Government Benefits Roundup: How to Tell Which Programs Are the Best Fit for You

Unsure which benefits and assistance programs are the right fit for you? Get the basics on the most common government assistance programs below. 

Pro Tip: It’s important to understand that the eligibility requirements for programs can change. For example, some states like North Carolina recently expanded Medicaid options. If you were previously denied assistance through a program, it may be beneficial to see if eligibility requirements have changed since you applied.

Unemployment

One of the most common assistance programs is unemployment insurance, often referred to as unemployment. If you’re laid off from your job, and in some cases if you’re fired, unemployment will supplement your income until you find another position. This program is a public safety net to support people who lose their jobs so they can continue to cover necessary expenses and maintain financial stability.

It’s important to keep in mind that unemployment is not a federally run program, but operates at the state level. If you decide to apply, be sure to follow your state’s requirements for unemployment, which can ask that you’ve:

  • Worked a certain number of hours in the last year
  • Actively been seeking out new employment

If you lose your job, unemployment benefits should be one of the first programs you look into applying for.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop delivers easy-to-understand workforce information that helps job seekers enhance their employment opportunities through a network of 2,300 employment centers. Through CareerOneStop, you can explore career options, find training, search jobs, and find local support. Click here to find an American Job Center in your area.

The organization is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.

Health Care and Health Insurance 

If you’re looking for assistance with medical care for you or a relative, there are a few programs to consider. Medicaid and Medicare both provide low- or no-cost health insurance. Additionally, Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies can reduce your health care costs.

ACA Subsidies

Video: 5 Things About The Affordable Care Act

The ACA was passed in 2010 to make affordable health insurance available to more people. It provides premium subsidies, also referred to as “premium tax credits,” which lower the cost of health insurance premiums for households with low to moderate income. 

It also helps people understand their Medicaid and CHIP eligibility. But even if you’re not eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, you may be eligible for ACA subsidies so it’s important to check your eligibility on healthcare.gov. You can also browse plans and price estimates on the marketplace, and if you create an account, you can see final prices and enroll. 

You can find eligibility details on the healthcare.gov site, but there are a few we want to call out:

  • ACA plans have limited enrollment periods with exceptions for qualifying events. The enrollment period typically starts in November and ends in mid-January. The specific open enrollment dates for each year will always be listed on the healthcare.gov website.
  • It’s important to note that some states (Wyoming, Kansas, Wisconsin, Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Florida) have elected not to expand Medicaid, which means Medicaid eligibility for adults in those states is very low. This creates a gap between the income cut-off for Medicaid and the minimum income for ACA subsidies. That means people who fall into that income gap in those states may not qualify for either program.
  • ACA eligibility is dependent on whether or not the person (or their spouse) is eligible for health care coverage through their employer. 

Medicaid

Medicaid is a health insurance program that provides free health insurance to adults (typically under age 65) and their families who are living on a low-to-moderate income. The Medicaid program is state run, so the income thresholds will vary depending on where you live. If you’re under the age of 65 but live on a low-to-moderate income, you could also qualify for Medicaid. Check your state’s requirements to learn more about applying.

Pro Tip: If you qualify for SSI, you’re automatically eligible for Medicaid.

Medicare

Unlike Medicaid, Medicare is a paid government insurance program. But what makes it beneficial is that the premium you pay for care is typically more reasonable than private insurance. The coverage you can receive under Medicare comes in four types:

  • Part A — Hospital insurance
  • Part B — Medical insurance
  • Part C — Medicare Advantage (a private alternative for Medicare Parts A and B)
  • Part D — Prescription drug coverage

Pro Tip: If you qualify for SSDI, you automatically qualify for Medicare.

If you’re not sure which program to apply for, check your eligibility at healthcare.gov or consider speaking with your local Medicare or Medicaid office. They can also provide additional resources on any qualifying requirements and how you can apply.

CHIP

In the same way that adults and seniors need insurance, children do as well. But sometimes a family may earn too much to qualify for healthcare for their children under Medicaid. This is where the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) steps in. CHIP is a state-run program that will provide your children with low- or no-cost health insurance. In some states it also covers pregnant women. To learn more about CHIP and enroll your child, check with your state to see if you meet the requirements.

WIC

WIC — or the Special, Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children — supports women, infants, and children with their nutritional needs. WIC can assist people living on low-to-moderate incomes and people at nutritional risk to obtain healthy food. If you’re pregnant or caring for young children (under the age of 5), the WIC program is worth exploring. Learn more about the program and requirements at this link.

TANF 

If you’re looking for support covering necessary expenses or buying groceries, TANF, SNAP, and Emergency SNAP are good places to start.

TANF, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, is a federal program that supports families living on low-to-moderate incomes. As a state-run program, TANF assistance typically comes in the form of cash payments. There are also additional services that include:

  • Assistance to families so that children can be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives
  • Job preparation services

To learn more about the TANF program available to you, review your state benefits and qualifications. You can also check out the official website here.

SNAP and Emergency SNAP

SNAP, which stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a federal nutrition assistance program. It provides families and individuals living on low-to-moderate incomes with an electronic benefits card. This card allows program participants to purchase eligible food at authorized stores in the same way as a debit card. To learn more and see if you are eligible, visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/recipient/eligibility. 

There is another version of the SNAP program called D-SNAP or Disaster SNAP. These benefits are available to people living in states where the president has issued an Individual Assistance Declaration in response to a major disaster. This program is for anyone who doesn’t already receive SNAP benefits, but their income has been impacted by a disaster. You can also access D-SNAP if you’re facing certain increased costs as the result of a disaster. Like SNAP, those who receive D-SNAP will get an electronic benefits card to use for purchases.

Caregiver and Dependent Care Benefits

Taking care of loved ones can put a financial burden on the caretaker. If you’re caring for a loved one and are looking for additional support to maintain financial stability, you can:

  • Apply to get paid as a caregiver. These payments come through Medicaid or Medicare, and you can learn more about the program here.
  • Write off some of the dependent care expenses on your taxes. Keep in mind that the Dependent Care tax deduction also applies to daycare costs. To learn more about this tax credit, visit the Dependent Card Credit IRS page here.

If you find yourself in a situation where you’re short on funds but need legal help or advice, there are avenues you can explore to find low- or no-cost legal options in your area. Legal aid services are provided at the state and local level, and you can get assistance with family law issues such as:

  • Divorce
  • Domestic violence
  • Civil law issues such as breach of contract, property damage, landlord disputes, or personal injury

You can also get help with property, employment, and consumer law. Often these programs have income requirements and are reserved for individuals living on low-to-moderate income. If you need legal help, look for legal aid options in your state or community to get started.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974 to provide financial support for civil legal aid to Americans with low income. They can help you find local legal aid support. To search the LSC database and contact a legal aid organization in your area, visit the LSC website here.

Additionally, your state/regional housing development offices may offer support for tenant rights and responsibilities. If you’re not sure where to start, dial 211. In all 50 states, dialing 211 provides a shortcut through what can be a bewildering maze of health and human service agency phone numbers. By simply dialing 211, you can be referred, and sometimes connected to, appropriate agencies and community organizations.

Next Steps

The list above includes just a few of the most common benefits and assistance programs available. There are likely other programs provided by your state or community that you might also want to learn more about.

As you review the programs, be sure to check that you meet the application requirements and that you understand what to do to continue qualifying. Knowing these details can help you get the support you’re looking for to keep taking steps toward your financial health goals.