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Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
How To Qualify for Government Help: From Food to Housing
Nearly everyone faces a financial setback at some point — whether a job loss or another crisis that topples the budget. While unemployment benefits can help, they often fall short of covering all the necessities, like rent, mortgage payments, groceries and utilities. Consider This: Find Out: If you're living on a fixed income or need temporary financial relief, you may qualify for government benefits and financial assistance, according to USAGov. However, with so many programs, it can be tricky to know where to start. This guide breaks down where to find and apply for programs offering financial assistance, from food to housing and more. Food assistance is available through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. These benefits are available to low-income individuals and families, with income limits depending on the state in which you live and varying by household size. If approved, participants will be issued an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, where money is deposited to accounts every month. To apply for benefits, visit your local SNAP Office. Learn More: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers food assistance to adults age 60 and older who are within 185% of the federal poverty income guidelines. The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) provides coupons seniors can use at road stands, farmers markets and community farms. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) prepares food packages distributed through local agencies for pickup. Some states offer delivery services, so check with your local or state agency. Seniors insured by Medicare Advantage Part C may be eligible for a Medicare Flex Card for food, transportation and other services, according to However, always read the fine print before enrolling in any health insurance plan to make sure you can afford the premium and understand the terms. Various housing programs can assist with everything from buying a home to helping with repairs and paying rent. Note that some programs have a longer wait list than others. Here are some programs that offer support. Emergency Housing offers short-term housing for people who are facing homelessness, including youth, teens and veterans. Emergency Rent Assistance is available through local and state rental programs. Non-Emergency Rental Assistance includes other housing programs that help with rent, such as Section 8 Housing, subsidized rental housing and rental programs for seniors, people with disabilities and veterans. Home Buying Assistance includes government-backed loans, mortgage assistance and homeownership vouchers for first-time buyers. For emergency assistance with housing or rent, call 211 to learn about programs in your area and to find out if you are eligible. Other housing assistance programs generally have income limits that may vary by location. The government can also provide help with your energy bills, according to USAGov. Financial support can vary from state to state. One program, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), helps beneficiaries pay for cooling and heating bills, as well as emergency services during an energy crisis. Depending on your state, you may also qualify for financial support for your electric bills. More From GOBankingRates Surprising Items People Are Stocking Up On Before Tariff Pains Hit: Is It Smart? How Much Money Is Needed To Be Considered Middle Class in Every State? This article originally appeared on How To Qualify for Government Help: From Food to Housing Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
How To Qualify for Government Help: From Food to Housing
Nearly everyone faces a financial setback at some point — whether a job loss or another crisis that topples the budget. While unemployment benefits can help, they often fall short of covering all the necessities, like rent, mortgage payments, groceries and utilities. Consider This: Find Out: If you're living on a fixed income or need temporary financial relief, you may qualify for government benefits and financial assistance, according to USAGov. However, with so many programs, it can be tricky to know where to start. This guide breaks down where to find and apply for programs offering financial assistance, from food to housing and more. Food assistance is available through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. These benefits are available to low-income individuals and families, with income limits depending on the state in which you live and varying by household size. If approved, participants will be issued an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, where money is deposited to accounts every month. To apply for benefits, visit your local SNAP Office. Learn More: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers food assistance to adults age 60 and older who are within 185% of the federal poverty income guidelines. The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) provides coupons seniors can use at road stands, farmers markets and community farms. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) prepares food packages distributed through local agencies for pickup. Some states offer delivery services, so check with your local or state agency. Seniors insured by Medicare Advantage Part C may be eligible for a Medicare Flex Card for food, transportation and other services, according to However, always read the fine print before enrolling in any health insurance plan to make sure you can afford the premium and understand the terms. Various housing programs can assist with everything from buying a home to helping with repairs and paying rent. Note that some programs have a longer wait list than others. Here are some programs that offer support. Emergency Housing offers short-term housing for people who are facing homelessness, including youth, teens and veterans. Emergency Rent Assistance is available through local and state rental programs. Non-Emergency Rental Assistance includes other housing programs that help with rent, such as Section 8 Housing, subsidized rental housing and rental programs for seniors, people with disabilities and veterans. Home Buying Assistance includes government-backed loans, mortgage assistance and homeownership vouchers for first-time buyers. For emergency assistance with housing or rent, call 211 to learn about programs in your area and to find out if you are eligible. Other housing assistance programs generally have income limits that may vary by location. The government can also provide help with your energy bills, according to USAGov. Financial support can vary from state to state. One program, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), helps beneficiaries pay for cooling and heating bills, as well as emergency services during an energy crisis. Depending on your state, you may also qualify for financial support for your electric bills. More From GOBankingRates Surprising Items People Are Stocking Up On Before Tariff Pains Hit: Is It Smart? How Much Money Is Needed To Be Considered Middle Class in Every State? This article originally appeared on How To Qualify for Government Help: From Food to Housing Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Food banks call on Congress to preserve food aid for 38,000 Pennsylvania seniors
(USDA Photo by Lance Cheung.) A network of food banks and charitable organizations that distributes food from the of Agriculture (USDA) to low-income seniors called on Congress to preserve funding for the program in the upcoming federal budget. Pennsylvania is the fourth-largest recipient of aid under the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), behind California, Texas and Michigan. Cuts to the USDA funding bill would have an outsized impact on the commonwealth, where 38,000 seniors receive monthly food packages through the program, Hunger-Free Pennsylvania said. 'We must at all costs preserve the critical and vital safety net that CSFP provides for our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians – our seniors,' Hunger-Free Pennsylvania Executive Director Stuart I.R. Haniff said. According to the nonprofit Food Research & Action Center, the Trump administration proposes a $425 million cut to eliminate CSFP and replace the aid with Make America Healthy Again Food Boxes, which source food items directly from farmers. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Hunger-Free Pennsylvania, which represents the commonwealth's 18 food banks serving all 67 counties, said funding should be maintained at current levels, at a minimum. 'If Congress fails to fully fund this program, our most vulnerable seniors will lose access to the nutritious food they need to live healthier lives,' Haniff said. The CSFP delivers food packages designed to provide protein, calcium, iron and vitamins A and C to people 60 and older who have an income below 150% of the federal poverty level. For a single-person household, that's about $23,500 a year, according to Hunger-Free Pennsylvania. The network said the program has been a 'resounding success,' recently surpassing 250,000 deliveries through the meal delivery app DoorDash's Project DASH, which allows food banks and pantries to work with DoorDash drivers and technology to distribute aid. 'Often, the contact with a home delivery representative is the only human contact these seniors have – and sometimes the only eyes to check on them and their well-being,' Hunger-Free Pennsylvania said in a statement. The organization's call for attention to the program comes as Pennsylvania officials fight with the Trump administration over the cancellation of an initiative that provides millions of dollars for farmers who provide products for food banks across the state. Along with a threatened lawsuit, Gov. Josh Shapiro has said the Trump administration broke a three-year contract between the federal government and the state. The deal, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program (LFPA), was established in 2021 under President Joe Biden's administration in response to the coronavirus pandemic. It supported about 190 farms and 13 food banks. The latest contract was renewed in the final months of Biden's term. However, Trump's administration confirmed in March that the program was ending, impacting farmers and food banks across the nation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
