Federal benefit programs
73 federal programs available to residents of every state, from Social Security and VA benefits to tax credits and college grants.
Health
CHIP: health insurance for childrenFree service or coverageFree or low-cost health coverage for children, including checkups, shots, dental care and hospital care.Who qualifies: Children under 19 (and in some states pregnant women) in families that earn too much for Medicaid but can't afford private insurance.Community health centersFree service or coverageMedical, dental, mental health and pharmacy care with fees on a sliding scale based on income, even without insurance.Who qualifies: Anyone, with or without insurance; fees are lower for people with lower income.Extra Help with prescription costsFree service or coverageLowers Medicare Part D premiums, deductibles and drug copays.Who qualifies: People with Medicare drug coverage who have limited income and savings.Medicare enrollmentFree service or coverageFederal health insurance starting at age 65, or earlier for some people with disabilities.Who qualifies: People 65 and older, and younger people who have received disability benefits for a set time.Marketplace health insurance with premium tax creditsTax breakPrivate health plans, with tax credits that lower monthly premiums for many moderate-income households.Who qualifies: People without affordable job-based coverage or Medicaid; tax credits depend on household income.988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and Veterans Crisis LineFree service or coverageFree, confidential support 24/7 by call or text to 988. Veterans press 1.Who qualifies: Anyone in emotional distress or crisis, and people worried about someone else.Ryan White HIV/AIDS ProgramFree service or coverageMedical care, medicines and support services for people living with HIV who have low income or no insurance.Who qualifies: People living with HIV who have low income or limited insurance.
Housing & property
Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)Free service or coveragePays part of your rent to a private landlord, so you pay about 30% of your income toward rent.Who qualifies: Households with very low income, usually under half of the local median; local housing agencies set waitlists and priorities.Free HUD-approved housing counselingFree service or coverageFree or low-cost advice on renting, buying a home, avoiding foreclosure and dealing with an eviction.Who qualifies: Anyone renting, buying, behind on a mortgage, or facing eviction or foreclosure; counseling is free or low cost.Public housingFree service or coverageAffordable rental homes owned by local housing agencies, with rent based on your income.Who qualifies: Households with low income, seniors and people with disabilities; local housing agencies set income limits and waitlists.VA home loanLoan, must be repaidBuy a home with no down payment and no private mortgage insurance. Funding fee waived for disabled veterans.Who qualifies: Veterans, service members and some surviving spouses with enough service time.USDA direct home loans for rural areasLoan, must be repaidLow-interest home loans with no down payment for families with low income in eligible rural areas.Who qualifies: Families with low income buying a home in an eligible rural area who can't get a regular mortgage.USDA home repair loans and grants (Section 504)ConditionalLow-interest repair loans, and repair grants for homeowners 62+, in eligible rural areas.Who qualifies: Homeowners in eligible rural areas with very low income; grants are for those 62+.VA adapted housing grantsFree moneyGrants to build, buy or modify a home for certain service-connected disabilities.Who qualifies: Veterans with specific serious service-connected disabilities, such as loss of mobility.
Utilities
Weatherization Assistance ProgramFree service or coverageFree home energy upgrades, like insulation, sealing leaks and furnace repairs, to lower your energy bills for good.Who qualifies: Homeowners and renters with low income, with priority for seniors, people with disabilities and families with children.Lifeline phone or internet discountDiscountA monthly discount on one phone or internet service.Who qualifies: People with low income, or who get SNAP, Medicaid, SSI or a VA pension.
