The federal government provides families across the country with much needed assistance. Someone who is struggling to make ends meet might not have any extra room in their budget for basic necessities. This could mean that they struggle to afford fundamentals like groceries, health coverage, and housing. Regardless of which area you’re struggling in, there is likely a federal program that provides relevant support. Before we get too ahead of ourselves, you first need to know how to find out about what programs are out there. Once you’re well informed you can decide which one is best for you. Luckily, we have found a tool that can help you get started!

How to Find Out About Various Federal Assistance Opportunities on Benefits.gov

A good place to start when reviewing different options is benefits.gov. Benefits.gov is a helpful website for people trying to get federal aid to improve their well-being. This platform offers information on various government programs designed to support low-income families and those in need. This government website allows you to review more than 1,000 different programs. The website allows you to browse benefits in 16 different categories or by government agencies.

Understandably, searching through that many assistance options would be overwhelming! Especially if you’re not sure what kind of assistance you can benefit from. Fortunately, the website features a search engine that makes it easier called Benefit Finder. The search engine works by using details about your personal situation to deliver what options might be best for you. The way it works is you answer some questions about yourself, your household, income level, and more. Using this information, the search engine will narrow down assistance programs that make sense for you. After reviewing each option you can apply to the ones that you’re interested in. Keep in mind that using this tool doesn’t guarantee that you’ll qualify for any of the suggested programs.

Now that you know how this helpful search engine works, here is a list of some assistance opportunities that you can consider:

• The Housing Choice Voucher Program
• Medicaid
• Utility Bill Programs
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

The Housing Choice Voucher Program

The Housing Choice Voucher program (HCV) is offered by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This program offers qualifying recipients vouchers that can be used towards the cost of rent. Once a recipient of HCV is accepted into the program, they are responsible for finding their own rental to live in. It’s essential that recipients ensure the landlord of the rental they want to live in is willing to accept housing vouchers. In addition to that, the property needs to pass an inspection done by their local Public Housing Authority (PHA). Although this is a federal program, local PHAs are responsible for running the program. For this reason, you’ll primarily deal with your local office if you participate in this program.

Medicaid

Medicaid programs vary by state, however there are federal guidelines that each program needs to follow. Regardless of where you live, this program benefits low-income individuals in need of affordable healthcare coverage. Healthcare proves to be a controversial topic in the U.S. The reality is that the largest source of debt amongst American families is unpaid medical bills.

Key features of Medicaid

• Covers essential health services like primary care visits, hospital visits, and prescribed medications.
• Receives funds from both the federal and state governments.

You can learn more about Medicaid online. However, if you prefer to speak to someone about the program directly. you can contact your state Medicaid office. Otherwise, you can submit an application through the Health Insurance Marketplace online.

Utility Bill Programs

Utility bills can add up, especially if your home doesn’t have the most efficient equipment. There are programs that can provide a variety of relief. You may be able to get monthly cost assistance for certain utility bills. Furthermore, these programs can also offer temporary relief during periods of extreme weather or other emergencies.

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) can help qualifying households by offering various assistance. First, households can get cost assistance on certain energy bills. In addition to that, this program can reduce the cost it takes to heat or cool a recipient’s home. They do this by making minor repairs around the home. These repairs are also effective for lessening the chance that unintended damages can occur as a result of faulty equipment.

Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and LIHEAP share a similar purpose. The goal of this federal program is also to improve the energy efficiency of a recipient’s home. WAP can significantly lower a recipient’s energy costs by making more major repairs and improvements to certain equipment. As a result of this program, households are able to save an average of at least $372 per year on energy costs!

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a popular federal assistance program that helps low-income households with the cost of groceries. The amount of benefits a household can receive is dependent on their personal situation. Considerations are made for factors like household size and income level. Each recipient gets their own Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) that is used to purchase eligible food items. However, EBT can only be used at approved retailers.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) provides monthly cash assistance to qualifying seniors and adults with disabilities. This assistance ensures that the recipient can maintain basic standards of living while managing any health conditions. Individual SSI recipients can get up to $943 per month. Meanwhile, qualifying couples can get up to $1,415 in cash benefits each month!

Bottom Line

There are many things that a household might need assistance with. Struggling to afford your basic needs can feel like a helpless situation. However, there are places that you can turn to for help! You can get started on your journey towards assistance by checking out Benefits.gov. This website is a one-stop resource for discovering what kind of government programs are available. Not only that, the website can help you figure out your next steps, such as how to apply to programs you’re interested in. The following programs are popular assistance opportunities that help in different ways:

• The Housing Choice Voucher Program
• Medicaid
• Utility Bill Programs
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Whether you need assistance with health coverage or the cost of groceries, there is likely a federal program that can make a difference. The most important thing you can do is not give up. You may be able to turn a corner with a bit of help!