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Bill Relief Programs Everyone Should Know About

Avatar photo Jonah Jacobs
2 min read

If you feel overwhelmed by the number of bills to be paid each month, you’re not alone. These programs are for the nearly 80 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.

Help Paying Phone Bill

Lifeline is a U.S. federal government program that provides landline and cellphone bill payment assistance to qualifying low-income families across the country. Lifeline accounts are handled by local providers who also offer free cell phones to families who need them most.

In addition to Lifeline, the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) assists low-income citizens who have combined vision and hearing loss.

Help Paying Energy Bill

Energy bills can be overwhelming for many low-income families. To alleviate this financial burden, the federal government established the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to offer subsidies for power bills. Eligible U.S. citizens and legal aliens may apply to receive the benefits of this program if they need assistance with:

  • Paying cooling and heating bills
  • Emergencies, such as utility shutoffs
  • Low-cost home improvements, known as weatherization, that make your home more energy-efficient and lower your utility bills

Help Paying Medical Bills

Medical debt is the leading cause of bankruptcy in the United States. Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are two government programs that offer assistance with medical bills. Along with Medicare, they provide much-needed subsidies to more than 60 million Americans who would otherwise be left without access to quality health insurance.

Local social security offices have detailed information about which programs are available in the state to help reduce medical costs.

Looking for better health insurance programs is always a good idea. If your current plan is no longer affordable, it may be time to find a cheaper option. Websites like HealthCare.gov offer affordable health insurance plans for people who are not eligible for Medicare or currently don’t receive health coverage through their employer. The marketplace is also available to self-employed citizens and people looking for a better option than the one provided by their employer.

Other Bill Payment Assistance Programs

The federal government can help you pay other bills too, with programs that include:

  • Prescription medication aid, which offers financial support to people who cannot pay for their medication.
  • Rental assistance, which helps low-income families find affordable housing in selected properties across the country.
  • Mortgage assistance, which helps families refinance their mortgage to obtain better interest rates and more flexible options.

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