You can ask whether the policy is available in your preferred language in addition to English. Ask your provider how long it takes to process your application for financial assistance, how to get answers to questions about the application, and what happens with your bill in the meantime.

You can tell them to pause collections while that is pending. Follow up with the service provider and its billing department about the status of your application as necessary.

In exchange for nonprofit hospitals being treated favorably under federal tax laws, they are required to follow the requirements for providing help to people who need it. If you suspect the hospital is NOT following these requirements, notify the IRS. Even if a hospital is for-profit or private, they may have a financial assistance policy that can help you pay your medical bills.

Ask your hospital for information about their policy, including the eligibility requirements and how you can apply.

Some states have charity care laws that require hospitals to provide free or discounted care to patients meeting requirements, sometimes based on income. Here are some of the states that provide protections:. Even if your medical bill is in collection or you have been sued for the debt, you may still want to apply for charity care or financial assistance.

You can also request that the debt collector stop collection activity while your application is pending with the hospital. Here is a sample letter that you can use or modify to send to the debt collector.

Telling the debt collector to stop contacting you does not stop the debt collector or the hospital from using other legal ways to collect the debt from you if you owe it. Consumer Assistance Programs. Many states provide help for consumers experiencing problems with their health insurance.

This state map will help you find assistance in your state or territory. State agencies such as your state attorney general and state insurance department or insurance commissioner may also offer helpful information as well as a complaint process.

Legal Services. If you need a lawyer , there may be resources to assist you, and you may qualify for free legal services through legal aid. Searches are limited to 75 characters. Skip to main content. last reviewed: DEC 07, Is there financial help for my medical bills?

English Español. These policies should be widely publicized for example, an easily seen written notice on billing statements and public displays and must include specific information such as: Eligibility criteria for financial assistance and whether the care is free or discounted.

gas, electric, water, phone and internet costs. Up to £ We will aim to pay within 15 working days from application Our team is processing an unprecedented number of applications from staff who need financial support.

To speed up your application please remember to: First find out if you are eligible using our eligibility checker.

Read our FAQs. It will help us process your application faster. Please get your supporting documents ready before you apply. They are listed in our our FAQs.

Once you have started your application, you can create a login. You will be emailed a link to login to finish or check an existing application.

You do not have to pay back any money we give you. Our service is open for applications during the following months: December to January March to April June to July September to October If you would like to discuss your circumstances and get some advice, get in touch with our Grants Team: Grants.

Eligibility check. Find out if you are eligible for a grant. Everyone needs help occasionally. Our friendly, experienced team is here to support you. During Grants FAQs. Who is eligible to apply? We cannot consider your application without this information. You have applied for a grant from us in the past two years.

What types of grants do we offer? These grants do not need to re-paid at any point. What essential documents do I have to provide? Please ensure these statements are in full, showing the covering page showing your name and address.

General living cost grant: A P60 and a payslip either are fine, but we need one from the past two years you have been employed Your most recent two months bank statement on your main account where your salary is credited and essential household bills are paid from.

Universal Credit statement most recent and in full Confirmation of utility arrears if you are applying for help with arrears Please see how to download my bank statement as a pdf under question 8.

How do I use the application form? How long does it take to process of applications? How will payments be made? How do I log back into my application? How to download bank statements as pdfs? What is the maximum amount of grant awards? Food and travel to work grant: each grant is £ Can I apply if I have applied previously?

Is there any other assistance? Funeral costs: We can offer a maximum grant of £ towards funeral costs. Bankruptcy fee of £ Please forward the formal recommendations from the money advice service you have been working with, confirming they have recommended this course of action.

What other organisations might be able to help me? Sign up Get our latest wellbeing resources, events and news straight to your inbox. How can we support you? We're here for you.

Would it help to speak with someone confidentially? Yes, tell me more Help me find information online. How are you feeling? This will help us find the right information for you.

I'm struggling with anxiety I'm feeling stressed or overwhelmed I feel depressed I'm in financial difficulty My personal life is affecting work My physical health is affecting work I'm not sure - show me more.

Here is some information you may find useful. Managing anxiety. Articles 2 mins. Seven strategies for managing anxiety. Videos 18 mins. The building blocks of good mental wellbeing. Guides 12 mins. View all anxiety resources. Guides 2 mins. A guide to meditation for teachers and education staff.

Guides 11 mins. Getting the right work-life balance. Guides 5 mins. View all stress resources. Depression: spotting symptoms and what to do next.

Guides 4 mins. Depression: what you can do in the workplace. Burnout: recognising the signs and protecting yourself. Articles 3 mins. View all depression resources. Our friendly and experienced team is here to help you manage short-term money worries.

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Child Tax Credit income-based Jobseekers Allowance income-related Employment and Support Allowance

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Financial assistance programs - Working Tax Credit Child Tax Credit income-based Jobseekers Allowance income-related Employment and Support Allowance

During a financial crisis, reviewing your financial help options is important to avoid the pitfalls of credit card billing, predatory lenders, and other harmful debt relief solutions.

