which covers children under 19 and pregnant people. Vermont expanded Medicaid, so low-income adults under 65 can qualify too, alongside people 65 or older, blind, or disabled. Apply for Medicaid, Dr. Dynasaur, and other coverage through Vermont Health Connect online or by calling 1-855-899-9600, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm. Current members can reach the Customer Support Center at 1-800-250-8427.

Reach Up is Vermont's monthly cash assistance for families with minor, dependent children, paired with case management to help you reach goals around work, education, housing, health, and more. Apply online, in person at your local district office, or by calling 1-800-479-6151 to request a paper application. You take part in an interview by phone or in person. If the child's other parent lives elsewhere, a child support case usually opens automatically unless you request a safety waiver.

Seasonal Fuel Assistance is Vermont's LIHEAP program, and it pays a portion of your winter home heating bills whether you own or rent and whether you pay for heat directly or as part of your rent. Apply online through the myBenefits portal, in person at your district office, or by calling 1-800-479-6151 to request a paper application. If you got Fuel Assistance last season, watch for the annual review form instead. Once you are an active Seasonal Fuel household, you also qualify for free weatherization.

Vermont unemployment insurance gives short-term weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Vermont Department of Labor. File your initial claim online through the Claimant e-Services portal, which needs a myVermont account, or by phone at 1-800-479-6151. Wait, file by calling 1-877-214-3330, Monday through Thursday 8:30am to 4pm and Friday 9am to 4pm. For help on an existing claim, the Claimant Assistance line is 1-877-214-3332. A claim cannot start until you have actually separated from your job.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Vermont phone, or call 1-866-652-4636 (or 802-652-4636), for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, health care, and more. Vermont 211 is run by the United Ways of Vermont. You can also text your ZIP code to 898211. If you need emergency housing, call rather than text or email; emergency housing call hours are 4:30pm to 10pm on weekdays and 8am to 10pm on weekends and holidays.

Vermont's Earned Income Tax Credit is a refundable credit equal to 38 percent of your federal EITC, so it can pay out as cash even when it is larger than the tax you owe. You claim it on Schedule IN-112 with your Vermont income tax return. In Vermont, the credit is open to all qualifying residents regardless of whether you, your spouse, or a qualifying child has a Social Security number, so filers using an ITIN can claim it. Free VITA tax help can file your federal and Vermont returns and claim both credits at no cost.

Vermont Legal Aid and Legal Services Vermont work together to give free civil legal help to low-income Vermonters on housing and eviction, family, public benefits, consumer and debt, health care, and other noncriminal problems. Legal Services Vermont screens all requests. The fastest way in is the online Legal Help Request Form, or leave a message on the legal helpline at 1-800-889-2047 (Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 8am to 1pm; Tuesday and Thursday 12:30pm to 7pm). Most people hear back within about 5 to 10 days. Free self-help legal information is at vtlawhelp.org for everyone.

WIC gives food benefits, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and counseling to pregnant Vermonters, new parents, and caregivers with children under 5. Vermont WIC runs through local Health Department offices, and food benefits load onto a card you use with the WICShopper app at approved stores. Apply by contacting the Vermont WIC Program at 1-800-464-4343 or 802-863-7200, by email at wic@vermont.gov, or through your local office. In-person and remote appointments are both available.

Vermont's Weatherization Assistance Program makes free energy-efficiency improvements so your home wastes less heat and your bills drop. On average the program makes about 10,000 dollars of improvements per home, adds around 1,500 square feet of insulation, and cuts drafts by about 40 percent. There is no statewide phone line; you apply through the Community Action Agency serving your area, which are BROC, Capstone, CVOEO, NETO, and SEVCA. Download your agency's application, complete it, and mail the signed forms to the address on the application.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Virginia phone, or call 1-800-230-6977, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. 211 Virginia is a statewide service that answers around the clock, every day. You can also text the keyword CONNECT to 247211 or search at 211virginia.org.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Virginia Employment Commission. File online through the VEC Customer Self-Service portal at vec.virginia.gov, which is the fastest way, or by phone through the Customer Contact Center at 1-866-832-2363, Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm.

