What Financial Help Is for the Unemployed?

It can be difficult to bounce back from a job loss. Unemployed individuals typically have as many living expenses as those who work, and they can go through their savings quickly. Several programs offer financial assistance for the unemployed to provide adequate housing, food and medical care, or to help them recover from a sudden unexpected expense.

Long Term Financial Assistance

Long-term programs typically give financial assistance to the unemployed for several months, but time limits vary by state. Public housing, subsided housing and the Section 8 program offer free or discounted housing for unemployed individuals and families. The SNAP program provides food to needy families through a preloaded debit card the family can use to purchase food at participating grocery stores. The Medicaid program provides discounted or free health care to the elderly and disabled. The Medicare program also provides discounted health care to unemployed individuals who qualify.

Short Term Financial Assistance

Some assistance programs offer short terms such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. With LIHEAP, the unemployed can receive help to pay their utility bills, but some states limit the number of times you can use the program in a year. Other programs provide emergency cash grants to help in times of crisis. The Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program issues a preloaded debit card to families that qualify. The card can cover sudden expenses or the cost of living.

Organizations Offering Help

Most financial assistance programs for the unemployed come through governmental agencies such as the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD. Federal funding goes to state agencies that determine who receives assistance on a case-by-case basis. You can learn about assistance in your state by contacting the Department of Children and Family Services, the Department of Housing and Urban Development or a similar state agency.

Qualifying for Assistance

While each state determines its own qualification levels for financial assistance, all follow the same basic guidelines. Individuals must be a certain age, typically 18. If unemployed, he may need to register for work through state-funded job search programs. He will also need to prove his residency and income levels as well as basic personal information such as full name, address and Social Security number.

Help Varies by State

The amount of assistance for which an unemployed individual qualifies depends on the state where she lives and the type of help she seeks. For example, a family of four in Louisiana can receive up to $668 monthly in SNAP benefits, according to the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services.

References

• Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
• Info Louisiana: Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
• U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Rental Assistance
• New York Department of Health: Medicaid in New York State