Help Paying Bills

The cost of housing and housing-related expenses, like water and power, has been increasing across the U.S. for many years. Many households spend more than half what they earn on housing expenses, and the 211 network receives more calls from people looking for help paying housing and utilities bills than any other need. 

• Rental Assistance

  Many organizations offer rental assistance funds or can help you discuss a payment plan with your landlord. Contact 211 for available local assistance to help you pay rental bills.

  • Use this tool, created by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Stanford Legal Design Lab, to find local information about your rights and protections as a renter during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • If you need help writing a letter to your landlord to request help paying or delaying rent, use this free tool.
  • If you live in a property associated with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), you can call 877-542-9723 to speak with a housing counselor. Not sure if your property is covered? Search your address on the HUD website here.

   

  During COVID-19 Pandemic: The CDC has extended the temporary halt in residential evictions through March 31, 2021. This means you cannot be evicted for nonpayment of rent as a renter until April 1, 2021. Still, if you are able to pay some of all of your rent, you should do so. This protection does not eliminate the rent you owe, it only prevents you from being evicted immediately.

• Mortgage Assistance

  If you are experiencing difficulties making your mortgage payments, you are encouraged to contact your lender or loan servicer directly to inquire about foreclosure prevention options that are available. Your lender will be aware of any federal protections or programs offering additional assistance to borrowers because of the pandemic.

  If you are experiencing difficulty communicating with your mortgage lender or servicer about your need for mortgage relief, there are organizations that can help by contacting lenders and servicers on your behalf.

• General Utilities Assistance

  Many utilities providers offer programs to assist households when they cannot pay their bills on time. Companies may offer a payment plan or temporary discount on your bill if you can pay some, but not all, of what you owe. Some companies also work with local non-profits to provide additional financial assistance to qualifying households. 

  Contact your utility provider, explain your situation, and ask about options to help you pay. If you are unsure how to contact them, this information is usually included on your monthly bill.

• LIHEAP: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Programs

  The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a state benefit program that assists eligible low-income households with their heating and cooling energy costs, bill payment assistance, energy crisis assistance, weatherization and energy-related home repairs. 

  To find out whether you are eligible to receive LIHEAP benefits, contact your state or tribal LIHEAP office.

Healthcare costs in the United States are hard to manage for millions of families, especially when an unforeseen injury or illness occurs. You can always call 211 to speak to someone who can help, or start by using the resources below.

• Health Insurance

  The best way to afford critical medical treatment, preventive care, and prescriptions is to ensure you and your loved ones are enrolled in health insurance.

  • If you do not have the option to enroll in health insurance through your employer, the government offers a marketplace of affordable plans. You can explore all of your options here. On the same website, you can also determine if you qualify for Medicaid, Medicare or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provide free or low-cost health insurance. 
  • If you recently lost health coverage as a result of job loss, death, divorce, or other qualifying life events, you may be able to take advantage of COBRA (the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act). This program gives workers and their families the ability to continue their group health benefits for a limited time while alternatives are found. For more information, click here.  

• Paying for Prescriptions

  Even with health insurance, many struggle to pay for the medication prescribed by a health care professional.

  • Download a free FamilyWize Prescriptions Savings Card and present it to your pharmacist when picking up your next prescription. This savings card is available to anyone, regardless of health insurance, and can help you save on any prescribed medication. You can use the search on the FamilyWize website to find out more about how much you may save on your medication.
  • RxAssist is a nationally recognized, web-based medication assistance resource center. Established in 1999 with funding from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, RxAssist gives providers, advocates, consumer and caregivers comprehensive, up-to-date information in an easy to use format. Search the RxAssist database to locate prescription savings for brand name and generic drugs. 

• Low-Cost Medical Care

  Even if you have health insurance, many plans do not provide sufficient coverage for areas like mental health or substance use treatment. Contact 211 to learn about low-cost or free services in your area.

  • Search for a nearby Health Center that provides medical options on a sliding scale according to your ability to pay using this link. Health Centers offer a variety of services including medical, dental, vision, and behavioral health care.
  • If you are looking for substance use or other mental health services, you can use the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) online search tool. After searching by location, click "More Information" about a particular site and scroll to the Payment Information section to see which insurance is accepted and whether the provider offers payment assistance.
  • Open Path Psychotherapy Collective is another resource to help find lower-cost mental health and counseling options available in your local community and online.

