Assistance from welfare benefits.
Welfare assistance programs and their benefits come in many forms. There is cash assistance (TANF), free medical care (Medicaid and Medicare), SNAP food stamps and several other entitlements for low income households or families in poverty. Many states also provide their own welfare assistance, or they partner with the federal government on administering these benefits.
Find information below on how to apply. Some of the free welfare programs only help families living in poverty. Other benefits are for the disabled, immigrants, elderly, or certain age groups, including children. Note that states may also call these cash assistance as well as medical programs by different names than the federal government. Some also expedite the application process so that welfare payments can be paid out in an emergency.
Welfare benefits that pay free cash
There are a few services that fall into this category. Maybe the most well known as TANF, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. This welfare benefit is time limited, mandates self-sufficiency in the form of work/job training requirements, and focuses on households with young children. Almost all states offer this or similar cash type financial aid programs. But they are often called different names by each state government. Find welfare office phone numbers.
States receive grants from the federal government. They then process applications in their respective area. Most of the TANF welfare money goes to the very poor and/or families living under government poverty guidelines. The amount of financial aid for paying for bills, including clothing, housing, energy, etc. is limited. But it may be enough to serve as a “bridge” for the welfare recipient to become self-sufficient. Read more TANF cash assistance
Welfare assistance also includes disability. The federal government social security administration, or SSA, provides cash as well as grants to individuals with a disability, whether physical or mental. The beneficiary can still work (so that is not the deciding factor to applying) but SSI as well as SSDI can be helpful. The financial assistance for the disabled, or their version of welfare benefits, can be used to pay for everything from medications to home repairs or other basic living expenses.
Public assistance is another name that is commonly associated with welfare. However the two are not necessarily the same. As public aid is much more extensive, and can include child care vouchers, low income section 8 housing for subsidized rent, LIHEAP for paying utility bills, and much more. But anyone living in poverty, who is considering applying for welfare assistance, should also look into public assistance programs, which is often a complement to welfare entitlements.
While not as common, a couple other “quasi” welfare cash assistance type programs are Social Security payments for the elderly as well as unemployment insurance. Some people consider these benefits, but others call them more social safety net type assistance programs. In either way money will help participants with their bills, with unemployment in particular being an emergency service. For more information a local social service office can provide details on how to apply, income criteria, and much more.
Health care benefits
Welfare can also take care of the medical as well as dental needs of the poor. Or it also helps senior citizens as well as the disabled. The most well known benefit will be Medicaid, which also includes coverage for teenagers and kids through Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Applications are processed by each state government, not the federal level. However they both contribute funds to pay for some of the medical bills that result from the welfare Medicaid benefit. The assistance programs provides coverage to the poor, individuals with limited savings/assets, and households living in poverty. Medicaid is a welfare benefit that in effect gives beneficiaries almost free health care, medications, and similar services. Find more information on Applying for Medicaid.
Medicare is another government backed welfare benefit. This entitlement operates similar to health insurance, but it is government backed. There are different parts to it (A, B, C, D), and each addresses a certain need. Some will help pay for hospital bills. However other aspects of Medicare do so much more as well. There are Parts that assist with general medical bills, provide free medical supplies, help seniors in nursing facilities, and so much more. Part D also provide free prescription assistance programs. For more details or to apply dial 1-800-633-4227.
This is but one health insurance benefit that citizens can look into. The Medicare welfare program mostly will focus on the disabled or seniors. Anyone else, who does not qualify, can explore a host of other health insurance programs, many of which are free. Combining this type of support, with cash assistance from welfare, can improve access to the health care system in the US for the poor and uninsured.
Food from welfare assistance
Very low income families can get help from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This is the main USDA hunger prevention program, and it gives families a stipend each month that can help them buy groceries. The welfare benefit is not the same as cash aid, as an EBT card is used. But food stamp benefits is very similar in that funds are given to each family as a form of welfare assistance.
Tens of millions of families benefit from food stamps. Many others can, but are not aware of the income criteria or even that SNAP can also process applications in an emergency. So there are some welfare assistance programs with shorter application times than others, and food stamps is one of them.
Households can apply for other welfare type programs or entitlements that prevent hunger. There are free school lunches for kids, surplus commodities for the elderly, and many more that are offered by the USDA or state governments. While the federal government may not always call them welfare assistance, some states will refer to them that way. Find a listing of other food assistance programs.