Your Guide to Fixed Income Security Benefits

If you're struggling to cover groceries, housing, healthcare, utilities, childcare, or other essential expenses, you may qualify for government assistance or tax benefits. 

These safety net programs help bridge the gap between essential household expenses (such as groceries, housing, medical bills, and utilities) and your monthly take-home pay. Eligibility varies by program and state, but many households qualify for more than one form of assistance.

This guide details how major federal and state assistance programs work, who qualifies, and how to apply.Find the type of help you need

• Need help buying food? Start with SNAP or WIC.
• Need help paying rent? Look into Housing Choice Vouchers and public housing.
• Need help with medical costs? Check Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare, or Marketplace assistance.
• Can't work because of a disability? Explore SSI and SSDI.
• Lost your job? Look into unemployment benefits.
• Have children and a low income? Check the EITC, Child Tax Credit, SNAP, WIC, and childcare assistance.
• Need help paying utility bills? Check LIHEAP.
• Paying for college? Look into Pell Grants and education tax credits.

Not sure where to start?Take our 2-minute quiz to find out which benefits you may qualify for, then get matched with the right tools.Start Free Eligibility Check

 1. Cash & Income Support

Cash assistance can help when your income isn't enough to cover basic expenses such as rent, food, clothing, and utility bills.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) gives cash help to low-income families with children. It can also help parents prepare for work through job training and other services.

States run TANF differently. Federal rules limit payments to 60 total months over a lifetime, but many states set shorter time limits and require you to participate in work activities.

How to Apply: Apply through your state or local benefits office, often called the Department of Human Services, Department of Social Services, or a similar agency.

Social Security Retirement & SSI

Social Security Retirement: Monthly payments based on your work and earnings history. Most people need 40 work credits, or roughly 10 years of work, to qualify. You can generally start retirement benefits at age 62, although claiming before full retirement age reduces your monthly payment.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Monthly cash help for people with limited income and resources who are age 65 or older, blind, or disabled. Children can also qualify based on disability and household financial circumstances.

The maximum federal SSI payment in 2026 is $994 per month for an eligible individual and $1,491 for an eligible couple. Your actual payment may be lower depending on your income, living situation, and other factors. 

2. Benefits for Working Families

Tax credits can reduce the amount of federal income tax you owe. Some are also refundable, which means you may receive money back even if you don't owe much federal income tax.

Child Tax Credit (CTC)

The Child Tax Credit can help families with the cost of raising qualifying children under age 17.

Credit Amount: Up to $2,200 per qualifying child for tax year 2025. Getting Money Back: The CTC itself is generally nonrefundable. However, eligible taxpayers may qualify for the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), which can provide a refundable amount of up to $1,700 per qualifying child for 2025. How to Claim: Complete Schedule 8812 with your federal tax return if required.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) helps workers and families with low to moderate incomes keep more of what they earn.

Credit Amount: For tax year 2025, the maximum ranges from $649 for taxpayers with no qualifying children to $8,046 for taxpayers with three or more qualifying children. Who May Qualify: Your income, filing status, investment income, and number of qualifying children all affect eligibility.How to Claim: File a federal tax return and complete the required EITC schedules if you qualify.

Child Care Assistance

States use federal funding to help eligible families pay for childcare. You may qualify if you're working, looking for work, or attending school or job training.

The amount of help and the application process vary by state.

3. Food Assistance

These programs help families, pregnant women, infants, and children get enough food to eat.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

SNAP, formerly called food stamps, provides monthly food benefits through an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. You can use SNAP at participating grocery stores and other approved retailers.

Income & Eligibility: SNAP eligibility depends on household size, income, allowable deductions, and other factors. Federal rules generally use gross and net income limits, although some states use broader eligibility rules. 

For fiscal year 2026, the gross monthly income limit for a four-person household in the 48 contiguous states and D.C. is $3,483. The maximum monthly benefit is $994 for a four-person household and $298 for a one-person household. 

Your actual benefit depends on your household's income and expenses. You may receive less than the maximum amount.

How to Apply: Apply through your state's SNAP or human services agency.

