Immediate help
- 211 — local help with rent, food, utilities, shelter: 211.org or dial 211
- 988 — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, 24/7, free and confidential: 988lifeline.org or call/text 988
- Food banks — Feeding America locator
Federal benefits
- Benefit Finder — usa.gov/benefit-finder
- SNAP state directory — fns.usda.gov
- LIHEAP contacts — acf.hhs.gov
- TANF — acf.hhs.gov/ofa/programs/tanf
- Unemployment — usa.gov/unemployment-benefits
Housing
- HUD housing counseling (free) — hud.gov
- Local rent help directory — CFPB rental assistance finder
- Legal aid — LawHelp.org
Money, credit & debt
- Free credit reports — AnnualCreditReport.com (the only federally authorized source)
- Nonprofit credit counseling — NFCC.org
- Consumer protection — CFPB
- Unclaimed property — unclaimed.org and MissingMoney.com
- Free tax filing — IRS Free File
Report fraud
- Scams — ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Identity theft — IdentityTheft.gov
For our own guides organized by need, see the full assistance directory.
Before you apply: program rules, amounts, and deadlines change. Always confirm details with the official agency or program administrator. Applying for government benefits is free.
National Relief Program is an independent guide, not a government agency. Spotted an error? Email support@nationalreliefprogram.org.