Money & taxes
Child Tax CreditTax breakA tax credit for each child under 17, partly refundable for working families.Up to $2,200 per childWho qualifies: Taxpayers with children under 17 who have a valid Social Security number.Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)Free moneyA tax credit that can mean a refund of several thousand dollars, even if you owe no tax.Up to $8,046 · avg. $2,894Who qualifies: Workers with low to moderate income; the credit is largest for families with children.Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)Free moneyMonthly payments if a disability keeps you from working, based on your work history.Up to $4,152/mo · avg. $1,630/moWho qualifies: People who can't work because of a long-term disability and have enough work history.Social Security retirement benefitsFree moneyMonthly retirement income based on your work record, starting as early as 62.Up to $4,152/mo · avg. $2,071/moWho qualifies: People 62 and older who worked and paid Social Security taxes long enough.Supplemental Security Income (SSI)Free moneyMonthly payments for people 65+ or disabled with very limited income and savings.Up to $994/mo · avg. $739/moWho qualifies: People 65+, blind or disabled, with very limited income and savings.Child and Dependent Care CreditTax breakA tax credit for part of what you pay for child care so you can work.Who qualifies: Working parents who pay for child care so they can work or look for work.Free tax preparation (VITA)Free service or coverageCertified volunteers prepare and file your taxes for free. People 60 and older can also use Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE), including AARP Tax-Aide sites.Who qualifies: People with low to moderate income, people with disabilities and limited-English speakers.IRS Free FileFree service or coverageFree brand-name tax software to file your federal return online, and sometimes your state return too.Who qualifies: Taxpayers with income under the yearly IRS Free File limit.Social Security survivors benefitsFree moneyMonthly payments for widows, widowers and children of workers who died.Avg. $1,919/mo for a widow(er)Who qualifies: Widows, widowers and children of workers who paid into Social Security.Credit for the Elderly or DisabledTax breakA federal tax credit for people 65+ or retired on permanent disability with low income.Who qualifies: People 65+, or retired on permanent disability, with low income.Find lost savings bonds (Treasury Hunt)Free moneySearch for old savings bonds that have stopped earning interest and were never cashed.Who qualifies: Anyone who owns, or inherited, U.S. savings bonds.Free credit reportsFree service or coverageFree credit reports from all three bureaus, the only site authorized by federal law.Who qualifies: Everyone.Low Income Taxpayer ClinicsFree service or coverageFree or low-cost help with IRS disputes, audits and tax debt for people with low income.Who qualifies: Taxpayers with low income who have a dispute with the IRS, and people who speak English as a second language.Saver's CreditTax breakA tax credit for putting money into a retirement account like a 401(k) or IRA.Who qualifies: Workers with low to moderate income who save in a retirement account.
Veterans
GI Bill education benefitsFree moneyPays tuition, fees and a housing allowance for college, trade school or apprenticeships.Who qualifies: Veterans and service members with qualifying active-duty service, and some family members.VA disability compensationFree moneyTax-free monthly payments for conditions connected to your military service.Up to $3,939/mo · starts at $180/moWho qualifies: Veterans with an injury or illness connected to their military service.VA health careFree service or coverageMedical care at VA medical centers and community clinics, often at little or no cost.Who qualifies: Veterans who served on active duty and meet basic service requirements.Education benefits for veterans' children and spouses (DEA)Free moneyMonthly education payments for children and spouses of veterans permanently and totally disabled from service.Who qualifies: Children and spouses of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled or died from service.VA family caregiver programFree moneyA monthly stipend, training and health coverage for family members caring for seriously injured veterans.Who qualifies: Family caregivers of veterans with a serious service-connected disability.VA help for homeless veteransFree service or coverageHelp finding housing, rent help, health care and job services for veterans who are homeless or about to lose housing. Call 877-424-3838, any time.Who qualifies: Veterans who are homeless or at risk of losing their housing, and their families.VA pensionFree moneyMonthly payments for wartime veterans 65+ or disabled with limited income and assets.Up to $17,441/yrWho qualifies: Wartime veterans 65+ or with a disability, with limited income and assets.VA survivor benefits (DIC and survivors pension)Free moneyMonthly payments for surviving spouses and children of veterans who died from a service-connected condition, or of wartime veterans.Who qualifies: Surviving spouses and children of veterans who died from service or of wartime veterans.Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E)Free service or coverageJob training, education, job placement and help starting a business for veterans with service-connected disabilities.Who qualifies: Veterans with a service-connected disability rating and an employment handicap, and some service members.VA burial benefits and memorialsFree service or coverageBurial in a national cemetery, a free headstone or marker, a burial flag and help with burial costs for eligible veterans.Who qualifies: Families of veterans, and veterans planning ahead.VA life insuranceFree service or coverageLife insurance options for veterans, including coverage for veterans with service-connected disabilities.Who qualifies: Veterans, service members and their families.Vet Center counselingFree service or coverageFree, confidential counseling for veterans, service members and families, outside the VA hospital.Who qualifies: Combat veterans, certain other service members and veterans, and their families.
Seniors
Eldercare LocatorFree service or coverageConnects you with local help for older adults, like meals, rides, in-home care and caregiver support. Call 1-800-677-1116.Who qualifies: Older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers.Free Medicare counseling (SHIP)Free service or coverageFree, unbiased one-on-one help choosing Medicare plans and finding programs that lower Medicare costs.Who qualifies: People with Medicare, their families and caregivers.National parks passesDiscountLifetime senior pass, free access pass for permanent disability, or free military pass for veterans. Good at national parks and other federal recreation sites.Who qualifies: Seniors 62+, veterans, and people with a permanent disability.
Family & children
Child support servicesFree service or coverageHelp finding a parent, establishing paternity, setting up a child support order and collecting payments.Who qualifies: Parents and caregivers raising children who need help getting child support.Head Start and Early Head StartFree service or coverageFree preschool, child development and family support for children under 5.Who qualifies: Children under 5 from families with low income, plus some with disabilities or in foster care.Adoption tax creditTax breakA tax credit for adoption costs such as fees, court costs and travel, with a larger credit for adopting a child with special needs.Who qualifies: Families who adopted a child or are in the process of adopting, under the income limits.