Follow these tips:. Even with a new budget and a renewed focus, a financial emergency can still make it incredibly difficult to pay monthly bills and stay out of debt. These programs offer government grants, subsidies, and training to help individuals and families looking for emergency money assistance.

You may be able to get help with essential costs from your local council. This can help to cover energy and water bills, food and essential items. You do not have to be getting benefits to get help from your local council.

Each local authority is different in determining who can quality for this. You may be entitled to up to 3 Cost of Living Payments of £, £ and £ if you get any of the following benefits or tax credits on certain dates:. You may also be able to get help in paying for your Council Tax.

You can apply if you own your home, rent, are unemployed or working. There are also numerous nonprofit programs and grants that aim to help people with everything from food and housing t o childcare.

Crowdfunding can become an essential part of your financial recovery. Countless people in your position have turned to online fundraising when they needed emergency financial help right away, whether for a natural disaster or an unexpected illness to share with their friends and social media network.

Rest assured, emergency fundraising for housing costs, utilities, medical bills, and everything in between is easy with GoFundMe. Explore all topics and services. Home Close.

Search USAGOV1. Call us at USAGOV1 Search. All topics and services About the U. and its government Government benefits Housing help Scams and fraud Taxes Travel.

Home Life events Facing financial hardship. Facing financial hardship Learn how to apply for government programs to help with food, bills, housing, and more.

Learn if you qualify for unemployment benefits and how to apply. Find out how TANF, also known as welfare, can help your family through financial challenges.

Find emergency housing and learn how to get emergency rent assistance.

Financial assistance programs - Working Tax Credit Child Tax Credit income-based Jobseekers Allowance income-related Employment and Support Allowance

One such step is to file a report to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or with HUD. In addition to housing programs administered by the federal government, state housing finance agencies and state HUD offices offer special programs, as well.

HUD also funds counseling agencies nationwide that advise on topics related to housing, including buying a home. This table compares basic eligibility requirements for various government homeownership programs, including FICO credit score and debt-to-income ratio requirements.

Department of Housing and Urban Development; U. Department of Veterans Affairs. From emergency food needs to ongoing nutrition assistance, the federal government, in partnership with states, offers free and low-cost food programs for families and individuals.

If you need food quickly, the USDA maintains a National Hunger Hotline—HUNGRY —with information and eligibility requirements available in English and Spanish.

The hotline, which will connect you with emergency food providers, government programs, and social service agencies, operates Monday through Friday from 7 a.

to 10 p. Eastern Time. SNAP previously called food stamps helps needy families supplement their food budget to move toward self-sufficiency.

Eligibility is determined by individual states that administer the program. You apply in the state where you live by contacting your state agency. Some states allow online applications, while others require your physical presence. WIC provides low-income women and their young children with healthy food, nutrition counseling, and referral to health, welfare, and social services agencies.

WIC is a federal grant program administered by the government through 89 WIC agencies and approximately 47, authorized retailers. To be eligible, the mother must be pregnant, nursing, or postpartum up to six months after birth with infants up to a year old or children under the age of five.

There are additional income requirements posted on the WIC FAQ web page. Programs for school-age children include the National School Lunch Program NSLP , the School Breakfast Program SBP , and the Summer Food Service Program SFSP.

Eligibility requirements for all three programs are the same. The federal government sponsors two programs designed to get food to low-income older adults. The Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program SFMNP offers coupons to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs at farmers' markets, roadside stands, and farms.

The Commodity Supplemental Food Program CSFP provides healthy food every month. You must be 60 years of age or older and live in an area that offers either program to apply. Both programs have income limits. For more information, use the USDA's state contacts list. The table below lists eligibility requirements for federal food programs.

Department of Agriculture. Six major government healthcare programs provide medical coveragene for low-income and older Americans, children, veterans, and those who have recently lost their jobs.

Medicare is a federal health insurance program primarily for those 65 and older. Medicare is commonly divided into four parts. Medicare Part A covers for inpatient hospital stays and nursing care. Medicare Part B covers doctor's visits, tests, flu shots, physical therapy, and chemotherapy.

Medicare Part C, otherwise known as Medicare Advantage , is Medicare Parts A and B coverage provided by a private insurer. Medicare Part D is Medicare's prescription drug benefit program, which is an optional benefit administered by private insurance companies.

Medicare is funded through a combination of payroll taxes and participant premiums, deductibles, and copays. Employees and employers each pay a 1. This tax is levied only on employees, not employers.

Medicare's resources are pooled into trust funds: the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund , which funds Part A, and the Supplemental Medical Insurance Trust Fund, which is funded by premiums and other income, and pays for Parts B and D. If you are still working and covered by employer health insurance when you are three months away from your 65th birthday, discuss your Medicare options and requirements with your human resources department.

You can also consult " How to Apply for Medicare Only " on the Social Security website. gov is home to the Health Insurance Marketplace , created by the Affordable Care Act ACA , an Obama administration program designed to make affordable health insurance available to uninsured Americans.

