Most bill-help pages give you a paragraph on each of eight programs, which is enough to recognize a name and not enough to do anything. This page does the opposite job. It sorts by the bill that is actually the problem, and hands you off to the guide that covers it properly.
Find your row, follow the link, and skip the rest of this page. If you want the wider picture first, this rundown of the 10 household bill categories with assistance programs lays out the full landscape before you narrow in on one guide.
Start with the bill that is the problem
| The bill | What decides whether you qualify | Where to go |
|---|---|---|
| Electric, gas or heating | Income against a state-set line, and whether you are in a shutoff situation | LIHEAP, in detail |
| Not sure which utility program applies | Whether the help is federal, state, or your own utility company | All four utility programs compared |
| Water or sewer | Almost entirely state and local, with no standing federal program | State water-bill programs |
| Utility bill you can pay, but not on time | Your account standing, not your income | Negotiating with your provider |
| Rent you already owe | The documented balance, and local funding being open | Catching up on past-due rent |
| Eviction filed, or foreclosure | Which stage you are at, not income | Housing instability pathways |
| Rent due soon that you cannot cover | How much time is left before the due date | When you cannot pay rent on time |
| Medical coverage | Income as a percentage of the poverty level, plus household size | Medicaid eligibility |
| Coverage for children | A higher income ceiling than adult Medicaid in most states | Medicaid and CHIP |
| Phone or internet | Program participation or an income test | The Lifeline program |
| Several bills at once, no clear starting point | Whether a charitable fund or a government program fits better | Charitable funds that pay bills |
The income lines that decide most of it
Nearly every program above is scored against the federal poverty guideline, but each uses a different multiple of it. That is why one denial tells you very little about the next.
For 2026, in the 48 contiguous states and D.C., the guideline is $15,960 for one person, $21,640 for two, $27,320 for three and $33,000 for four (HHS). The multiples that matter:
- Food benefits use a gross income standard of 130 percent of the poverty level (7 CFR 273.9). For a household of three that is about $35,500 a year.
- Energy help uses the greater of 150 percent of the state poverty level or 60 percent of state median income, and a state may not exclude a household on income alone below 110 percent of poverty (42 U.S.C. 8624).
- Local and charitable funds often have no fixed line at all. They assess need case by case, which is why they are worth calling even when you are over the line elsewhere.
Notice the spread. A household can be over the line for food benefits and comfortably under it for energy help in the same month, on the same income.
If you are just over the line
This is the most common place people give up, and usually too early. Three things are worth checking before you accept a no.
Gross is not the only test. Several programs apply deductions before the final figure, so the number they judge you on can be meaningfully lower than your pay stub.
The line moves with household size. Count everyone who actually lives there. A single missed household member shifts every threshold on this page.
Current income is what counts, not last year’s. If your hours were cut or a job ended, you are judged on what is coming in now. People routinely disqualify themselves using a tax return that no longer describes their life.
Once you know which program you are pursuing, the application guide covers what to bring, how long the decision takes, and what to do if it comes back no.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which bill should I deal with first?
The one with a shutoff, eviction or filing date attached. Deadlines set the order, not the size of the balance.
Can I apply to more than one program?
Yes. They are run by different agencies against different income lines, and qualifying for one has no bearing on another.
What income figure do these programs use?
Almost always your current monthly income, not last year’s tax return. If your income recently dropped, you may qualify now even if you did not before.
Is there one application for everything?
No. Some states offer a combined portal for a few programs, but there is no single national application, and utility and charitable funds are always separate.
What if no program on this page fits?
Call 211. Local funds are the least standardized and the least advertised, and they frequently cover situations that federal programs are not built for.
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