Independent guides to U.S. benefits & programs
Find benefits.
Know your next step.
Food, rent, health care, or a change at work. Understand the support available, what to prepare, and where to apply.
Browse 124 guidesWhat do you need help with?
- Food & groceriesFood benefits, school meals, and help when groceries cannot wait.
- Housing & rentRental assistance, housing applications, and help keeping a home.
- Utilities & household billsEnergy bills, home weatherization, and phone service.
- Health coverage & care costsCoverage changes, medical bills, and prescription costs.
- Disability & agingIncome support, applications, and help with daily needs.
- Job loss & trainingUnemployment, job-search support, and training routes.
- Education & student aidCollege costs, grants, and changes to your financial aid.
- Children & family supportChild care, cash assistance, and support for caregivers.
- Tax credits & savingsCredits, deductions, and free tax-filing help.
- Disaster recoveryWhich assistance to apply for after a declared disaster.
- Veterans & military familiesVA benefits, education, health care, and housing.
- Small businessLoans, contracting programs, and business support.
When you need help getting started
All guides →Work & training
Unemployment Benefits: Which State Should You Apply In?
Latest guides
RSS feed ↗AOTC vs. Lifetime Learning Credit: Which Fits Your Costs?
Compare education tax credits, identify qualified expenses after scholarships, and check the 2026 SSN change before completing Form 8863.
FoodCan College Students Get SNAP? Rules and How to Apply
Check SNAP's college-student exemptions, work-study and meal-plan rules, and the records to prepare before applying through your state agency.
Tax & savingsCan't Pay Your Taxes? IRS Payment Plans and Hardship Help
Compare IRS payment plans with hardship relief, check online eligibility, and prepare a realistic request without confusing delay with tax forgiveness.
FamilyChild Support Services: How to Apply for Government Help
Find your state or tribal child support office, prepare the right records, and distinguish opening a case, establishing an order, and collecting payment.
Tax & savingsChild Tax Credit: How to Check and Claim the Credit
Check Child Tax Credit rules, distinguish the credit from its refundable portion, and prepare the dependent information and Schedule 8812 for your return.
Looking for a figure or its source date?Open the published verification records
The verification board
Recorded figures and source-check dates for the guides listed here. These are not a new verification; confirm current details with the agency.
| Program | The number that matters | Verified against | Last verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saver's Credit Ends in 2026: Saver's Match Starts in 2027 | Up to $1,000/person credit | IRS Notice 2025-67 (2026 Saver's Credit income limits) and IRS Notice 2024-65 (Saver's Match rules under the SECURE 2.0 Act) | |
| CalWORKs Child Care Stages 1, 2 & 3 in California (2026) | $8,054/mo income limit (Stage 3, family of 3) | California Department of Social Services bulletins | |
| Pell Grant Eligibility 2026: Who Qualifies, How to Apply | $7,395 max award | U.S. Department of Education / Federal Student Aid guidance | |
| California Property Tax Postponement 2026: Senior Guide | $55,181 income limit | the California State Controller’s Office (SCO) | |
| CalABLE Account Eligibility 2026: New Age 46 Rule | $20,000/yr contribution cap | CalABLE (calable.ca.gov), the ABLE National Resource Center, and IRS | |
| California Renters Credit 2026 | Up to $500 credit | the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) | |
| CalWORKs Homeless Assistance California 2026 | $85–$145/day (Temporary HA) | CDSS and California Welfare and Institutions Code § 11450 | |
| CAPI California 2026: Payment Amount and Eligibility | Up to $1,233.94/mo (individual) | the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and Disability Benefits 101 | |
| Family PACT California Income Limits 2026 (Free Care) | $31,920/yr income limit (individual) | the 2026 HHS federal poverty guidelines | |
| Foster Youth Tax Credit California 2026 (FYTC) | Up to $1,189 credit | the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) | |
| Get Paid to Care for a Family Member in California (IHSS) | $16.90–$23.00/hr wage | the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) | |
| Medicare Savings Programs California 2026: QMB/SLMB/QI | $1,816/mo income limit (single) | DHCS, Medicare.gov, and CMS | |
| SUN Bucks California 2026: 120 Per Child | $120 per child | CDSS and USDA FNS | |
| California Young Child Tax Credit 2026 (YCTC) | Up to $1,189 credit | the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) |