When there's nothing left after essentials

1. The first two calls

Call 1: 211. Dial 2-1-1 (or visit 211.org). It's a free, confidential line run by United Way and local partners across the US that knows which emergency programs in your area are taking applications this week — utility help, rent help, food, prescriptions. Say what's about to happen ("disconnect notice dated the 14th," "pay-or-quit notice") and ask what you qualify for.

Call 2: the biller with the most serious consequence. Not the loudest one — the one whose deadline changes your life: a shutoff, an eviction notice, a repossession, a coverage lapse, a court date. Ask what amount by what date prevents it and what plans exist. Scripts here. Tell them you've contacted 211 and applied for assistance; many billers will hold an account while an application is pending.

Everything below is the list 211 will be working from.

2. Help by kind of bill

Electric, gas, heating

• LIHEAP — federal energy assistance, run by each state, for heating and cooling bills and often for crisis situations like a pending shutoff. Apply through your state or a local community action agency.
• Utility hardship funds and medical certificates — ask the utility directly. Details.
• Weatherization assistance — free efficiency work that lowers future bills.

Rent and housing

• Emergency rental assistance — local programs through counties, cities, and charities; 211 knows which are open. Many pay the landlord directly.
• Legal aid — free for people who qualify; find an office at lsc.gov.
• HUD-approved housing counselors — hud.gov. More on rent.

Food

• SNAP (food stamps) — apply through your state; many states process emergency applications within days for very low-income households.
• WIC — food, formula, and nutrition support for pregnant people, new parents, and children under five.
• Food banks and pantries — Feeding America's locator lists them by zip code; no paperwork at most pantries.
• School meals — free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch; apply through the school any time of year.

Medical and prescriptions

• Hospital financial assistance — tax-exempt hospitals are required to have a policy. Ask for it and for an itemized bill. Details.
• Medicaid / CHIP / the marketplace — a drop in income can open enrollment outside the usual window; check healthcare.gov or your state's site.
• Community health centers — federally funded clinics with sliding-scale fees based on income (findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov).
• Prescriptions — ask the pharmacist about generics and discount programs; drug makers run patient-assistance programs for brand-name medicines; many pharmacies have low-cost generic lists.

Phone and internet

• Lifeline — the federal program that discounts phone or internet service for qualifying households. Apply through the carrier or the national verifier.

Childcare

• State childcare assistance — subsidies for working or studying parents, through your state's child care agency. Head Start and Early Head Start are free for qualifying families.

Car and insurance

• Lender hardship programs — deferments and extensions; ask before the payment is missed.
• State minimum coverage — if full coverage is out of reach, ask your insurer about the least expensive legal policy rather than letting it lapse; some states have low-cost auto insurance programs for low-income drivers.

Debt in general

• Nonprofit credit counseling — agencies in the NFCC network offer free budget counseling and debt-management plans that can lower card rates. Confirm the agency is nonprofit and the first session is free.
• Legal aid for anything with a court date, a garnishment, or a collector who won't validate.

3. Money you may be leaving on the table

• Tax credits. The Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit can be worth thousands and are refunded even if you owe no tax — but only if you file. Free filing help is available through VITA sites (call 211 or search "VITA near me") and IRS Free File.
• Unemployment insurance if your hours were cut or you lost a job — including, in many states, partial benefits for reduced hours.
• Benefits screening. Benefit-finder tools at benefits.gov and your state's site check many programs at once.

4. Scams that target exactly this moment

People looking for help are targets. Hang up or close the tab on:

• "Your power will be shut off in 30 minutes unless you pay now" by gift card, crypto, wire, or a payment app. Real utilities send written notice and never demand gift cards. Call the number on your bill.
• "Government grant" offers that require a processing fee. Government grants don't charge fees and don't cold-call.
• Debt relief or settlement companies that charge up-front fees, tell you to stop paying creditors, or promise to erase debt. Federal rules prohibit charging before a debt is actually settled; nonprofit counseling is the safe version.
• "Rental assistance" or "LIHEAP application" sites that ask for a fee or your full Social Security number before showing eligibility. Real programs are free to apply to; start from 211 or a .gov site.
• Payday, title, and "cash advance" loans to pay a bill that would have taken a payment plan. Even a large late fee is usually far cheaper.

5. What not to do

• Don't spend the essentials money on a bill. That's the whole point of this page.
• Don't send partial payments without asking whether they prevent the action. Why.
• Don't stop opening mail. Deadlines and court dates are inside.
• Don't promise more than your number. One kept small promise is worth more to a biller than a broken large one.

Programs change, have income limits, and vary by state. This page is a starting map, not a promise of eligibility. 211 and the program websites have the current rules. Not financial or legal advice.