In this economy, a lot of individuals find themselves in need of financial support just to try and make ends meet, provide for their families, afford medical expenses, and much more. Luckily, the government does a decent job of providing various funding opportunities to people in need. These options include grants, programs, and other financial solutions but perhaps the biggest issue people have is locating reliable resources. There are a ton of sites out there that appear to be trustworthy but end up leading to dead ends. Well, that stops here. Let’s take a look at a few of the programs available and how to go about applying for them. If you’re ready to get the financial support you need, continue reading.

TANF

The main financial assistance program that the government offers is known as TANF, which stands for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. There are a lot of individuals that get confused because the name of the program varies based on where you live, but the benefits provided are fairly similar. Depending on the state, this program may also be known as Family Assistance, Family Achieving Independence, Family First, etc. With a quick online search, you can find out what the assistance program in your state is called. This option is designed to aid low-income families until they can get back on their feet. It does come with a maximum limit of 60 months ( 5 years). Families who qualify will be given a monthly cash allowance which is dependent on their location, income, and the size of the family. It generally ranges from $170 – $2,000. The funds will be distributed via an EBT card and can be spent on basic needs, shelter, transportation, and child care. The funds are available to families who reside in the United States, the District of Columbia, the territories, as well as American Indian Tribes. To qualify for this program you need to:

  • Reside in the state you apply from
  • Be a U.S. citizen or legal resident 
  • Be unemployed, or have a very low income
  • Have a child 18 years old (or younger) or are pregnant

You should verify that you meet these eligibility requirements before you apply. If you do qualify, you will be required to go through your state and specific counties’ Department of Human Services/Social Services. You can find your district by conducting a simple google search. Once you figured out which district you need to apply with, you can do so in person or via mail. It would be my personal recommendation to do it in person, especially if you’re looking to expedite the process and make sure the district actually receives it. After you’ve applied, you need to call to set up a date and time for an interview. This is to verify that the information you provided is accurate and to double-check and make sure that you are indeed eligible. This will require you to provide proper documentation.

You can find a list of everything you should have prepared for the interview here: https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/hra/downloads/pdf/benefits/eligibility_factors_and_suggested_documentation_guide.pdf.

During this interview, it would be a good idea to express whether or not you need emergency assistance. You will be notified via a decision letter within 30 days. This will let you know if you were accepted and also the total amount of funding that you’ll qualify for. Regardless of the decision, the letter also provides you with a few more assistance options that may possibly be able to help you.

Covid-19 Stimulus Check For Individuals

The pandemic is responsible for the cause of a lot of financial hardships which has resulted in three third stimulus packages released that 85% of all US households qualified for. The total amount was based on your 2019 or 2020 tax return with the highest amount of funding reaching $1400. Individuals who qualify:

  • Are a child dependent that is permanently or temporarily disabled.
  • Are a child dependent who is under 24 and is a student.
  • Are a child dependent who is 18 years old (or younger)
  • Are a couple who are filing jointly and have an adjusted gross income of $150,000
  • Are the head of the household with and have an adjusted gross income of up to $112,500
  • Have an adjusted gross income of up to $75,000

The funds are generally sent via direct deposit or mail and were received sometime in the middle of March to early April of 2021. You can track the progress of your stimulus online.

Since these are programs from the government, you won’t be charged any fees for any of these services. The purpose of these programs is to provide you and your family with financial support and peace of mind.

HEAP

This program, also known as the home energy assistance program, is meant to assist low-income individuals or families pay the cost of heating for their homes. Failure to properly heat your house can lead to unsafe living conditions as well as health problems. It is important to know that this program is federally run and is free, so beware of scams and individuals who are trying to charge you. Eligibility for this program requires that:

  • You and the members of your household are US citizens or qualified aliens.
  • Everyone in your household has a social security number.
  • You receive Supplemental Security Income, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance, or Temporary Assistance
  • Your household’s gross monthly income is at or below the current income requirements for your household size

If you’d like to apply online you can start by finding your state’s program. If you’d like to speak with someone directly or if you have any questions, you should call 202-401-9351. Once you find your specific application, you’ll be required to answer personal questions about yourself, the people you live with, your income, etc. so it’s a good idea to make sure you are specific because they’ll require proof. These are a few of the documents you should have handy:

  • Birth Certificate
  • Documentation of a disability for anyone in your household
  • Driver’s License
  • Passport
  • Photo ID
  • Proof of residency
  • School record

Once you complete your application and submit it, you will be notified within 30 business days if you qualify for assistance. If you do qualify, the benefit will go either directly to the heating vendor or straight to the utility company. Let it be known that you can apply for HEAP every year as long as the program is open.

Benefits.Gov

This site is designed to match you with programs that you qualify for. These programs provide financial assistance for taxes, living assistance, insurance, and even loan repayment. When you visit the site https://www.benefits.gov/, click on “start benefit finder”. After you do this, it will ask you a series of questions to give them a better idea of your specific situation and see what programs apply to you. It’s important that you answer each question truthfully and to the best of your ability. Once you’ve completed this step, all the programs you are eligible for will be disclosed to you. You can click on “expand” to get more help within the category you’re seeking assistance for. In this case, you would want to open up the financial assistance section to get an idea of what benefits you’re able to apply for. Click on the program that matches closely with your needs and the site will provide you with more details on the program and give you the link needed for the application. The program will also give you a phone number; it’s important to call and speak directly to someone concerning your situation. Doing so could expedite the application process thus granting you more specific details.

Unemployment Assistance

The government provides unemployment compensation to help you financially if you were the unfortunate victim of recent layoffs. The amount of funding is decided based on your total earnings and the state you live in. For 26 weeks, you will receive funds weekly. Eligibility for unemployment benefits requires that you:

  • Are actively seeking new employment
  • Are out of work for reasons beyond your control
  • Meet work and wage requirements

The eligibility requirements vary slightly from state to state, even though they are similar, you need to make sure you qualify within your state. To start your application and see the specific requirements of your state, you can search online. Simply look up your state and with any luck, you will be directed to the correct online application. Typically, you’ll want to file your unemployment claim as soon as you lose your job, but the deadline is within 21 days. If your file after the 21 days is up, there is a good chance that your claim will ultimately be denied. When filling out the application make sure you have your:

  • Driver’s License
  • Mailing Address
  • Name and address of employers you worked for in the past 2 years
  • Recent pay stubs or W-2 form
  • Social Security Number
  • Telephone Number

Once your application is submitted, you’ll receive a notification within 2-3 weeks, letting you know if your claim was approved. Before you receive your first payment, you’ll have the option to choose between direct deposit or a debit card that your state will send you via the mail. You are then responsible for filing every week to continue certifying your unemployment benefits. To do this, all you need to do is log back into the portal where applied and select “certify benefits”. After that, you’ll need to answer a few quick questions such as, are still unemployed and whether or not you are actively seeking a job. By certifying those statements are true, you will continue to receive your weekly benefits. Because of the pandemic, certain people who qualified for unemployment assistance should have received an additional $300 weekly payment until March 14, 2021. This government financial assistance program will aid individuals in maintaining their financial stability.