There may be times when felons have difficulty paying the bills. Everyone experiences financial hardship at one time or another. The good news is that there are government assistance programs for felons. The programs will help ensure your basic needs are being met while you try to improve your current situation.
Government assistance programs for felons have been designed to help during difficult financial times. The funds that you receive are considered to be gifts. You will not have to pay any of the funds back that you receive from these helpful assistance programs. There is no limit to the number of helpful government assistant programs you can get assistance from, so be sure to apply for all of them that you are qualified for.
Most Helpful Government Assistance Programs for Felons
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – This program used to be known as food stamps and is often still referred to by that name. Felons who need help obtaining food may be able to get help from SNAP. Felons who are approved for the program will receive a monthly grant that can be used to purchase food. The grant comes to you on an electronic debit card that can be used as your payment source at the farmers market or grocery store. To qualify for SNAP, you have to have a low income and be a citizen or legal alien. The amount of your monthly grant is determined by how many people are in your household. To get more information or apply for SNAP, click here.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) – This helpful government assistance program will help felons by providing them with a monthly cash grant. The cash can be used on a wide variety of living expenses, including food, gas, transportation, paying bills, rent, etc. The amount of your monthly grant is determined by how many people are in your household. To qualify for TANF, you have to have at least one minor child you are caring for. TANF is available in every state in the country. There is also a related program called General Assistance. That one is essentially the same as TANF, but you don’t have to have a minor child to qualify for it. However, General Assistance is not offered in every state, so you will need to see if it is offered in yours. Additionally, both programs require that you meet the low income guidelines, and that you are a citizen or legal alien. To learn more or apply, click here.
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) – Felons who need help with housing may be able to get assistance through HUD. The program will help people find affordable housing, pay rent, avoid foreclosure, and purchase a home. They also offer weatherization services, which can help to reduce your energy bills each month. HUD also has a program called Section 8, which offers public housing options and rent vouchers. To qualify for HUD assistance you have to have a low income and be a citizen or legal alien. To get more information about HUD, click here.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) – This program will help felons pay for their utility bills if they qualify. Most of the grants they give out are to help pay for heating bills, but they do also help some people with cooling bills and weatherization services. You can only get one utility bill paid for each year with LIHEAP, so you will need to re-apply for a grant every year that you need the assistance. To get more information on getting a grant to pay for your utility bill, click here.
Medicaid – Felons who need help paying for medical bills may qualify for the Medicaid program. This national program essentially provides felons who qualify with government health insurance. Once approved for the program you will be able to use Medicaid to pay for such things as doctor visits, emergency care, prescription drugs, vision and dental care, substance abuse treatment, and more. This program covers most medical bills for healthcare that is necessary. To qualify for the program you have to have a low income and be a legal citizen. To get more information or apply for Medicaid, click here.
Lifeline – This program will provide felons with assistance paying for their phone bill. In some states you can get a $9.25 discount off of your monthly mobile phone bill. In other states, you can get your mobile phone for free. You just need to meet the low income guidelines to get approved for this program. To learn more, click here.
The above list includes the most helpful government assistance programs for felons. Be sure to check out the requirements for each one, because they all vary. These programs can play an important role in helping you get through a difficult financial time.
