How to Find and Apply For Government Benefits
When you're down on your luck, it's easy to assume that there's no help. However, there are a wide range of programs and benefits in the United States that can help get you back on your feet.
While this is Evil Week at Lifehacker, we should point out that federal and state programs for assisting the underprivileged or impoverished are a serious issue. The information here is by no means comprehensive and will vary by state to state. If you have anything to add, feel free to do so in the comments below but, as always, please be respectful.
How to Find Benefits That Might Help You
There are too many different programs to cover in one article (though we'll get to some of the major ones below). However, if you're in a rough spot—or just want free money!—and want to know what kind of benefits you might qualify for,
The benefits finder will ask for a sizeable amount of information to help you figure out what you qualify for. Benefits range from helping with housing, food, insurance, education, and medical needs. Even if you don't think that you'll qualify for any programs, it may be worth your time to check and see what's available (for reference: I'm a white guy in his twenties with no kids, a decent job, and no major student debt; there were at least 48 benefits I "may" qualify for, though suggesting the application is no guarantee of acceptance).
Get Help with Living Costs for Low-Income Homes with TANF
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF, commonly referred to as just "welfare") is a program that's designed to help out families who need, well, temporary assistance. The program generally requires you to find work within 24 months of first finding a job, or as soon as you're ready to work, and the benefits cap out at 60 months for your entire lifetime.
While specific requirements vary from state to state, most states require that you participate in a work program of some kind. This program will provide you with counseling, job training, and placement services aimed at getting you back on your feet. Depending on the number of people in your household, the minimum number of hours per week the adults in the household must put in range from 30 (single-parent homes) to 55 (two-parent homes, depending on circumstances).
Get Help on Food Costs with SNAP/WIC
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, commonly referred to as "food stamps") and the Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC) are publicly-funded programs that provide assistance in buying food for families. Both programs have certain sets of requirements, however both can provide automatic eligibility if you qualify for TANF or some other assistance programs.
If you want to check your eligibility status, here are the most important links you should check out:
SNAP Eligibility information
SNAP Pre-screening eligibility tool
WIC Eligibility information
WIC pre-screening eligibility tool
SNAP and WIC are both tied to income and are indexed to the federal poverty line. SNAP requires that your household make less than 130% of the poverty level. WIC varies by state, but federal guidelines require that the threshold be between 100% and 185% of the federal poverty line.
When you're down on your luck, it's easy to assume that there's no help. However, there are a wide range of programs and benefits in the United States that can help get you back on your feet.
While this is Evil Week at Lifehacker, we should point out that federal and state programs for assisting the underprivileged or impoverished are a serious issue. The information here is by no means comprehensive and will vary by state to state. If you have anything to add, feel free to do so in the comments below but, as always, please be respectful.
How to Find Benefits That Might Help You
There are too many different programs to cover in one article (though we'll get to some of the major ones below). However, if you're in a rough spot—or just want free money!—and want to know what kind of benefits you might qualify for,
The benefits finder will ask for a sizeable amount of information to help you figure out what you qualify for. Benefits range from helping with housing, food, insurance, education, and medical needs. Even if you don't think that you'll qualify for any programs, it may be worth your time to check and see what's available (for reference: I'm a white guy in his twenties with no kids, a decent job, and no major student debt; there were at least 48 benefits I "may" qualify for, though suggesting the application is no guarantee of acceptance).
Get Help with Living Costs for Low-Income Homes with TANF
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF, commonly referred to as just "welfare") is a program that's designed to help out families who need, well, temporary assistance. The program generally requires you to find work within 24 months of first finding a job, or as soon as you're ready to work, and the benefits cap out at 60 months for your entire lifetime.
While specific requirements vary from state to state, most states require that you participate in a work program of some kind. This program will provide you with counseling, job training, and placement services aimed at getting you back on your feet. Depending on the number of people in your household, the minimum number of hours per week the adults in the household must put in range from 30 (single-parent homes) to 55 (two-parent homes, depending on circumstances).
Get Help on Food Costs with SNAP/WIC
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, commonly referred to as "food stamps") and the Women, Infants, and Children program (WIC) are publicly-funded programs that provide assistance in buying food for families. Both programs have certain sets of requirements, however both can provide automatic eligibility if you qualify for TANF or some other assistance programs.
If you want to check your eligibility status, here are the most important links you should check out:
SNAP Eligibility information
SNAP Pre-screening eligibility tool
WIC Eligibility information
WIC pre-screening eligibility tool
SNAP and WIC are both tied to income and are indexed to the federal poverty line. SNAP requires that your household make less than 130% of the poverty level. WIC varies by state, but federal guidelines require that the threshold be between 100% and 185% of the federal poverty line.
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