Help With Bills & Food
Many people need assistance from time to time with bills and food. Apply for help at the welfare office in the county in which you live. The name of the agency varies from state but it is usually called something like the Department of Child and Family Services or the Department of Social Services. Other organizations also offer assistance with bills and food, like the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Salvation Army and food pantries. Finding the assistance you need can be quite a challenge but a great deal of help exists if you know where to look for it.
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Housing and Utility Bills
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The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development helps some people with low incomes pay rent. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps people with low incomes pay heating bills in winter. A number of agencies, including the Salvation Army, Catholic charities and community action agencies, help people in need with rent and utility bills, as well.
Grocery Bills
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The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, helps many people with low incomes buy groceries. The program only covers food items; it does not cover things like personal hygiene supplies, cleaning supplies, paper goods, vitamins or over-the-counter medications. Other programs help with food, too, like the National School Lunch Program that provides free school lunches for needy children, food pantries and soup kitchens.
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Medical Bills
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Medicaid helps many people with low incomes pay medical bills, but not all people with low incomes qualify. In some states, only children, elderly people, people with disabilities and pregnant women can receive Medicaid. Medicare also helps many elderly and disabled people pay medical bills. Hospitals often have funds available to help pay for treatment for people with low incomes and many cities have clinics that provide services on a sliding scale, so fees are based on patients' incomes.
Other Bills
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Many states offer assistance with child care bills for parents with low incomes that need help paying for child care while they work. State welfare offices may offer other programs to help people maintain employment; for instance, some help people pay car repair bills so they have reliable transportation to get to work. Some telephone companies offer discounts to disabled customers with low incomes. Community agencies and churches sometimes provide assistance with things like home repair bills, furnishings, winter clothing and other bills not typically covered by programs like food stamps, rental assistance programs and Medicaid.
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References
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