Virginia offers two versions of the Earned Income Tax Credit, and you pick the one that helps most. One is nonrefundable and equal to 20 percent of your federal EITC. The other is refundable and, for tax years 2025 and 2026, also equal to 20 percent of your federal EITC, so it pays out even if you owe no tax. Claim it on your Virginia return.

The Energy Assistance Program helps low-income Virginia households with home energy costs through three seasonal parts: Fuel Assistance for heating, Crisis Assistance for a heating emergency, and Cooling Assistance for summer. Apply online through CommonHelp, at your local department of social services, or by phone at 1-855-635-4370, Monday through Friday, 7am to 6pm.

Virginia's legal aid offices provide free civil legal help to low-income residents on housing, family, public benefits, consumer, and other noncriminal matters. Call the statewide line at 1-866-534-5243 (1-866-LEGLAID) to reach the legal aid office serving your area, or find free legal information and your local office at virginialawhelp.org.

Virginia Medicaid, known as Cardinal Care, is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. FAMIS covers children through CHIP. Apply online through CommonHelp, or call the Cover Virginia Call Center at 1-855-242-8282, Monday through Friday, 8am to 7pm.

SNAP is Virginia's food assistance program: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through CommonHelp at commonhelp.virginia.gov, which handles SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, and energy assistance on one application, or at your local department of social services. You can also apply by phone at 1-855-635-4370.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, is Virginia's monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children. Most adults take part in the Virginia Initiative for Education and Work, VIEW, which helps you move toward a job. Apply online through CommonHelp at commonhelp.virginia.gov or at your local department of social services.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Virginia WIC runs through local health districts of the Virginia Department of Health. Apply online at myvawic.org, or call 1-877-835-5942 for more information about WIC.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Virginia households: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system improvements that lower future bills. The Department of Housing and Community Development runs the program through local providers. Contact the weatherization provider serving your area to apply, since DHCD does not take applications directly.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

LIEAP helps low-income West Virginia households pay winter heating costs, either as a payment to your utility company or a direct payment. An Emergency LIEAP component helps households without resources facing the loss of a heating source. Apply online through wvPATH at wvpath.wv.gov, at your local Department of Human Services field office, or through a local Community Action agency or Area Agency on Aging.

Legal Aid of West Virginia gives free civil legal help to low-income residents on housing and eviction, family law, public benefits, consumer and debt problems, and more. Call the statewide intake line at 1-866-255-4370 to reach the office serving your area, or apply for help online at legalaidwv.org. This is civil, noncriminal help.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from WorkForce West Virginia. File online through the WorkForce West Virginia claims portal at uc.workforcewv.org, which is the fastest way, or get help by phone at 1-800-252-5627 (1-800-252-JOBS). You must file a claim each week to keep payments coming.

WV CHIP covers children and pregnant women in working families who have no other health insurance and earn too much for Medicaid. It covers checkups, dental, vision, prescriptions, and more with low or no cost to the family. Apply through wvPATH along with Medicaid at wvpath.wv.gov, and call the WVCHIP Helpline at 1-877-982-2447 (1-877-WVA-CHIP) with questions.

WV WORKS is West Virginia's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, giving monthly cash assistance to eligible families with children. It pairs the cash with work and education activities like job skills training, vocational training, and college. Apply online through wvPATH at wvpath.wv.gov or at your local Department of Human Services field office. Most families on WV WORKS also receive SNAP and Medicaid.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible West Virginia households: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system improvements that lower future bills. The work is delivered by local Community Action agencies. Call the West Virginia Community Action Partnership at 304-347-2277 or use its agency locator to reach the weatherization provider serving your county, since you apply through that local agency.

