Get help
Start with what is happening
Six topics, each named for the situation that brings families to it. Every one lays out the programs involved, which agency runs each, what the paperwork asks for, and — separately — what works differently for children.
Groceries are hard to cover01Food for your familySNAP, WIC, school meals, and summer food programs — including the ones your children can access even when the household is over an income line.2 guidesSomeone needs to see a doctor02Health coverage for kidsMedicaid, CHIP, and Marketplace plans. Children are covered at household incomes well above where adult eligibility ends, which surprises most families.2 guidesWe are behind on rent03Housing and rentEmergency rental help, vouchers and waitlists, and the school-stability protections that apply to children when housing becomes unstable.2 guidesA shutoff notice arrived04Utilities and phoneEnergy assistance, the crisis track most people never hear about, shutoff protections for households with young children, and low-cost phone service.1 guideI need care so I can work05Child care and schoolChild care assistance, Head Start, pre-K, and the school-based services — including special education — that are free and often unmentioned.3 guidesMoney is not stretching06Income and tax creditsTax credits families routinely leave unclaimed, cash assistance, child support services, and what happens to household income when work changes.2 guides
A note on what varies by state
Most programs described here are funded federally but administered by states, which set their own income limits, application windows, and rules. Guidance that is accurate in one state can be wrong in the next one. Treat everything on this site as a map of the landscape, and treat the agency running the program as the authority on your situation.