There are several federal and state benefits programs that can help you pay for food and other essential items.

• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)

  SNAP provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency.

  • To get SNAP benefits, you must apply in the state in which you currently live and you must meet certain requirements, including resource and income limits..
  • Learn more here and to check eligibility requirements to see if you qualify.

  Already a SNAP recipient? Fresh EBT is a free smart phone app available to check your SNAP balance and purchase history.  Fresh EBT also includes a COVID response help center with information about changes to government benefits programs and connections to local organizations and resources.  Learn more or download Fresh EBT at www.freshebt.com. 

• WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children)

  WIC is a federal financial assistance program offered through state governments to assist low-income households in purchasing essential food and supplies for pregnant women, infants, and young children.

  WIC benefits can be used to purchase infant food and formula as well as nutritional foods like eggs, milk, cereal, peanut butter, fruits, and vegetables. Households enrolled in WIC can access health screenings, breastfeeding counseling, and immunization referrals.

  Find your state agency for information on applying here. 

  There is no immigration status restriction or requirement for WIC in most states. 

• About the payments

  The U.S. government has passed two rounds of Economic Impact Payments, also known as “stimulus checks.” Most people who were eligible to receive these checks have already received payment either by mail or direct deposit to a bank account. If you haven’t received all or some of the stimulus payment you are owed, you need to take action to get it by filing a 2021 tax return.

• Eligibility

  U.S. citizens and U.S. resident aliens received the Economic Impact Payment if they are not a dependent of another taxpayer and have a work-eligible Social Security number with adjusted gross income up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns, $112,500 for head of household filers and $75,000 for all other eligible individuals. Individuals with adjusted gross incomes of more than these amounts (up to $198,000 for married couples, $136,500 for heads of households, or $99,000 for individuals) will have received a smaller payment.  Individuals are not eligible and will not have received a payment if: 

  • They can be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return (i.e., a child)
  • They do not have a Social Security number valid for employment
  • They are a nonresident alien

  Most people have already received their Economic Impact Payments by check, prepaid debit card, or direct deposit into the bank account used for federal benefits like Social Security or where your last tax return was deposited. If you have not yet received all or some of the first or second stimulus payments by January 15, 2021, you need to file a tax return in 2021 to obtain the funds you are owed, even if you do not usually have to file a tax return. 

• If you haven't received your payment but are eligible

  If you are eligible for an Economic Impact Payment and did not receive a payment, or received an incorrect payment amount, you can claim the amount you are owed by filing a 2020 tax return in 2021. Go to www.MyFreeTaxes.com to file your taxes for free while getting the assistance you need. The first Economic Impact Payment was authorized in March 2020 and provided $1,200 per eligible adult and $500 per eligible dependent child. The second Economic Impact Payment was authorized in December 2020 and provided $600 per eligible adult and $600 per eligible dependent child. United Way’s 211 Economic Impact Payment Helpline is also available to answer your questions and help you file your information with the IRS to receive your stimulus payment. 

  • Contact the 211 Economic Impact Payment Helpline +1 844 322 3639 for assistance.
  • IRS-certified volunteers are also available at www.getyourrefund.org/211-stimulus to provide free assistance filing your paperwork with the IRS to get your stimulus payment. Interpreters are available to provide assistance in any language.

• Once you receive your payment

  First, use your payment to purchase groceries and other household essentials. Next, pay past or upcoming bills such as rent, mortgage, utilities, insurance, and car payments. While many companies are waiving late fees to help people impacted by COVID-19, these bills will come due eventually.  If your bills are paid and you don’t have other urgent expenses to cover, consider using your payment to open or fund a personal savings account. Savings accounts earn interest, which means your payment will increase in value over time. If you don’t already have a bank account, start here to compare options and read more about how to make the most of your savings. For more help developing a personal financial plan, visit the United Way My Smart Money website.

• Avoiding scams

  Neither the United Way nor the IRS will ever request verification of personal and/or banking information saying that the information is needed to receive or speed up their economic impact payment by phone, email, text, or social media. The IRS will never threaten to cancel or suspend your Social Security number  The IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text message, or social media. If you receive a call from a caller stating to be with the IRS but are concerned it might be a scam, hang up and call the IRS directly at 800-829-1040.