Free Things For Low-Income Families From Government Assistance – Economic hardship is a daily part of life for many households in the United States of America. As per reports of the US Census Bureau, the poverty rate in America was 10.5% in 2019 which translates to approximately 34 million individuals. If you are living in America and your income is less than 200% of the federal poverty guideline then you may be interested in finding free things and government assistance programs for low-income people.
Unfortunately, the US government has tons of options available when it comes to offering assistance in the form of free things to low-income people. In this comprehensive guide, we will help you to learn how you can qualify for free things from the government in the form of free housing, food, utility, financial, medical, education and many more services.
Highlights of this Post
Key Takeaways
- Multiple government programs assist low-income families with essentials like food, healthcare, and housing.
- Programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and Section 8 Housing provide free or subsidized benefits.
- Eligibility criteria vary by program and state, so research is crucial.
- Additional resources include childcare assistance, educational grants, and utility assistance.
- Free tax filing help is available for qualifying families.
What Are The Eligibility Criteria And Documents Requirements to Avail Free Things For Low-Income Families?
The specific documents required to get free things from low-income families through government assistance programs may vary from one place to another. However, the commonly requested documents are as follows.
- Be a citizen of the United States, a legal permanent resident or a qualified non-citizen
- Must prove a robust financial need and explain your financial hardship for instance loss of income, unemployment, poverty, victim of domestic abuse, natural disaster medical condition, utility cut off, eviction or foreclosure
- Must fulfill the age limitation of the program
- Have household income below a specific percentage of the federal poverty level depending on your area of residence
- Applicants must not be delinquent on any government debt
- Must have a valid Social Security card.
Here is the list of documents that are required to avail free things for low-income families.
- Identification documents such as birth certificate, driver’s license, school registration, passport or government-issued photo ID
- Proof of citizenship or legal immigrant status
- Proof of unemployment benefits that you’re receiving from the government or any other source
- Past due eviction notices or failed inspection report
- Income verification documents like bank statements, pay stubs, tax forms, wage statements etc.
- Proof of benefits you’re getting from the government in the form of Medicaid, housing subsidy, TANF or SNAP program
- Proof of current address such as rental or lease agreement, copy of a lease, utility bills or canceled checks showing rent payments.
- Statement from your landlord proving that you are living in their property as a tenant.
What Free Things Are Available For Low-Income Families From The Government?
The US government provides free things for low-income families and helps them with finances, food, health care, education and many other vital aspects of life. The availability and benefits of these programs may vary depending on your eligibility and state of residence. If you’re wondering what free things are available from the government that you might be eligible for then keep reading.
1. Food Assistance Programs
Food is a basic human requirement and so the United States government has designed several initiatives to ensure food accessibility to low-income families.
SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
One of the popular food assistance programs in the United States known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program assists financially struggling families with a stipend so that they can get adequate, nutritious, and healthy food.
Formerly known as the food stamp program the SNAP covers low-income families who are unable to put food on the table due to financial limitations. The amount of food assistance that you receive will depend on your household size and income. The guidelines may vary from one state to another. You can contact your local SNAP office to learn about the program or dial 1-800-221-5689.
WIC Program
WIC is a program that assists pregnant women, mothers, and their young children to access healthy and nutritious food. Economically challenged moms, infants and children can receive nutritional counseling and financial assistance.
The program also refers eligible women to welfare, health, and other social service programs. To qualify for assistance you need to meet the eligibility requirements of the program which you will receive at the USDA WIC website.
National School Lunch Program
The National School Lunch program offers discounted or free lunches and nutritional assistance to school-age children. Low-income individuals and families who are struggling economically to provide adequate and nutritious food to their children in the National School Lunch Program. Similar to the National School Lunch Program there are many other children’s food voucher programs for low-income families.
CSFP, Commodity Supplemental Food Program
The Commodity Supplemental Food covers low-income senior families who are 60 years or above in age and are unable to meet their dietary needs. You need to belong to a low-income group to receive food assistance under this grant.
SFMNP, Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program assists senior citizens belonging to the low-income category and helps them purchase fresh fruits or vegetables and other items at the local farmers’ market and outdoor stands. As the program is available on a first-come-first-serve basis senior citizens who are struggling economically must apply for the program as early as possible. Visit the official USDA website to learn more details.
Interested in knowing more about how to get free food vouchers for low-income families? Take a look at the comprehensive list of resources available for you in our next guide.
2. Healthcare Assistance Programs
Like food, healthcare is one of the most essential services provided for free or at subsidized rates for low-income families by the US government.
Medicare
Medicare is a health insurance program for seniors designed by the federal government and consists of four parts– Part A, B, C and D. Older adults can apply for the program to cover their medical expenses.
While the Part A Medicare program is completely free, Part B comes with a small monthly premium and the cost of the program may vary depending on the medical plan you choose. Part C is the Medicare Advantage program which is a program that is provided by private insurance and offers similar coverage to parts A, B & D.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a joint federal and state healthcare assistance program that enables low-income individuals and families to cover their medical bills. Low-income children, pregnant women, senior citizens, disabled individuals and adults get free or low-cost Medicaid assistance in this program.
