The federal government has introduced a vast array of programs designed to provide financial assistance specifically to low-income persons. Low-income grants are being handed out every year, something that Americans deem useful to cover their student debts, rental or housing payments or starting a new business. Besides Social Security and disability benefits, many government agencies assist in providing low-income persons and families their basic needs such as housing, food, medications, even electricity.
If you consider yourself a low-income individual, an adult and a U.S. citizen, you may find yourself eligible to apply for these grants.
Check out these websites will help you find the grant, benefit or loan you’re looking for:
- Benefits.gov is a one-stop resource for securing benefits. The site is affiliated with several federal agencies and organizations that offer improved, personalized access to government benefits and assistance programs.
- Disability.gov also features tons of resources that provide grant information and opportunities for low-income individuals and families, where you are virtually connected to a slew of government agencies, programs and services that can help you seek the financial support in your community.
- Grants.gov is a place where you can seek out and apply for government grants. The site also presents an overview of the process on how to apply for the grants.
The federal government also introduced programs that help low-income individuals and families…
Pay for food
Low-income individuals can get help paying for their food. How? They can apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or formerly known as food stamps) benefits. There is a local SNAP office in every state, city or community so contacting them is easy and within reach. The office must be filed under ‘food stamps’, ‘human services’, ‘social services’ or any similar title.
You can also get in touch with The National Hunger Hotline, which assists people in finding meals and emergency food from food pantries, government programs and grassroots organizations across the country.
The Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) supplies low-income older adults vouchers or coupons that can be exchanged for foods (e.g., fruits and vegetables) at farmers’ markets and community-based agricultural programs.
The Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Child Nutrition Programs include the National School Lunch Program, which affords low-income parents nutritional meals for their children. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) supplies free, nutritious meals and snacks to children in low-income areas.
Pay heating or electric bills
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) aids eligible low-income individuals and families pay for their energy expenses such as heating and cooling bills. Contact the LIHEAP state or territory agency or Indian Tribe or Tribal Organization agency for more information.
The Weatherization Assistance Program also helps low-income families make their homes more energy efficient by reducing their heating and cooling costs. You can learn more about how the process works and see if you’re eligible for the program. To get weatherization assistance, there are several state weatherization agencies available near you.
Pay for housing
Make your home more accessible by applying for grants that can help you with home rehabilitation and repairs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA’s) Single Family Housing Repair program awards loans to very low-income homeowners to repair or upgrade their homes. The program also offer grants to elderly very low-income homeowners to eliminate health and safety hazards.
Additionally, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) introduces grants that are available to service members and veterans with permanent and duty-made disabilities to help them purchase, modify or build a home that accommodates disability.
Pay for phone bills
Lifeline is a government benefit program that supplies a monthly discount of $9.25 per month on a landline or wireless telephone service for low-income customers who are qualified. The federal Universal Service Fund supports this program, which is available in every U.S. state, territories and tribal lands.