 WIC & School Meals

WIC (Women, Infants, and Children): Helps eligible pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5. Benefits can include specific foods, infant formula, nutrition support, and referrals to healthcare services.

School Meals: Free and reduced-price school meal programs help eligible students get breakfast and lunch at school.

4. Healthcare Assistance

These programs can help lower the cost of healthcare and protect families from large medical bills.

Medicaid & CHIP

Medicaid: Provides free or low-cost health coverage for eligible adults, children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with disabilities. Medicaid coverage can include doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, and other services.

Medicaid Expansion: In states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, many adults can qualify based on income, generally up to 138% of the federal poverty level. Rules are different in states that did not adopt the expansion, so check your state's requirements.

CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program): CHIP provides low-cost health and dental coverage for children in families whose income is too high for Medicaid but who may not be able to afford private insurance.

Medicare & Marketplace Assistance

Medicare: Federal health insurance for people age 65 and older and certain younger people with disabilities or specific medical conditions. People receiving SSDI can generally qualify for Medicare after a waiting period, with special rules for conditions such as ALS and end-stage renal disease.

ACA Premium Tax Credit: A refundable tax credit that can lower the cost of health insurance purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace. The amount of help depends on your income and other factors.  

5. Housing & Utility Assistance

Housing and utility programs can help families stay in their homes and keep essential services turned on.

Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)

Housing Choice Vouchers help eligible low-income families, older adults, and people with disabilities pay rent in privately owned housing.

How It Works: Your local public housing agency (PHA) pays part of the rent to the landlord. You pay the remaining amount. Your share is often based on about 30% of your adjusted monthly income, although the exact amount can vary.How to Apply: Contact your local PHA. Waiting lists are common, and some communities may have limited openings.

Public Housing

Public housing provides affordable rental homes and apartments managed by local housing authorities. Eligibility is generally based on income, household size, and other factors.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps eligible households pay heating and cooling costs. It may also provide emergency help when a utility is at risk of being shut off.

Eligibility and benefit amounts vary by state. 

6. Disability & Employment Support

These initiatives provide vital financial aid and resources to individuals facing disabilities or job-related challenges. Programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) offer monthly payments based on need and prior contributions, respectively.

SSI vs. SSDI

Other Income Support

Unemployment Insurance: Provides temporary weekly payments to eligible workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. Each state sets its own eligibility rules.

Workers' Compensation: Provides benefits to workers who get hurt or sick because of their job. Benefits may include medical care and partial wage replacement.

State Disability Insurance (SDI/TDI): Some states provide short-term payments for people who cannot work because of a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. Programs are available in states including California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island.

7. Education, Savings & Tax Benefits

Government grants and tax credits can help make college more affordable and encourage people to save for retirement.

Pell Grants

Pell Grants provide federal financial aid to eligible undergraduate students with significant financial need. Unlike most student loans, Pell Grants generally do not have to be repaid.

American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC)

The AOTC can provide a tax credit of up to $2,500 per eligible student for qualified education expenses during the first four years of higher education. Up to $1,000 may be refundable. 

Saver's Credit

The Saver's Credit may help low- and moderate-income workers who contribute to an IRA or employer-sponsored retirement plan.

The maximum credit is $1,000 for an individual or $2,000 for married couples filing jointly, although your actual credit depends on your income and contribution. 

Child and Dependent Care Credit

The Child and Dependent Care Credit can help offset qualifying childcare or dependent-care costs that allow you to work or look for work.  

Next Steps: How to Claim Your Benefits

1. Run a Full Screening: Visit the USA.gov Benefit Finder to check eligibility across 1,000+ federal and state options in under 10 minutes.
2. Gather Documents: Prepare your most recent tax returns, pay stubs, government IDs, and utility bills.
3. Contact Local Offices: Submit applications directly to your state’s Department of Social Services or the IRS (for tax credits).

Government assistance can take time to apply for, and eligibility rules vary by program and state. But even one benefit can make it easier to cover groceries, housing, healthcare, utilities, or other basic expenses.

Laws and administrative procedures can evolve, and compliance matters. BenefitKarma is here to help you stay informed.