- Call or text 211, free, 24/7, nationwide. It connects you to local food banks, emergency shelter, utility assistance, and more based on your zip code.
- If you can't cover everything: pay rent first. Then utilities. Then food. Credit cards, medical bills, and student loans are lower priority than staying housed.
- SNAP (food assistance) eligibility is based on income and household size. A single adult working part-time often qualifies. Apply at benefits.gov.
- Medical bills are negotiable. Ask for the financial assistance/charity care office, not billing. Hospitals are required to have these programs.
- If you carry a federal student loan you can't afford, income-driven repayment can set your payment as low as $0 based on income. Don't just stop paying, that leads to default.
If You're in Crisis Right Now
If you're facing immediate need, no food, nowhere to sleep tonight, utilities being shut off, start here before reading the rest of this page.
- Call or text 211. This is a free, nationwide helpline that connects you to local food banks, emergency shelter, utility assistance, and other services based on your zip code. Available 24/7 in most states. You can also visit 211.org to search by location.
- Food banks don't require proof of need. Most food banks serve anyone who shows up. You don't need to prove your income or explain your situation. To find one near you, call 211 or visit feedingamerica.org.
- Emergency shelters. If you need a place to stay, 211 can direct you to emergency housing in your area. Search "emergency shelter [your city]" as well. Many cities have same-day intake options.
Benefits You May Qualify For
Government assistance programs exist for situations exactly like this. Many people who qualify don't apply because they don't know they're eligible, or feel embarrassed about using these programs. These programs exist because this is what they're for.
SNAP (food assistance)
SNAP, commonly called food stamps, provides a monthly benefit loaded onto an EBT card that works like a debit card at most grocery stores. Eligibility is based on income and household size. A single adult working part-time often qualifies.
You can check your eligibility and apply at benefits.gov or through your state's human services website. Search "apply for SNAP [your state]." Many states now allow online applications and interviews by phone.
Medicaid
If you don't have health insurance and your income is low, you may qualify for Medicaid, which provides free or very low-cost health coverage. Eligibility varies by state. In states that expanded Medicaid under the ACA, single adults with income up to 138% of the federal poverty level qualify. Check eligibility at healthcare.gov or your state's Medicaid office.
If you lost a job and lost insurance with it, you have 60 days from losing coverage to enroll in a Marketplace plan through healthcare.gov. Losing job-based coverage is a qualifying life event that opens a special enrollment window.
Utility assistance (LIHEAP)
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps with heating and cooling bills. It's run at the state level, so eligibility and benefit amounts vary. Apply through your state's LIHEAP office. Search "LIHEAP [your state]" or call 211 for local contacts. Funds are often limited and distributed seasonally, so apply as soon as you know you need help rather than waiting until you're shut off.
WIC
If you're pregnant, recently gave birth, breastfeeding, or have children under five, WIC provides monthly benefits for specific nutritious foods, as well as referrals to healthcare and support services. Contact your local health department or search "WIC [your state]."
Emergency rental assistance
Many counties and cities have emergency rental assistance programs, especially for people facing eviction. Availability and eligibility vary widely by location. Call 211 or search "emergency rental assistance [your county]" to find programs near you. Apply early. These programs often have waitlists or limited funding.
Other programs worth knowing
- Free or reduced-cost phone service. Lifeline is a federal program that provides discounted phone or internet service for people with low incomes. Search "Lifeline program" to find participating providers in your area.
- Free tax filing and the EITC. If you worked and had low income, you may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, a refundable tax credit that can result in a significant refund. File for free through the IRS Free File program. Many people who qualify don't file because they think they don't owe taxes, and miss the credit entirely.
- Community action agencies. These local organizations provide a wide range of emergency assistance: rent, utilities, food, transportation, job training. They can often connect you to programs you wouldn't find on your own. Call 211 to find yours.
