Unbelievable success stories often start with a person on a government benefit that rises from the ashes. For those of us who witness scarcity, taking steps towards financial independence is challenging and daunting. And that’s where government benefits can help.
We all need help to stand on our own feet, and few of us have the chance to accept it with open arms. The US government provides various benefit schemes to citizens who are in need. These welfare programs provide assistance to families and individuals with low incomes.
An initiative to bring up the lesser privileged strata of the society; Government Benefit Schemes extend from nourishment and sustenance to medical aid, housing and education. Up next we’ve got a list of each kind of essential government benefit available to you.
What Is The Government Benefit For Food?
Food is an essential that all humans should have access to. Unfortunately, it is not the case in many underdeveloped countries in the world. If you live in a developed country like the US then regardless of your income, you can get access to food.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme (SNAP)
Even though food is the most basic necessity of life, some of us find it hard to find the amount of nourishment we need and deserve. For those who need help with sustenance, the government has a scheme called SNAP, which operates under the federal institution.
Snap gives you Electronic Benefits Transfer Cards (EBT cards) so you can get food. These will function somewhat like debit cards with which you can buy eligible food items. You can buy things like vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, bread, and cereals.
General Food Aid Programs
Besides the SNAP program, special assistance schemes are available for senior citizens, pregnant women, and kids under the age of five. Free or subsidized meals are also provided to children at schools or daycare centers. You can learn more on the US Benefits Food Assistance page.
Housing
Having a shelter is a privilege that is imperative for a decent standard of living. And the US Government has the following aids for providing housing facilities to its people.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
This program helps families with low-income pay for room heating and cooling bills. It also helps in reducing home improvement costs by offering more affordable home-enhancements.
Subsidized Housing, Housing Vouchers and Public Housing Programs
This scheme helps senior citizens, specially-abled people, and families with low incomes find shelter. It allows citizens to government-owned or private housing with affordable rent amounts.
Benefit Schemes for Healthcare
It is a widely accepted fact that access to healthcare is the essence of any civilization. This is why federal offices try their best to provide it to eligible citizens free of cost. The following government schemes operate to make healthcare accessible to all.
Medicaid
This scheme offers low-cost or free health benefits to pregnant women, children, seniors, and specially-abled people. Medicaid is administered by states as per the federal requirements. It is funded by both states as well as the federal government.
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
CHIP scheme provides low-cost or free medical and dental facilities to kids who do not have medical insurance. That applies to kids under 19. And those children’s family income should be above the Medicaid limit but below their state’s CHIP limit.
Financial Assistance
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a cash benefit program that provides financial aid to low-income families. The aid comes in the form of Supplemental Security Income through which low-income adults, low-income seniors, and children with disabilities are provided with cash allowances.
Unemployment Benefits
Losing a job is a fatal blow to one’s financial independence. The US has unique state-wide Unemployment Benefit Programs that provide assistance in case you lose your job through no fault of your own. This help includes educational help and self-employment help.
Educational Help
You can grow your knowledge and skills with the various free or low-cost unemployment education and training programs that the federal agencies provide.
Self-Employment Assistance
Self-Employment Assistance programs enable unemployed individuals to create employment for themselves and other people by starting small businesses. This program is offered in states of New York, New Hampshire, Oregon, Mississippi, and Delaware.
Final Notes
Each of us can easily find ourselves in financial situations we never expected. But if you live in a system where the government can help then no need to do so. You can use the system for help. Utilizing these tools can help you get your independence back fast.