Around 1 in 5 Americans are covered by Medicaid with approximately 40% being children from low-income families. It is operated by CMS or Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Affordable Care Act helps to increase Medicaid coverage by almost a third.
Children’s Health Insurance Program
Children’s Health Insurance Program provides Medicare care to kids up to 19 years of age. The program covers the following services.
- Medical supplies
- Tests
- Hospital care
- Routine checkup
- Eye exams
- X-ray services
- Prescriptions
- Dental care
- Laboratory services
- Doctor visits
- Vaccination
- Emergency services.
To apply for the program, you can contact your local Medicaid office and fulfill the income limitations set by your state.
ACA, Health Insurance Marketplace
The home to Health Insurance Marketplace is Healthcare.gov that is designed by the Affordable Care Act, an Obama administration program that makes health insurance affordable for uninsured Americans.
Anyone who does not have health insurance can obtain coverage through the health insurance marketplace. You however need to have income below a specific percentage of the federal poverty level and get a subsidy to lower the cost of healthcare coverage.
This is not an exhaustive list of healthcare assistance programs for low-income families as there are tons of more resources available throughout the country.
3. Housing Assistance Programs
The rising cost of property prices and housing rent is a major issue throughout America and a lot of households are unable to pay for their rent and mortgage. To mitigate the housing crisis the US government along with many charities and nonprofit organizations have stepped up to ease the housing burden through several initiatives.
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program Program
The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program is sponsored by HUD and covers low-income families including senior citizens, disabled individuals, single mothers, low-income families with children, pregnant women, and others who are financially challenged and are unable to pay their rent.
The program offers rental vouchers to eligible candidates so that they can get a safe and secure dwelling. Eligible candidates have to pay around 30% of their monthly income towards rent and utility payments while the difference will be covered by HUD.
Housing Assistance Programs For Homebuyers
HUD has designed several programs to help people purchase a home. These include FHA Loans, Homeownership vouchers, VA Loans, state housing programs and many more. You can learn about the housing assistance programs to fulfill your homeownership dream by heading to our next guide and getting a comprehensive list of programs that help with homeownership.
There are many other housing assistance programs designed by the HUD for struggling families such as the following-
Other Hud-Sponsored Housing Grants
There are many other housing assistance programs designed by the HUD for struggling families such as the following-
HOME, HOME Investment Partnership Program
HOME assists people in the form of affordable loans, grants, and credit assistance. You are required to have an income of less than 80% of the median annual income for your area of residence to qualify for assistance.
FSS, Family Self-Sufficiency Program
FSS is an employment and saving incentive program for low-income households in the USA who have Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers or are living in public housing. It comprises case management services and financial assistance.
Section 202 Supportive Housing For The Elderly Program
This program by HUD was designed specifically to help households with older residents so that they can access decent and affordable housing. The grants cover senior citizens who are 62 years or above in age.
Indian Housing Block Grant Program
Federally recognized Indian tribes or tribally designated housing entities receive grant money from the HUD through the Indian Housing Block Grant program. The recipients of these grants use the financial support for this program to perform eligible housing activities like house building, energy audit, and home repairs.
Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities
This program enables people with disabilities to live independent lives in the community by subsidizing rental housing opportunities and helping them access better supportive services. To know more about HUD housing grants head to our next guide.
4. Financial Assistance Programs
SSI, Supplemental Security Income
The federally funded program Supplemental Security Income supports low-income families who are blind, senior citizens (65 years of age or older), disabled individuals, and families who are unable to provide for themselves.
The cash benefits received through this program are paid out every month and are intended to cover primary needs like housing, food, and clothing. The Supplemental Security Income is different from Social Security which determines the eligibility criteria for assistance based on your employment history.
TANF, Temporary Assistance For Needy Families
The Temporary Assistance For Needy Families Program supports eligible families with time-limited monthly cash assistance so that they can cover their basic needs like food, clothing, shelter, rent, and transportation needs.
There are limitations on how long you can use the TANF benefits depending on your state of residence. If you’re looking for government hardship grants for low-income seniors, disabled individuals, and other families you can apply for this program.
No matter whether you are struggling to pay your utility, rent housing bills, medical bills or education there are tons of financial assistance programs in times of need including emergency financial assistance programs that can help you to get back on your feet.
5. Child Care Assistance Programs
Head Start and Early Head Start Programs
The Head Start program is designed for children who are in the age between three to five years old so that they can acquire high-quality early childhood education as well as development services.
The Early Head Start Program is a federal initiative that is designed for children from birth to three years of age. If you’re looking for childcare vouchers for two-year-olds this will lower your cost of childcare.
The programs are geared towards young children from low-income families in America. The program provides comprehensive services such as health services, home visits, parent education, nutrition counseling and services for pregnant women.
Child Care and Development Fund
The Child Care and Development Program enables low-income parents to cover their childcare expenses while they are attending school or employed somewhere. The grant assists working parents by providing support with childcare expenses.
The program helps in covering significant costs of childcare like in-home care, daycare centers and after-school programs. The eligibility criteria may vary depending on your state however parents must meet the income guidelines to qualify for assistance and get help with childcare costs.
Child Care Access Means Parents In School Program
Low-income student parents who are pursuing higher education can apply for Child Care Access Means Parents In School Program which means parents in school can get financial support and reduce their childcare expenses. This enables parents to balance their parenting responsibilities and academic careers and make sure their child receives high-quality services while they are furthering their education.
Low-income families or working parents who want to reduce their childcare costs can head to our next guide to learn about the comprehensive list of childcare assistance programs or vouchers that are available to those who qualify.
6. Educational Assistance Programs
Federal Pell Grant Program
Low-income students who are looking for financial assistance to acquire higher education in the United States can apply for further federal Pell Grant programs.
This program is funded and administered by the Department of Education which enables students belonging to low-income households to acquire post-secondary education. The financial assistance received through this program will depend on the cost of attendance at your school, expected family contribution, and your FAFSA results.
TEACH, Federal Teacher Education Assistance For Colleges And Higher Education Grant
The federally funded TEACH program offers financial assistance to individuals who want to pursue higher education and enter the teaching profession. You need to work as a full-time teacher for four years in a high-need field to qualify for this program. You need to fill out FAFSA and TEACH grant applications and receive assistance up to $4,000 per academic year.
FSEOG, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant
Another federally funded grant for low-income students is the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant which is awarded to candidates on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Students belonging to low-income groups with exceptional financial means are covered under this program and are given a maximum grant award of $4000 based on their financial need, FAFSA results, availability of funds at school, and their cost of attendance at school.
You can pursue higher education by applying for various other educational assistance programs designed for low-income families by heading to our next guide.
7. Phone/ Internet Assistance Programs
The Lifeline Program
Lifeline is a federal assistance program available in all states, territories, commonwealth and tribal lands. The program is designed to enhance connectivity among low-income Americans who otherwise are not in a position to afford monthly phone and Internet bills.
The program subsidizes access to discounted or free communication services. The program offers monthly discounts in the range between $9.25 to $34.25 for eligible families. In some cases, low-income Americans can also access a free phone through participating Lifeline assistance providers.
The Affordable Connectivity Program
A popular phone and internet assistance program operated by the Federal Communication Commission to make internet and broadband services affordable and accessible for struggling low-income households in America is the Affordable Connectivity Program.
The program offers discounts up to $30 per household on monthly broadband internet access service or up to $75 per household on tribal land and a $100 discount on connected devices with a copayment in the range between $10 to $50.
Looking for ways to get free phone and internet assistance programs for low-income families? Take a look at our next guide and reduce your phone and internet bills.
8. Utility And Energy Assistance Programs
LIHEAP, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
Low-income families who are financially challenged often find it difficult to pay for their home and utility bills and have to face utility shut off.
One such program that helps low-income families pay for their heating and cooling bills is the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funded by the United States Department of Health and Human Services.
The program works to make your home energy efficient and lower your home energy bills. You can use the grants for installing insulation, floors, and ducts or for replacing insufficient heating or cooling units.
Weatherization Assistance Program
If you’re going through financial hardship then it might be difficult for you to pay for your utility bills or make necessary improvements in your home. The Weatherization Assistance Program assists financially challenged individuals and families by making their homes energy efficient and by lowering their home energy bills.
You can head to our next guide to learn the comprehensive list of low-income home energy assistance programs to pay for your utility bills and get a safe and comfortable living environment.
9. Tax Filing Assistance Programs
The Internal Revenue Service funds different tax assistance programs to make federal and state tax filing free and easier for low-income families.
VITA and TCE Tax Filing Assistance Programs
IRS has two in-person tax assistance initiatives: the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and Tax Counseling For The Elderly (TCE). Both initiatives provide tax preparation assistance to low-income individuals.
VITA applies to you if your income is less than $60,000, you have limited English speaking skills or are disabled whereas TCA is available to citizens above 60 or older. To find the program site you need to use the IRS TCE/VITA locator tool or the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Sites Locator Tool.
Free Filing
Candidates who have adjusted gross income at or below $73,000 can file federal and tax returns online at free cost. You can get help choosing a product with the help of a Free File Online Lookup Tool. With income above $73,000, you can use the tool for preparing your tax as long as you’re comfortable doing your tax yourself and do not need assistance.
Conclusion
Low-income families and individuals have several ways to get assistance from the government in the form of free or low-cost food, healthcare, housing, finances, tax filing, phone or internet, child care assistance and many more. Understanding the free things available to low-income households can benefit anyone who is struggling financially. The availability and eligibility criteria for the programs mentioned in the above section of the article may vary from one state to another so it is important to research carefully and apply for the one that matches your criteria.
Our comprehensive guide at Get Government Grants will help you to make the best decision for yourself and your family. Head over to our blog section today to improve the financial situation of your family. We are passionate about helping people find relevant answers to their questions.