{"note":"You may qualify depending on income, household size, disability status, age, location, and other factors. Programs and rules change by state and year — the official link is the authority.","data":[{"key":"211","name":"211","admin":"United Way / local agencies","official":true,"what":"One free, confidential call or website connecting you to local help: food, rent, utilities, shelter, childcare, crisis support. Available across most of the United States, in many languages, usually 24/7.","url":"https://www.211.org/","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"snap","name":"SNAP (food stamps)","admin":"USDA, run by states","official":true,"what":"Monthly grocery money on an EBT card, usable at most grocery stores and many farmers markets.","url":"https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/recipient/eligibility","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"wic","name":"WIC","admin":"USDA, run by states","official":true,"what":"Specific healthy foods, infant formula, breastfeeding support and nutrition help for pregnant/postpartum parents and children under 5.","url":"https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"school-meals","name":"Free & reduced school meals","admin":"USDA / your school district","official":true,"what":"Free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch at school; many districts now serve all students free under community eligibility.","url":"https://www.fns.usda.gov/nslp","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"food-banks","name":"Food banks & pantries","admin":"Feeding America network + local charities","official":false,"what":"Free groceries — often including fresh produce — at pantries in effectively every US county. Most ask at most a name and household size.","url":"https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"tanf","name":"TANF (cash assistance)","admin":"HHS, run by states","official":true,"what":"Temporary monthly cash help for very-low-income families with children, plus work-support services. Amounts and rules vary widely by state.","url":"https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ofa/programs/tanf","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"medicaid","name":"Medicaid","admin":"CMS, run by states","official":true,"what":"Free or very-low-cost health coverage. In many states, coverage can be retroactive up to three months before you applied.","url":"https://www.medicaid.gov/","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"chip","name":"CHIP (children's coverage)","admin":"CMS, run by states","official":true,"what":"Low-cost health coverage for children in families that earn too much for Medicaid but can't afford private insurance.","url":"https://www.insurekidsnow.gov/","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"healthcare-gov","name":"Healthcare.gov marketplace","admin":"CMS","official":true,"what":"Health plans with income-based subsidies. Losing a job or coverage opens a special enrollment period outside the annual window.","url":"https://www.healthcare.gov/","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"health-centers","name":"Community health centers","admin":"HRSA","official":true,"what":"Medical, dental and mental-health care priced on a sliding scale down to $0, insurance or not. Federally funded, in most communities.","url":"https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"ssa","name":"Social Security (retirement & survivors)","admin":"SSA","official":true,"what":"Retirement, survivors and family benefits based on work history.","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"ssi","name":"SSI (Supplemental Security Income)","admin":"SSA","official":true,"what":"Monthly cash for people with very low income AND low assets who are 65+, blind, or disabled — separate from SSDI and no work history required.","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"ssdi","name":"SSDI (disability insurance)","admin":"SSA","official":true,"what":"Monthly benefits for people unable to work due to disability, based on prior work credits. Denials are common; appeals succeed regularly — deadlines matter.","url":"https://www.ssa.gov/disability/","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"unemployment","name":"Unemployment insurance","admin":"DOL, run by states","official":true,"what":"Temporary weekly income after losing work through no fault of your own. Benefits start from FILING date — apply the same week.","url":"https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/unemployment-insurance","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"hud","name":"Housing assistance (HUD)","admin":"HUD","official":true,"what":"Help paying rent: housing choice vouchers (Section 8), public housing and subsidized buildings through local public housing agencies. Waitlists are real; getting ON them early is the strategy.","url":"https://www.hud.gov/topics/rental_assistance","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"hud-counselor","name":"HUD-approved housing counselors","admin":"HUD","official":true,"what":"Free or low-cost advice on eviction, foreclosure, buying, and renting — the legitimate version of every 'housing rescue' ad.","url":"https://www.hud.gov/findacounselor","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"liheap","name":"LIHEAP (energy bills)","admin":"HHS, run by states","official":true,"what":"Help paying heating/cooling bills, crisis help at shutoff, and some weatherization. Seasonal funds — apply early.","url":"https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/programs/liheap","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"weatherization","name":"Weatherization Assistance Program","admin":"DOE, run by states","official":true,"what":"Free home energy upgrades (insulation, sealing, furnace work) that cut bills permanently for income-qualified households.","url":"https://www.energy.gov/scep/wap/weatherization-assistance-program","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"lifeline","name":"Lifeline (phone/internet discount)","admin":"FCC / USAC","official":true,"what":"Monthly discount on phone or internet service for qualifying households — a working number is job-search infrastructure.","url":"https://www.lifelinesupport.org/","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"community-action","name":"Community action agencies","admin":"Local nonprofits (CSBG-funded)","official":false,"what":"County-level agencies bundling emergency funds, utility help, weatherization, job programs, childcare and more under one roof.","url":"https://communityactionpartnership.com/find-a-cap/","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"childcare","name":"Childcare assistance","admin":"HHS / states","official":true,"what":"State childcare subsidies, Head Start (free preschool + services for low-income families), and how to find licensed care.","url":"https://childcare.gov/","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"vita","name":"Free tax prep (VITA/TCE)","admin":"IRS","official":true,"what":"IRS-certified volunteers prepare and file taxes free — and claim credits like the EITC, which can be worth thousands. Past years can be filed too.","url":"https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-qualifying-taxpayers","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"unclaimed","name":"Unclaimed property","admin":"State treasurers (NAUPA)","official":true,"what":"States hold billions in forgotten deposits, refunds, wages and accounts. Searching your name is free; claims are free. Never pay a 'finder.'","url":"https://unclaimed.org/","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"legal-aid","name":"Free legal aid","admin":"Legal Services Corporation network","official":true,"what":"Free civil legal help — evictions, benefits denials, debt lawsuits, family matters — for people who qualify by income.","url":"https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/what-legal-aid/get-legal-help","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"usa-benefits","name":"USAGov benefits finder","admin":"GSA","official":true,"what":"The federal government's plain-language index of benefit programs (successor to Benefits.gov) — food, housing, health, cash, disability.","url":"https://www.usa.gov/benefits","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"findhelp","name":"Findhelp (formerly Aunt Bertha)","admin":"Established nonprofit network","official":false,"what":"ZIP-code search across food, housing, transit, care and legal programs — the widest local-program index outside 211.","url":"https://www.findhelp.org/","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"988","name":"988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline","admin":"SAMHSA","official":true,"what":"Call or text 988 for free, confidential mental-health crisis support, 24/7. Money crises are health crises too.","url":"https://988lifeline.org/","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"dv-hotline","name":"National Domestic Violence Hotline","admin":"Established nonprofit (HHS-funded)","official":false,"what":"1-800-799-7233 (call), text START to 88788, or chat online. Safety planning includes financial safety planning.","url":"https://www.thehotline.org/","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"disaster","name":"Disaster assistance","admin":"FEMA","official":true,"what":"Federal help after declared disasters: housing, repairs, some expenses.","url":"https://www.disasterassistance.gov/","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"va","name":"Veterans benefits","admin":"VA","official":true,"what":"Health care, disability compensation, pensions, home loans, education and homelessness programs for veterans and some family members.","url":"https://www.va.gov/","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"eldercare","name":"Eldercare Locator","admin":"ACL (HHS)","official":true,"what":"Connects older adults and caregivers to local aging services: meals, transport, in-home help, benefits counseling (and SHIP for Medicare help).","url":"https://eldercare.acl.gov/","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"},{"key":"careeronestop","name":"American Job Centers","admin":"DOL","official":true,"what":"Free local job centers: search help, resume workshops, training money (WIOA), and apprenticeship connections.","url":"https://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/AmericanJobCenters/find-american-job-centers.aspx","last_reviewed":"2026-08-14"}]}