Making ends meet in this economy can be tough, especially for the average low-income American family, as the growing inflation has caused many to pursue additional employment to keep food on the table.
Unfortunately, some can’t or don’t have the time to work two or more jobs, forcing them into an adverse situation, financially speaking, which is why government assistance programs were created.
With the help of the many government programs at your disposal, you can get all the help you need with all sorts of expenses, ranging from utility costs to food and housing, and there’s a program designed for every need.
Of course, each of these programs has its qualifications, and you’ll have to submit substantial documentation to verify your status as a low-income individual or family, after which the organization you applied for assistance with will help you to the best of your ability.
Free money?
Ever since the pandemic kicked off to a start, free money from the government took on an entirely new meaning, with COVID relief practically revolutionizing the way Americans can get the help they need.
Naturally, as the pandemic subsided, so did these relief grants, which doesn’t mean you can’t capitalize on the many other assistance opportunities the government has to offer, ranging from loans to grants and bill assistance.
The main difference lies in the fact that everyone got their stimulus check in the mail, whereas these forms of assistance won’t come on their own, and you’ll have to actively seek out help in order to receive it.
We’ll go over some of the government programs that offer help to low-income Americans and give you a crash course on how to apply for them as well as what to expect once you’re accepted.
Utility bills and groceries
Due to the rising cost of living, many Americans have found themselves at a crossroads, having to choose between keeping the lights on or putting food on the table.
The logical answer here is food, considering it’s impossible to live without some form of sustenance, which presents yet another issue, that being the utility costs that will pile on until the company decides to cut you off.
With the help of programs like LIHEAP and SNAP, those problems are a thing of the past, as each of these addresses one of the aforementioned issues.
With LIHEAP, low-income households can get assistance with their heating/cooling costs and other energy-related expenses, including grants for the necessary repairs to their faulty heating systems.
SNAP, on the other hand, is a program focused on offsetting food costs, and it deposits funds into users’ EBT cards to be used on qualifying food products.
Child care
Many families with children spend thousands of dollars on child care every year, and the annual cost for infant care can go from $5k to almost $22k in Washington D.C., which is an amount most families can’t muster up.
With the Child Care Development Fund, the government can try to ease the burden this expense puts on some low-income families, and it’s done by distributing funds to needy families across the nation.
These grants are given out to those who need them the most, which is determined by the family’s income level, and will cover care for children as old as 13.
The best way to get started is to contact the local office of the Child Care Development Fund to find out more about what you can do to apply, whether you meet the eligibility requirements, and how much you could potentially receive in order to help raise your child with ease.
College grants
Education is a right, not a privilege, and every American should be able to afford high-quality education, regardless of their background, upbringing, or income level.
Thankfully, the government appreciates aspiring students and several granting programs have been created in order to give students all the help they need when pursuing knowledge.
The Pell Grant is probably the best-known one out there, and it allows eligible applicants to collect up to $6.
5k for the current academic year, although the maximum amount an applicant can receive is determined by their family’s income level and their academic success in the previous years.
This money can be used to pay for a number of expenses, ranging from attendance and enrolment costs as well as lodging on campus, so use it wisely.
Final word
Free money is all around us, and all it takes is some patience and dedication to collect the money the federal government is ready to offer you.
By applying to these programs, you can make your family’s life a lot easier in these trying times and take a huge load off your shoulders, allowing you to focus on improving your financial well-being and working towards financial stability in the long run.