Anyone who doesn't have health insurance can obtain coverage through the Marketplace. Those who fall below certain income limits can receive subsidies that lower the cost of coverage. The Marketplace normally has an annual enrollment period to obtain or change coverage.

For , open enrollment begins November 1, and runs through January 16, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program CHIP are related but have slightly different requirements.

Medicaid is for low-income families and individuals. CHIP is for dependents under age 19 whose parents earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to pay for private health insurance coverage. Both programs are federally funded in part and run at the state level.

Each state has its own rules but must follow federal guidelines. You can apply for Medicaid and CHIP through the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace or your state Medicaid agency. The primary criteria to receive VA healthcare benefits are that you be a military veteran or former member of the National Guard or Reserve who served on active duty and was not dishonorably discharged.

Specific eligibility depends on when you served and for how long. The rules are complicated but well explained on the VA's website. Health coverage under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act COBRA is mandated by federal law for employees and their dependents when they lose their job or experience a reduction in work hours.

One huge downside to COBRA coverage is the cost. When you lose your job, whatever amount your employer was contributing toward your health insurance goes away, and you have to pay the entire cost yourself.

State health departments offer programs in addition to those available at the federal level. Use the USA. gov state health departments link to find out what is offered in your state, information about eligibility requirements, and how to apply.

The primary government retirement programs are Social Security for most citizens 65 and over who qualify through their work history and the Federal Employee Retirement System FERS for certain government employees who are not covered by Social Security.

If you have paid into the Social Security system for at least 10 years, you can apply for Social Security retirement benefits for yourself or as a spouse if you meet the following four requirements:. You can also apply for Medicare when you apply for Social Security if you are within three months of age FERS, which replaced the Civil Service Retirement System CSRS in , provides benefits to civilian government workers through three programs: a Basic Benefit Plan, Social Security, and the Thrift Savings Plan TSP.

Eligibility for FERS benefits is determined by your age and number of years of service. The CSRS and FERS planning and applying websites provide complete information depending on how close you are to retirement.

The Internal Revenue Service IRS sponsors several tax-assistance programs to make federal and, in some cases, state tax filing easier and possibly free.

The process and what you need to have to file are all explained in this Free File infographic. You can get help choosing a product using the Free File Online Lookup Tool.

The fillable forms tool lets you file electronically but does not include state forms. The IRS has two in-person tax assistance programs: the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance VITA program and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly TCE.

Both offer free tax-preparation assistance to qualified individuals. TCE is for citizens aged 60 or older. Small businesses are the beneficiaries of several long-standing government assistance loan programs, most of them originating from the Small Business Administration SBA.

The USDA offers several programs aimed at all sectors of the agricultural community. Programs include farm loans, housing assistance, loans and grants for rural economic development , loans for beginning farmers and ranchers, livestock insurance, and more.

Detailed information on all USDA programs, including how to apply, can be found on the USDA Grants and Loans program web page. The Small Business Lending Fund SBLF , created as part of the Small Business Jobs Act of , is a dedicated fund that provides capital to community banks and community development loan funds CDLFs to encourage those organizations to lend to small businesses.

Federal financial assistance means any grant, loan, contract other than a procurement contract or a contract of insurance or guaranty , or any other arrangement by which the Department provides or otherwise makes available assistance in the form of:.

Medical assistance means medical assistance as established under title XIX of the social security act, 42 USC to w Dependent care assistance program means a benefit plan.

Substantial Assistance means stand-by assistance by another person without which you would not be able to safely and completely perform the ADL.

technical assistance means any technical support related to repairs, development, manufacture, assembly, testing, maintenance, or any other technical service, and may take forms such as instruction, advice, training, transmission of working knowledge or skills or consulting services; including verbal forms of assistance;.

Federal Assistance means a type of federal funding that the Recipient receives through the Underlying Agreement.

Personal assistance services means a range of services provided by one or more persons and designed to assist an individual with a disability to perform, on or off the job, daily living activities that the individual would typically perform if the individual did not have a disability.

Public assistance means Temporary Assistance for Needy Families TANF ; auxiliary grants to the. Legal assistance means provision of legal advice, counseling and representation by an attorney or other person acting under the supervision of an attorney. Government assistance means a grant, loan, or tax increment financing that result in a financial benefit from an agency, commission, instrumentality, or other entity of the District government.

Medication assistance means assistance rendered by a. Medical assistant means an unlicensed person who meets the. Available government assistance means any governmental rental or housing payment benefits available to the individual or any household member.

Resettlement Assistance means the measures to ensure that project affected persons who may require to be physically relocated are provided with assistance such as moving allowances, residential housing or rentals whichever is feasible and as required, for ease of resettlement during relocation.

occasional assistance means any payment or provision made by a local authority, the Welsh Ministers or the Scottish Ministers for the purposes of—. To help us improve GOV. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Cookies on GOV. UK We use some essential cookies to make this website work. Accept additional cookies Reject additional cookies View cookies.

Hide this message. Home Disabled people. Benefits and financial help Includes Disability Living Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance and Attendance Allowance.