Program Explainers

Before you can use most assistance programs, you need to understand the handful of benefits everything else is built on. SNAP, Medicaid, SSI and public housing assistance are not just programs in their own right; they are the proof of eligibility that unlocks Lifeline phones, utility discounts, car programs and dozens of other forms of help.

Each explainer here answers the same questions in the same order: what the program is, who runs it, who qualifies, how much it pays, and what else it qualifies you for. Start with the one you already receive, or the one you are about to apply for.