Low Income

UK Universal Credit

Monthly payment to help with living costs for people on a low income or out of work, replacing six legacy benefits in the United Kingdom.

Type: Benefit Amount: Standard allowance £311.68–£578.82 per month plus elements for children, housing, disability, … Deadline: Apply as needed Location: United Kingdom

USDA Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)

Monthly food packages of nutritious USDA commodities for low-income seniors aged 60 and older, distributed through local food banks and community organizations in all 50 states.

Type: Benefit Amount: Monthly food package valued at approximately $50–$80 containing shelf-stable proteins, grains, … Deadline: Rolling Location: United States

USDA Section 504 Home Repair Loans and Grants

Provides low-interest loans and grants to very low-income rural homeowners to repair, improve, or modernize dwellings.

Type: Benefit Amount: Loans up to $40,000 at 1% interest; grants up to $10,000 for seniors Deadline: Rolling Location: United States

Utah Home Energy Assistance Target (HEAT) Program

Provides seasonal bill credits, crisis help, and energy education for income-qualified Utah households facing high utility costs.

Type: Benefit Amount: $100–$1,000 per season; up to $1,500 for crisis or equipment repair assistance Deadline: Applications accepted November 1–April 30 for standard benefits; year-round for crisis cases Location: Utah

Virginia Energy Assistance Program (EAP)

Virginia DSS energy assistance program covering fuel, crisis, cooling, and weatherization pathways for income-eligible households.

Type: Benefit Amount: Benefit amount varies by EAP component and household circumstances Deadline: Fuel: second Tuesday in October to second Friday in November; Crisis: Nov 1-Mar 15; Cooling: mid-June to mid-August Location: Virginia

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) – Free Tax Preparation

Free tax return preparation and filing assistance for low-to-moderate-income individuals, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and limited-English speakers through IRS-certified volunteers at thousands of community sites nationwide. VITA helps eligible filers claim valuable tax credits including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit, and education credits.

Type: Benefit Amount: Free tax prep; filers often claim refunds and credits worth thousands Deadline: Rolling Location: United States

Water | Portland.gov

Reduces water, sewer, and stormwater bills for income-eligible Portland households and provides crisis grants.

Amount: 25-40% monthly bill discount plus crisis grants up to $500 and plumbing repair vouchers Deadline: Apply anytime; recertify annually Location: Oregon and Portland

We Care – Customer Assistance – Philadelphia Water Department

Income-based water, sewer, and stormwater bill discounts for Philadelphia Water Department customers.

Amount: Bills capped at 2-4% of household income; debt forgiveness after 24 months of on-time payments Deadline: Apply anytime; annual recertification required Location: Pennsylvania and Philadelphia

Win Up to 55K Per Year for College: A Real Talk Guide to the Jack Kent Cooke College Scholarship

If you are a high-achieving high school senior staring down the cost of college and thinking, “How on earth am I supposed to pay for this?” — keep reading.

Amount: Up to $55,000 annually for up to four years Deadline: Nov 13, 2025 Location: United States

Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP)

Provides heating and electric bill assistance, crisis aid, and furnace services for income-qualified Wisconsin households.

Type: Benefit Amount: $200–$1,500 per heating season; crisis and furnace grants may add $1,200+ Deadline: Heating assistance available October 1–May 15; crisis assistance year-round Location: Wisconsin