Government Assistance Programs
What’s Available, How to Qualify, and Where to Apply
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By
JIM PROBASCO
Updated Mar 31, 2021
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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General Financial Assistance
Subsidized Rental Housing
Home Ownership Programs
Food
COVID-19 Food Program Waivers
Healthcare
Retirement
Taxes
Financial Assistance for Business
Watch out for Scams
The COVID-19 pandemic has put government assistance programs into
hyperdrive, as many people who never needed them before are having to use
them now. Here’s a descriptive list of major government assistance programs for
individuals and businesses, with links to where and how to apply.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Many government assistance programs exist to help provide financial and
other assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic and other times of need.
Programs fall into eight general categories: financial, home rental,
homeownership, food, healthcare, retirement, taxes, and small business.
Programs may be administered by the federal government alone or in
partnership with states.
Scammers often prey on individuals in need of assistance and should be
reported to the FTC.
Financial Assistance for Individuals and Families
These programs provide benefits in the form of payments, goods, or services to
help with basic living expenses if you qualify due to low wages.
Unemployment Insurance (UI)
Unemployment insurance (UI) is a joint federal and state program that pays part
of your wages when you lose your job through no fault of your own. The program
is run by individual states, each with its own eligibility and filing requirements.
Many states let you file online, by phone, or in-person (though the COVID-19
pandemic has temporarily halted in-person applications in many places).
Some states provide extended benefits for up to 13 weeks in times of high
unemployment. Just because you qualify for regular benefits does not mean you
will qualify for extended help.1
Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC)
The Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) is an
emergency program that extends how long a person can collect unemployment
insurance benefits. Eligible individuals can receive unemployment benefits for a
total of 53 weeks once they’ve exhausted the traditional unemployment
insurance. However, the benefits expire on September 6, 2021.2 3
Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA)
The Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) expands unemployment
benefits to include self-employed workers, freelancers, independent contractors,
and part-time workers. Typically, self-employed workers might not qualify for UI,
and the PUA helps to provide them with financial assistance if they were
impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. The program had been
set to expire on March 14, 2021, but was extended until September 6, 2021,
thanks to the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.4 2
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)
The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) is a special
emergency form of UI that applies to you if you lost your job due to the COVID-19
pandemic. In addition to regular unemployment benefits, if you qualify for FPUC,
you get an additional $300 per week of federal benefits. The funds will be paid
each week of unemployment beginning after March 14, 2021, and ending on or
before Sept. 6, 2021.2 3
Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) Program
The Lost Wages Assistance (LWA) program, created Aug. 8, 2020, was a
federal-state unemployment benefit that provides $300 to $400 in weekly
compensation to eligible claimants. The Federal government provides $300 per
claimant from the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), and states are asked to provide
the remaining $100.
LWA was in response to the expiration of the FPUC program on July 31, 2020,
and designed to offer compensation through Dec. 27, 2020, provided funding
continues through that date.5
Pros of Unemployment Insurance
Partial wages until you are rehired or find another job
Time to explore new/better employment opportunities
Opportunity to pursue education or training in a new career path
Cons of Unemployment Insurance
Less income than when working (usually)
Regular benefits only for 26 weeks
No employer-provided healthcare benefits
Unemployment benefits subject to income tax
The table below compares eligibility requirements for regular Unemployment
Insurance (UI) and Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC)
and the availability of certain benefits.
U.S. Self-Employed, Job Loss Extra 11 $300
Type of Unemployment Citizen etc. Reason Weeks Bonus
Not your
Unemployment Insurance (UI) Yes No Maybe No
fault
Federal Pandemic Unemployment
Yes Yes COVID-19 Yes Yes
Compensation (FPUC)
Source: U.S. Department of Labor and CareerOneStop.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), also known as welfare, is
another federally funded, state-run benefits program designed to help families
achieve independence following temporary difficulty. Qualified recipients may
receive help with food, housing, home energy, childcare, and job training. TANF
recipients must engage in “work activity” as defined by the state.
Each state runs its own TANF program and decides who is eligible. To sign up
for benefits, you can apply at your local county social services agency or call
your state TANF office for local contact information. Importantly, qualifying for
TANF does not disqualify you for other government benefits.6
Pros of TANF
Provides needed assistance for families
Specifically targeted help for children
Can supplement income if you are already working
Provides job training to encourage independence
Cons of TANF
Income to qualify often too low
Can create a negative social stigma
Uneven coverage due to individual state rules
May discourage job seeking
The Social Security Administration (SSA) Benefit Eligibility Screening
Tool (BEST) provides an excellent way to determine your eligibility for any benefit
administered by the SSA.
Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI)
Social Security Disability Insurance benefits are paid to people who cannot work
for at least one year due to a medical condition or who are expected to die from
that condition.7
To be eligible, you must:
Have worked in a job or jobs covered by Social Security
Meet Social Security’s definition of disability
Have worked long enough and recently enough to qualify for disability
benefits
Additional information about SSDI can be found in the Social Security Disability
Benefits brochure. The Social Security Disability Planner helps you determine if
you are eligible. If you believe you qualify, you can apply online.
Pros of SSDI
Increased monthly income
Freezes Social Security earnings record
Income possibly tax-free
Provides rehab and back-to-work incentives
Cons of SSDI
Long time to process and approve SSDI claims
Low income
Medical Improvement Expected (MIE) status renewable every six months
Can cause loss of Medicaid or SSI benefits
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal income program administered
(but not funded) by Social Security. SSI is designed to meet the basic needs of
older, blind, and/or disabled Americans who have little or no income. SSI
consists of a monthly payment to help with the cost of food, clothing, and shelter
and can also include Medicaid coverage as well as food stamps.8
SSI qualification requirements, which are spelled out on the SSI eligibility
webpage, generally require you to be:
