CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More

Financial & Household Assistance

    Results: 28

  • AARP Tax Aide Programs (1)
    DT-8800.0100

    AARP Tax Aide Programs

    DT-8800.0100

    Programs sponsored by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that provide tax preparation assistance for persons age 60 and older, particularly those who are confined to their residences or retirement communities. The service, which is also known as Tax Counseling for the Elderly or TCE, is provided by volunteers trained by the IRS.
  • Assistive Technology Equipment Loan (1)
    LH-0650.0250

    Assistive Technology Equipment Loan

    LH-0650.0250

    Programs that enable individuals who have physical or sensory limitations to borrow the assistive technology products they require at no charge. Loans may be long or short-term in nature and the devices are returned once the agreed-upon period of time has elapsed.
  • Benefits Assistance (3)
    FT-1000

    Benefits Assistance

    FT-1000

    Programs that provide assistance for people who are having difficulty understanding and/or obtaining grants, payments, services or other benefits for which they are eligible. The programs may help people understand the eligibility criteria for benefits, the benefits provided by the program, the payment process and the rights of beneficiaries; provide consultation and advice; help them complete benefits application forms; negotiate on their behalf with benefits administration staff; and/or represent them in administrative processes or judicial litigation. Included are benefits counseling organizations that offer a range of advocacy services and legal aid programs that offer more formalized legal assistance.
  • Chambers of Commerce (1)
    TN-1000.1500

    Chambers of Commerce

    TN-1000.1500

    Local associations of business people, either operating their own companies or employed in organizations, who have organized to promote the welfare of their community (city, county, town, township or other locale), especially its commercial interests. Chambers of commerce direct their efforts to promoting the common economic interests of all the commercial enterprises within a locality rather than focusing on a particular industry, usually have an elected board of directors, and do their work through committees. They encourage the growth of new businesses, provide assistance to new firms seeking to locate in the community, advocate for actions that promote tourism and benefit the regional economy and serve as a voice for the business community at local and state levels. Member benefits may include publicity and advertising opportunities in vehicles such as member directories, visitor's guides and a community calendar; ribbon cutting ceremonies and grand openings for new establishments; business expos; job fairs; small business counseling; business seminars; member referrals; member-to-member discounts; health and other insurance; and a variety of social activities.
  • Comprehensive Job Assistance Centers (2)
    ND-1500

    Comprehensive Job Assistance Centers

    ND-1500

    One-stop centers that provide an array of employment and training services in a convenient, easily accessible location. Services may include job counseling, testing and assessment; resume preparation assistance, interview training and other prejob guidance services; job matching and referral; unemployment insurance and job registration; labor market and career information; information on financial aid for education and training; and referral for job training, transportation, child care, personal and financial counseling, health care and other human services resources in the community.
  • Congregate Meals/Nutrition Sites (1)
    BD-5000.1500

    Congregate Meals/Nutrition Sites

    BD-5000.1500

    Programs that provide hot meals on a regular basis primarily for older adults who may be at risk for nutritional deficits and social isolation without assistance. Congregate meals are often combined with recreational, educational and social activities, and programs may include access to health services and/or information. Some programs are also open to caregivers, spouses and/or adults with disabilities.
  • Consumer Protection Agencies (1)
    DD-2100

    Consumer Protection Agencies

    DD-2100

    Agencies established by federal, state, county or city officials, business or industry associations, the media or the private sector to provide consumer education and information and/or to handle consumer complaints regarding unfair or fraudulent business or credit practices, unsafe or poor quality goods, incompetent services or other similar problems; and to provide solutions through mediation, arbitration or public pressure.
  • Economic Self Sufficiency Programs (3)
    PH-2360.2000

    Economic Self Sufficiency Programs

    PH-2360.2000

    Programs that assist low-income single parents, teen parents, displaced homemakers, public assistance recipients or other targeted individuals and families to achieve economic independence and long-term stability through an integrated group of services which may include education and job training, microenterprise development, mentoring services, life skills training, personal enrichment classes, counseling services, parenting skills development, legal assistance, housing assistance, child care and transportation assistance, information and referral and advocacy. The services may be delivered using an intensive case management model which involves assignment of a case manager, development of an individualized case plan and assessment of progress in meeting agreed upon goals and objectives.
  • Employee Assistance Programs (1)
    PH-2000

    Employee Assistance Programs

    PH-2000

    Programs that contract with employers to offer confidential help to employees, and in some cases their families, whose legal, financial, marital, parent-child, child care, alcoholism, drug abuse, health and/or mental health problems could have a direct impact on their attendance and job performance. EAPs vary in complexity from telephone hotlines that offer referrals for needed services to organizations that offer in-person diagnosis and referral, direct counseling and/or extensive treatment for one or a variety of problems.
  • Food Banks/Food Distribution Warehouses (2)
    BD-1875.2000

    Food Banks/Food Distribution Warehouses

    BD-1875.2000

    Programs that gather, sort, store and distribute to participating charitable agencies, surplus food products and edible but unmarketable food that has been acquired from growers, grocers and other sources. Also included are the supermarket chains, food manufacturers, wholesalers, restaurant suppliers, agencies that organize food drives, government departments (e.g., the USDA) and other organizations that donate food on a regular basis to food banks and/or directly to food pantries, meal programs, homeless shelters and other human service agencies with food programs.
  • Food Gleaning Programs (1)
    BD-1875.2200

    Food Gleaning Programs

    BD-1875.2200

    Programs that obtain unharvested fruits and vegetables for use by food banks, brown bag programs and other charitable food distribution programs from farmers who have crops left over following professional harvesting (or whose fields are not profitable to reap), local gardeners, and others who have fresh crops they are unable to use. Depending on local arrangements, eligible individuals and families may be invited along with volunteers to participate in organized picking trips and obtain food for their own table at no cost.
  • Food Pantries (4)
    BD-1800.2000

    Food Pantries

    BD-1800.2000

    Programs that acquire food products through donations, canned food drives, food bank programs or direct purchase and distribute the food to people who are in emergency situations. Some pantries deliver food to people whose disabilities or illnesses make it difficult for them to leave home.
  • Health Insurance Information/Counseling (3)
    LH-3500

    Health Insurance Information/Counseling

    LH-3500

    Programs that offer information and guidance for people who need assistance in selecting appropriate health insurance coverage and which may also answer questions about health insurance benefits and help people complete insurance forms.
  • Housing Counseling (4)
    BH-3700

    Housing Counseling

    BH-3700

    Programs that provide comprehensive assistance for people who want to rent or purchase housing including information and guidance about buying and rental costs; how to select affordable housing that meets individual needs; and how to provide for insurance, maintenance and other requirements related to acquiring and paying for housing.
  • Housing Expense Assistance (1)
    BH-3800

    Housing Expense Assistance

    BH-3800

    Programs that pay current housing bills or finance new living accommodations for people who are otherwise unable to provide for their housing needs. Housing expense assistance programs may have age, income, disability, need or other eligibility requirements.
  • Medical Care Expense Assistance (1)
    LH-5100.5000

    Medical Care Expense Assistance

    LH-5100.5000

    Programs that pay the hospital bills, doctor bills, rehabilitation service bills, laboratory expenses or other health care expenses of people who are unable to obtain necessary health care without assistance. Also included are programs that provide vouchers which enable eligible individuals to obtain medical care. Medical bill payment assistance programs may have age, income, disability, need or other eligibility requirements.
  • Medicare Information/Counseling (2)
    LH-3500.5000

    Medicare Information/Counseling

    LH-3500.5000

    Programs that offer information and guidance for older adults and people with disabilities regarding their health insurance options with the objective of empowering them to make informed choices. Included is information about benefits covered (and not covered); the payment process; the rights of beneficiaries; the process for eligibility determinations, coverage denials and appeals; consumer safeguards; and options for filling the gap in Medicare coverage (Medigap supplement insurance). Also available is information relating to an individual's eligibility for benefits and assistance with evaluating their options and enrolling in a Medicare plan (A, B, C, and/or D) that will best meet their needs. These programs also address coordination of benefits when beneficiaries have other types of health insurance in addition to Medicare (e.g. Medicaid, employer coverage or retiree insurance) and provide counseling and assistance regarding the subsidies that are available to low income beneficiaries enrolled in the Part D Prescription Drug Benefit (which help pay for Part D premiums and reduce the cost of prescriptions at the pharmacy) and the Medicare Savings Programs which help pay for Medicare out-of-pocket costs. They may also provide information about Medicaid and the linkages between the two programs, referrals to appropriate state and local agencies involved in the Medicaid program, information about other Medicare-related entities (such as peer review organizations, Medicare-approved prescription drug plans, Medicare administrative contractors), and assistance in completing related Medicare insurance forms.
  • Rent Payment Assistance (1)
    BH-3800.7000

    Rent Payment Assistance

    BH-3800.7000

    Programs that make rental payments for people who are at risk of eviction without assistance. Also included are rent supplement programs that provide assistance with ongoing monthly rental costs. Rent payment assistance programs may have age, income, disability, need or other eligibility requirements.
  • Social Security Retirement Benefits (1)
    NS-7000.8000

    Social Security Retirement Benefits

    NS-7000.8000

    A program administered by the Social Security Administration that provides monthly cash payments (sometimes called old-age insurance benefits) for people age 62 and older who are fully insured. Workers may retire at age 62 and receive a reduced benefit or may wait until age 65 and receive a full benefit. Benefit amounts depend upon wages earned and the number of quarters of coverage credited to the individual's Social Security record.
  • Student Financial Aid (29)
    HL-8000

    Student Financial Aid

    HL-8000

    Programs that enable students who demonstrate financial need to obtain the financial assistance they require to meet their educational and living expenses while in school. Most students receive a financial aid package which includes aid from a combination of sources that may include loans, scholarships, grants, work-study awards, and fellowships or assistantships for graduate students. Also included are programs that help current and former students make arrangements to defer, repay or obtain forgiveness for student loans.
  • TANF (2)
    NL-1000.8500

    TANF

    NL-1000.8500

    A state program with matching federal block grant funds administered by the county or the state under state guidelines that provides time-limited cash assistance for needy families with (or expecting) children as well as job preparation, work opportunities and access to supportive services such as child care which enable parents receiving assistance to leave the program and become self-sufficient. TANF, which ends the federal entitlement known as AFDC, creates a five-year lifetime limit on cash assistance for most adult recipients; requires that recipients be working or participating in a work-related activity within two years and cooperate with comprehensive child support enforcement efforts including paternity establishment; and contains special live at home and stay in school provisions for teenage parents. States have wide latitude in structuring their TANF programs and may obtain waivers which exempt them from specific federal requirements. Recipients may receive monthly checks or be given electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards which allow them to access their cash benefits at automated teller machines (ATMs) or point of sale (POS) equipment that is located in grocery stores, banks and other commercial locations.
  • Thrift Shops (1)
    BM-8500

    Thrift Shops

    BM-8500

    Organizations that offer new or secondhand furniture, appliances, clothing, toys and other material goods at lower than retail prices, and which often use the proceeds from sales to support other services to the community. Thrift shops accept direct donations from the public of new and reusable goods. Also included are other types of resale shops that sell secondhand but reusable musical instruments, salvaged building materials, office equipment, sports equipment, books, CDs and other material goods.
  • Utility Assistance (1)
    BV-8900

    Utility Assistance

    BV-8900

    Programs that provide financial assistance for people who are at risk for having their utilities shut off; offer discounted utility services; provide disconnection protection; arrange for notification regarding pending disconnection; make available special services such as large print utility bills or levalized energy bill payment arrangements which support people's ability to make their payments; or supply wood, propane, butane or other fuel for heating or cooking purposes in situations where people have no other means of acquiring them. Utility assistance programs may have age, income, disability, need or other eligibility requirements.
  • Veteran Benefits Assistance (46)
    FT-1000.9000

    Veteran Benefits Assistance

    FT-1000.9000

    Programs that provide assistance for veterans who are having difficulty understanding and/or obtaining the full benefits and services to which they are entitled by law based on service to their country. The programs may help veterans understand the eligibility criteria for benefits, the benefits provided by the program, the payment process and the rights of beneficiaries; provide consultation and advice; help them complete benefits application forms; negotiate on their behalf with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs staff; and/or represent them in administrative processes or judicial litigation. Included are Veteran Services Officers (VSOs) who are trained and accredited by the Veteran's Administration (VA) and can be found in offices specific to each state, the county courthouse, the local VA office and local veteran's rights organizations; as well as legal aid programs that offer more formalized legal assistance.
  • Veteran Home Loans (1)
    BH-3500.3400-900

    Veteran Home Loans

    BH-3500.3400-900

    Programs that assist veterans who want to purchase or construct a home by issuing GI loans which feature moderate interest rates, no down payment, a long repayment period, and the right to pay all or a portion or the loan in advance without penalty.
  • Veteran/Military Health Insurance (3)
    NS-8000.9000

    Veteran/Military Health Insurance

    NS-8000.9000

    Programs administered by the Department of Defense (DoD) Health Affairs Office or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that provide health benefits coverage for eligible military personnel, eligible veterans and eligible dependents.
  • Weatherization Programs (1)
    BH-3000.1800-950

    Weatherization Programs

    BH-3000.1800-950

    Programs that provide assistance in the form of labor and supplies to help people improve the energy efficiency of their homes and protect them from the elements. The program provides ceiling insulation, attic venting, double glazed windows, weather-stripping, minor housing envelope repairs, low-flow showerheads, evaporative cooler vent covers, water heater blankets, pipe wrap, duct wrap, switch and outlet gaskets, caulking, and other related energy conservation measures. Weatherization programs may have age, income, disability or other eligibility requirements.
  • WIC (1)
    NL-6000.9500

    WIC

    NL-6000.9500

    A public health nutrition program administered by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service that provides nutrition education, nutritious foods, breastfeeding support and health care referrals for income-eligible pregnant or postpartum women, infants and children up to age five. Foster parents, grandparents, guardians and single fathers who have custody of their children may also be eligible to receive food assistance for children up to age five if they meet income guidelines. WIC provides specific foods to supplement the dietary needs of participants to ensure good health and development. Food packages typically include iron-fortified infant cereal, milk, cheese, eggs, whole grains, peanut butter, beans, fruits, vegetables and juice. Families can shop for WIC foods at most grocery stores using a WIC electronic transfer benefit (EBT) card or vouchers.