Benefits Programs

The ACA Health Insurance Marketplace helps 22.8 million Americans get coverage with premium tax credits. If your household income falls between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level, you may pay as little as $50 per month for a quality health plan.

The Child Care and Development Fund helps 1.4 million children each month by subsidizing child care costs for working families. Families earning below 85% of their state median income may qualify, with copays capped at 7% of household income.

The Child Tax Credit gives families up to $2,200 per child under 17 on their federal tax return. About 40 million families claim it each year. Up to $1,700 per child is refundable, even if you owe no federal income tax.

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) puts up to $8,046 back in the pockets of working families at tax time. About 24 million workers claimed roughly $70 billion in EITC in tax year 2024.

Head Start and Early Head Start provide free early education, health services, and family support for children ages 0 to 5 in low-income families. The program served over 800,000 children in the 2023-2024 program year at no cost to families.

Lifeline is the FCC program that gives low-income households up to $9.25 off their monthly phone or internet bill. Over 8 million Americans use it, and you can qualify through income below 135% FPL or enrollment in programs like SNAP or Medicaid.

LIHEAP helps low-income households pay heating and cooling bills. About 6 million households receive assistance each year, with benefits typically ranging from $200 to $2,000 per season.

Medicaid provides free or low-cost health coverage to over 90 million Americans. In the 40 states that expanded Medicaid, adults with income below 138% FPL can qualify. Coverage includes doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, and mental health services.

Medicare Savings Programs help low-income Medicare beneficiaries pay premiums, deductibles, and copays. An individual earning under $1,816/month may qualify, saving up to $2,435 per year on Part B premiums alone.

Medicare is federal health insurance for Americans 65 and older and people with certain disabilities. About 65 million people are enrolled, with a standard Part B premium of $202.90 per month in 2026.

Federal Pell Grants give undergraduate students up to $7,395 per year for college. About 6 million students receive Pell Grants each year, and the money never has to be repaid.

Federal, state, and local rental assistance programs help tenants who spend more than 30% of income on rent. About 22.4 million U.S. renter households are cost-burdened. Most programs serve households earning below 50% of area median income.

The National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs serve nearly 30 million children daily. Families earning under $41,795/year (family of four) get free meals. Those under $59,478 get reduced-price meals at $0.40 for lunch and $0.30 for breakfast.

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers help 2.3 million low-income families pay rent in the private market. You may qualify if your household income falls below 50% of your area median income.

SNAP (Food Stamps) helps low-income Americans buy groceries through a monthly EBT card. A family of four can qualify with gross income under $3,483/month in most states and receive up to $994/month in benefits.

Social Security Disability Insurance pays monthly benefits to workers who can no longer work due to a disability. The average payment is $1,630 per month in 2026, with a maximum of $4,152. About 7.4 million disabled workers receive SSDI.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) pays up to $994 per month to seniors, blind, and disabled Americans with limited income and assets. About 7.4 million people receive SSI. You can apply at any Social Security office for free.

TANF provides monthly cash assistance to low-income families with children. About 1 million families receive TANF each month, with benefits ranging from $204 to $1,370 depending on your state and family size.

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides disability compensation, pensions, healthcare, and education benefits to eligible veterans. Over 6 million veterans receive disability compensation, with payments up to $3,938 per month for a 100% rating.

WIC provides free healthy foods, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support to pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children under 5. About 6.7 million people participate each month. Families earning up to 185% of the federal poverty level qualify.