Dial 2-1-1 from any West Virginia phone, or call 1-833-848-9905, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. West Virginia 211 answers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. You can also text your zip code to 898-211 or search at search.wv211.org.

West Virginia Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, older adults, people with disabilities, and low-income adults. West Virginia expanded Medicaid, so adults 19 to 64 with low income can qualify on their own. Apply online through wvPATH at wvpath.wv.gov, at a local Department of Human Services field office, or by calling the DoHS Customer Service Center at 1-877-716-1212.

SNAP is West Virginia's food assistance program: monthly food money on an EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through wvPATH at wvpath.wv.gov, the state's one application for SNAP, WV WORKS, and Medicaid, at your local Department of Human Services field office, or by phone through the DoHS Customer Service Center at 1-877-716-1212.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. West Virginia WIC runs through local clinics tied to county health departments. Check the WIC eligibility screening tool and find your nearest clinic through the state WIC clinic search, then call the clinic to book your first appointment.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Wisconsin phone, or call 1-877-947-2211, for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. 211 Wisconsin answers around the clock, every day, and connects you to programs near you. You can also search at 211wisconsin.communityos.org.

BadgerCare Plus is Wisconsin's largest Medicaid program: free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents, and other adults with low income, ages 0 to 64. It covers preventive care, doctor visits, prescriptions, and emergencies. Apply online through ACCESS at access.wisconsin.gov, or through your local county or tribal agency. Call ForwardHealth Member Services at 1-800-362-3002, Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm.

FoodShare is Wisconsin's SNAP program: monthly food money on a QUEST EBT card you use like a debit card at most grocery stores. Apply online through ACCESS at access.wisconsin.gov, which handles FoodShare, BadgerCare Plus, and other programs on one application, or through your local county or tribal agency. You can also manage your case with the MyACCESS app. For help, call ForwardHealth Member Services at 1-800-362-3002, Monday through Friday, 8am to 6pm.

Legal Action of Wisconsin provides free civil legal help to low-income residents on housing, family, public benefits, consumer, and other noncriminal matters. As of January 1, 2026 it merged with Wisconsin Judicare into a single statewide firm that also serves northern Wisconsin and tribal communities. Call the intake line at 1-855-947-2529, weekdays 9am to 4pm, or apply online any time at legalaction.org.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. File online through the Claimant Portal at my.unemployment.wisconsin.gov, which is the fastest way. For help using online services, call 1-844-910-3661 (or 414-435-7069): Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, 7:30am to 4:30pm, and Thursday, 8am to 3:15pm.

Free home energy-efficiency work for income-eligible Wisconsin households: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system improvements that lower future bills. The Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources runs the program through local agencies. Apply online at energybenefit.wi.gov or through your local agency, and call the Customer Care Center at 1-800-506-5596 with questions.

Wisconsin's Earned Income Credit is a refundable credit for working families with at least one qualifying child, worth a percentage of your federal EITC: 4 percent with one child, 11 percent with two children, and 34 percent with three or more children. It is refundable, so it can pay out even if you owe no state tax. Claim it on your Wisconsin income tax return (Form 1 or 1NPR).

WHEAP is Wisconsin's LIHEAP program: help with heating and electric costs, plus emergency (crisis) assistance and furnace repair or replacement for income-eligible households. Apply online at energybenefit.wi.gov, or contact the local energy assistance agency serving your county or tribe. For more information, call 1-866-432-8947. The main heating benefit runs October 1 through May 15 each year.

The Homestead Credit is a refundable Wisconsin credit that helps renters and homeowners with low income offset the property taxes or rent they pay. For 2025, household income must be under $24,680 to qualify (people with income at or above that must be disabled or age 62 or older). You claim it on Schedule H or H-EZ with your Wisconsin return, and it can come back as a refund even if you owe no tax.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children up to age 5. Wisconsin WIC runs through local WIC agencies. Start your pre-application online, or call the Well Badger Resource Center at 1-800-642-7837 to find your local clinic, Monday through Friday, 7am to 6pm.