Jobs & school
FAFSA: free application for college aidFree service or coverageOne free form that opens the door to Pell Grants, work-study, federal student loans and most state and school aid.Who qualifies: Students going to college, career school or graduate school.Federal Pell GrantFree moneyCollege aid that never has to be repaid, used at community colleges, universities and trade schools.Up to $7,395/yr · avg. $4,511/yrWho qualifies: Undergraduate students with financial need, based on the FAFSA.American Job CentersFree service or coverageFree help finding a job, writing a resume and paying for job training, at local career centers.Who qualifies: Anyone looking for work or training.American Opportunity Tax CreditTax breakA tax credit of up to $2,500 a year per student for the first four years of college; up to $1,000 can come back as a refund.Who qualifies: Students in their first four years of college, or parents paying for them, under the income limits.Income-driven student loan repaymentFree service or coverageFederal student loan payments based on your income and family size, which can be as low as $0 a month.Who qualifies: People with federal student loans whose payments are high compared with their income.Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)Free service or coveragePaid part-time training at community organizations for older workers, to help them get back into a job.Who qualifies: People 55 and older who are unemployed and have low income.Federal student loansLoan, must be repaidLow-interest loans for college with income-based repayment options.Who qualifies: Most college students enrolled at least half time.Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)Free moneyA college grant of $100 to $4,000 a year for students with the greatest financial need. It doesn't have to be repaid.Who qualifies: Undergraduate students with exceptional financial need, at participating schools.Federal Work-StudyFree moneyPart-time jobs for college students with financial need, to help pay school costs.Who qualifies: College students with financial need, at participating schools.Job CorpsFree service or coverageFree job training and education for young people, often with housing, meals and health care included.Who qualifies: Young people ages 16 to 24 with low income.Lifetime Learning CreditTax breakA tax credit of up to $2,000 a year for tuition, including graduate school and classes to improve job skills.Who qualifies: Anyone paying for college or job-skills courses, under the income limits.Public Service Loan ForgivenessConditionalForgives remaining federal student loans after 10 years of payments while working for government or a nonprofit.Who qualifies: People with federal student loans working full time for government or a nonprofit.Registered apprenticeshipsFree service or coveragePaid jobs where you earn while you learn a skilled trade or career, with a recognized credential at the end.Who qualifies: Job seekers 16 and older; each program sets its own requirements.
Legal & safety
National Domestic Violence HotlineFree service or coverageFree, confidential help 24 hours a day by phone (1-800-799-7233), text (send START to 88788) or chat, including safety planning and shelter referrals.Who qualifies: Anyone experiencing abuse, and people worried about someone else.Free civil legal aidFree service or coverageFree lawyers for people with low income facing eviction, foreclosure, domestic violence, debt collection or benefit denials.Who qualifies: People with low income who need help with a civil legal problem, like eviction, debt, benefits or family law.Disaster assistanceFree moneyGrants for temporary housing and home repairs after a federally declared disaster.Who qualifies: People affected by a federally declared disaster.SBA disaster loans for homes and personal propertyLoan, must be repaidLow-interest loans to repair or replace a home and belongings damaged in a declared disaster, for renters as well as owners.Who qualifies: Homeowners, renters and businesses in a declared disaster area.
Business
Food
Free food from local food pantries (TEFAP)Free moneyFree groceries from local food banks and pantries, supplied by USDA.Who qualifies: Households with low income; states set the income limits.Senior food boxes (Commodity Supplemental Food Program)Free moneyA free monthly box of healthy groceries for seniors with low income.Who qualifies: People 60 and older with low income.Summer EBT (SUN Bucks)Free moneyMoney for groceries during summer break for school-age children, loaded on an EBT card. Not every state takes part.Who qualifies: School-age children whose families have low income, including those who get free or reduced-price school meals.Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition ProgramFree moneyCoupons or cards to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers' markets and roadside stands during the season.Who qualifies: Seniors 60 and older with low income, in states and tribes that offer it.
Disability
Student loan discharge for disabilityFree moneyCancels federal student loans for people who are totally and permanently disabled.Who qualifies: People with federal student loans who have a total and permanent disability, including veterans rated unemployable.Ticket to WorkFree service or coverageFree job help for people on disability benefits, with protections for your benefits and Medicare or Medicaid while you try working.Who qualifies: People 18 to 64 who get Social Security disability benefits (SSDI or SSI) and want to work.iCanConnect (free equipment for deaf-blind people)Free service or coverageFree phones, computers, tablets and training so people who are deaf-blind can stay connected.Who qualifies: People who have both significant vision loss and hearing loss and meet income rules.