When You Can't Pay Everything
When income doesn't cover all your bills, the order in which you pay matters. This is triage, not a permanent plan, and some of these decisions have consequences. They're manageable ones. Others aren't.
1. Rent or mortgage first. Losing housing creates cascading problems that are harder to recover from than any other financial shortfall. Pay this before anything else.
2. Utilities: heat and electricity. These affect your ability to live and work. Call the utility company before you miss a payment. Most have hardship programs and cannot shut off service without notice.
3. Food. If SNAP doesn't cover your needs, food banks exist for exactly this. Use them.
4. Transportation to work. If you need a car to keep your job, insurance and fuel come before credit cards and medical bills.
5. Everything else. Credit cards, medical bills, student loans, and subscription services are lower priority than keeping yourself housed, warm, fed, and employed. Credit card companies can work with you. Medical providers will negotiate. Student loans have deferment options. None of these will remove you from your home.
Negotiating With Creditors and Providers
Most creditors and medical providers would rather work with you than lose the payment entirely. Calling before you miss a payment almost always goes better than calling after.
Medical bills
Hospital bills are among the most negotiable expenses that exist. A few things most people don't know:
- Hospitals are required by law to have financial assistance programs (charity care). Ask for the financial assistance office, not the billing department. You may qualify for significant reduction or complete forgiveness depending on your income.
- You can negotiate the bill itself. Uninsured rates are inflated. Ask what the Medicare rate for the service is and offer to pay that. Hospitals often accept it.
- Payment plans are almost always available with no interest. Ask for one. Most providers would rather receive $50 a month indefinitely than send the account to collections.
- Medical debt sent to collections has less impact on your credit than it used to. As of 2023, paid medical collections under $500 no longer appear on credit reports, and the major bureaus have reduced the impact of medical debt generally. It's still worth addressing, but it's not the emergency it once was.
Credit cards
If you can't make your minimum payment, call your card issuer before you miss it. Most have hardship programs that temporarily reduce your interest rate or minimum payment. These aren't advertised. You have to ask. Say you're experiencing financial hardship and ask what options are available. The answer is often better than you'd expect.
Student loans
Federal student loans have several options that pause or reduce your payments without damaging your credit:
- Deferment: temporarily pauses payments for situations including unemployment, economic hardship, and enrollment in school. Interest may continue to accrue on unsubsidized loans.
- Forbearance: also pauses payments, typically for up to 12 months at a time. Interest accrues on all loans.
- Income-driven repayment (IDR): caps your monthly payment at a percentage of your discretionary income. If your income is low enough, your payment can be $0 without going into default.
Contact your loan servicer or visit studentaid.gov to explore these options. Don't just stop paying. That leads to default, which has serious consequences.
Utilities
Call before you're shut off. Most utility companies are required to offer payment plans and have programs for customers in hardship. Ask specifically about a "low-income rate" or "budget billing." They may also be able to connect you to LIHEAP or other assistance programs you aren't aware of.
Free Resources Worth Knowing
- 211.org: Call or text 211 or search online. The most reliable way to find local assistance for food, housing, utilities, healthcare, and more.
- benefits.gov: Search for federal and state benefit programs you may qualify for.
- needhelppayingbills.com: State-by-state directory of assistance programs for bills, food, housing, and healthcare.
- lawhelp.org: Free legal aid resources by state, including help with landlord disputes, debt collection, and benefits appeals.
- Your local library: Free internet, job search resources, notary services, and often connections to social services. Underused by most people who need them.
A Note on Shame
Most financial hardship isn't the result of bad decisions. It's the result of wages that haven't kept up with costs, medical events that nobody budgets for, job losses that weren't voluntary, and systems that weren't designed to make this easy to navigate. The programs on this page were created because these situations are common and because people need help that isn't their fault to need.
Using a food bank, applying for SNAP, or calling 211 doesn't say anything negative about your character. It says you're dealing with a difficult situation and you're trying to handle it. That's the right move.