Wisconsin Works, called W-2, is the state's TANF program: monthly cash assistance and employment services for parents of minor children and pregnant women with low income. The Department of Children and Families runs it through local W-2 agencies, and most participants take part in work activities. Apply online through ACCESS at access.wisconsin.gov or at your local W-2 agency.

Legal Aid of Wyoming provides free civil legal help to low-income residents on noncriminal matters like eviction and housing, family law, public benefits, and consumer problems. Call the statewide line at 1-877-432-9955, Monday through Friday, 9am to 4pm, or apply online at lawyoming.org/apply-online. Offices serve the state from Cheyenne, Casper, Lander, and Gillette.

Temporary weekly payments if you lost work through no fault of your own, run by the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services. File online through the WYUI portal at wyui.wyo.gov, which is the fastest way, or reach the Claims Center at 307-473-3789, open 8am to 4pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and 8am to noon Wednesday.

Wyoming's Weatherization Assistance Program makes free energy-efficiency improvements that lower future heating bills: insulation, air sealing, and heating-system repairs. It shares one application with LIEAP, and the Utility Assistance portal takes weatherization applications year-round. Call 1-800-246-4221 for help. Homeowners and renters both qualify, including people in mobile homes.

Dial 2-1-1 from any Wyoming phone for free, confidential help finding local assistance with housing, utilities, food, healthcare, and more. Wyoming 211 is a statewide referral service; give a short version of what you need and where you live, and a specialist searches for programs near you. You can also search at wyoming211.org.

Child Care Assistance helps low-income Wyoming parents pay for child care while they work or attend an employment-related education program. As of August 2025 you apply through ECARES, the state's child care eligibility system. Contact your local Department of Family Services office or call 1-800-457-3659 to get started. If two parents are in the home, both must be in an approved activity during the same hours.

Kid Care CHIP is low-cost health coverage for children of working parents who earn too much for Medicaid. It covers check-ups, immunizations, prescriptions, dental, vision, and mental health care, with preventive and dental care free and other services at a small co-pay. Apply through the same WES portal at wesystem.wyo.gov, or call 1-855-294-2127. One application checks a child for both Medicaid and CHIP.

LIEAP helps low-income Wyoming households pay winter heating bills. Wyoming takes applications online only, through the Utility Assistance portal, generally from October 1 through April 30 each heating season. For the current window and help applying, call 1-800-246-4221 or email lieapinfo@wyo.gov. Approved LIEAP applicants are automatically considered for free weatherization work.

Wyoming Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for children, pregnant people, parents and caretaker relatives, and people who are aged, blind, or disabled. Wyoming did not expand Medicaid, so low-income adults without children generally do not qualify no matter how little they earn. Apply online through the WES portal at wesystem.wyo.gov, or call 1-855-294-2127. If you are a child or a working parent over the limit, ask about Kid Care CHIP.

POWER, Personal Opportunities With Employment Responsibilities, is Wyoming's version of TANF: monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children, paired with a work program. There is also a Caretaker Relative track for relatives raising a child whose parents are absent. Download the Application for Assistance and contact your local Department of Family Services office to set up an appointment. For program questions call 307-473-3948.

SNAP loads monthly food money onto an EBT card you use like a debit card at most Wyoming grocery stores. Wyoming still uses a paper application: download it, then submit it to your local Department of Family Services office in person, by mail, by fax, or by email to snappowerservice@wyo.gov. For general SNAP questions call 307-473-3948, and for a scheduled interview call 1-307-777-8550.

WIC gives healthy food, breastfeeding support, nutrition education, and health referrals to pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children under age 5. Wyoming WIC runs through local clinics of the Wyoming Department of Health. Start at health.wyo.gov/publichealth/wic, use the clinic locator to find your nearest office, or call the WIC help desk at 1-307-777-6236.