Help Paying Bills 2026: Where to Turn, Bill by Bill

Where to Start: The Bill-by-Bill Map

Six kinds of bills cover most requests for help, and each one has a different door, from a $9.25 monthly phone discount to a housing voucher that caps your rent share near 30% of income. Here's the short version, with the deeper Grantsights guide for each.

If you're facing a shutoff, an eviction date or no food this week, skip the table and go straight to the emergency cash assistance guide, which ranks the fastest routes by how many days they take.

Call 211 Before You Search Online

211 handled more than 19 million connections in 2025, according to the 211.org about page, which also gives an older figure of 13 million requests a year. The Federal Communications Commission set aside the three-digit number in 2000 for social service referrals, and today more than 200 local organizations answer it, including United Ways, Goodwill, Community Action Partnerships and crisis centers. Staff are available 24/7, and you can call, text or use web chat.

Why call before searching? Local bill help changes month to month. A church fund that paid electric bills in October may be out of money by December, and a county rent program may open for two weeks. 211 keeps the current list for your ZIP code. Its categories include housing and utilities, food, health care, paying bills and caregiver help.

To get the most out of the call:

1. Have your numbers ready: the amount past due, the due or shutoff date, your household size and monthly income.
2. Ask for two or three referrals, not one. Charity funds often cover part of a bill, so you may need to combine sources.
3. Ask what each place will want to see. Most want ID, a recent bill or shutoff notice, and proof of income.
4. Write down names and dates. If a referral doesn't pan out, you'll know who to call back.

Our view: 211 is the best single first step for anyone asking "who can help me pay my bills," because it's the only free service whose whole job is knowing what's open near you this week.

Utility Bills: LIHEAP, Shutoff Rules and the Water Gap

Federal law caps LIHEAP eligibility at the greater of 150% of the poverty level or 60% of state median income, according to 42 U.S.C. 8624, and it lets states treat households on SNAP, SSI, TANF or certain veterans' benefits as eligible automatically. At the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines, 150% works out to $40,980 for three people and $49,500 for four, as Grantsights calculated it. States can, and many do, set a lower limit, so treat those figures as the ceiling, not a promise. Our LIHEAP income limits page lists the standard each state uses.

USA.gov's energy bills page (opens in a new tab) says LIHEAP can help pay heating or cooling bills or provide emergency services during an energy crisis, and that the Weatherization Assistance Program pays for energy-saving home improvements for households that qualify by income or benefits such as TANF or SSI. You apply through your state or territory's LIHEAP office; some take online applications and others want you in person. The CFPB's rent and bills page (opens in a new tab) lists the National Energy Assistance Referral hotline at (866) 674-6327 for finding that office.

Shutoff protection is state law, and it's often stronger than people expect. USA.gov says state shutoff policies depend on the weather, your age, whether you have a disability and your provider. Pennsylvania is a useful example because its utility commission publishes the rules in one place. Per the Pennsylvania PUC's February 2026 consumer sheet (opens in a new tab):

• Notice first. The utility must send a 10-day notice and try to reach you at least three days before disconnection.
• Medical certificates. Service won't be cut when a licensed physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner certifies that shutoff would harm a seriously ill household member. The first certificate lasts up to 30 days, with extensions of up to 60 more, and you're still responsible for the bill.
• Winter moratorium. From December 1 to March 31, the sheet says customers are protected from termination, though service can still be cut if household income is outside the utility's income guidelines. A March 2026 PUC settlement release (opens in a new tab) puts that line at 250% of the federal poverty level, which the 2026 sheet lists as $5,692 a month for a household of three. In that case, FirstEnergy PA agreed to a $60,000 civil penalty for a winter shutoff made without first checking the household's income.
• Payment arrangements. The utility must offer one payment arrangement and may have to offer another.

Your state's rules will differ, so ask your utility and your state's public utility commission. The common mistake is waiting until the truck arrives: most protections require you to ask before the shutoff date.

Water bills are the gap. The federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program is gone. The federal program inventory entry for LIHWAP (opens in a new tab) says no further awards have been made and that, after the program closed in fiscal year 2024, reporting showed over 1,700,000 households served across all its years. If you're behind on water or sewer, call the water utility and ask for a payment plan or customer assistance program, and ask 211 about local funds.

Rent: Vouchers, Local Funds and Eviction Help

The federal Emergency Rental Assistance program, which Treasury says provided communities over $46 billion, is over. Treasury's ERA page (opens in a new tab) says the ERA2 period of performance ended on September 30, 2025, and grantees may no longer use those funds to help renters. Any site still taking "ERA applications" is out of date or worse.

What's left is slower but real:

• Housing Choice Vouchers. According to HUD's voucher tenant page (opens in a new tab), you apply through your local public housing agency, may need to join several agencies' waitlists, and usually pay 30% of adjusted monthly income toward rent (up to 40%). It says families generally must be extremely low-income or very low-income. Waits can be long, so this is for next year's rent, not this month's. Our Section 8 housing guide covers the application.
• Local rent funds. The CFPB says state, tribal and local organizations distribute money to renters who are behind, and warns that it may take several weeks after applying to receive the funds. Search your city or county name with "rental assistance," ask 211, or ask your library.
• Housing counseling. HUD-approved counseling agencies may offer low- or no-cost rental counseling at 800-569-4287; confirm "rental" is on the agency's service list.
• Legal aid. The CFPB notes you may qualify for free legal help with an eviction based on your income. Call before your court date, not after.

The rental assistance programs guide has the full 30-day plan, and if you've already lost housing, the homeless assistance programs guide explains coordinated entry and shelter routes.

Phone and Internet: Lifeline Is What's Left

Lifeline is the one federal discount still running for phone and internet bills. The Lifeline Support Center (opens in a new tab) says eligible households can get up to $9.25 a month off phone, internet or bundled service, or up to $34.25 on qualifying Tribal lands. Its 2026 qualification page (opens in a new tab) sets the income limit at 135% of the 2026 federal poverty guidelines:

You can also qualify if anyone in your household gets Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance (including Section 8) or a Veterans Pension or Survivors Benefit. Survivors of domestic violence or human trafficking can qualify under broader rules, including income up to 200% of poverty, and may get up to 6 months of emergency support. Apply online from lifelinesupport.org (Oregon and Texas residents use their state's process), then sign up with a participating phone or internet company. Help is at (800) 234-9473, seven days a week, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern. You must recertify every year or lose the discount.

The Affordable Connectivity Program won't help. USAC's ACP page (opens in a new tab) says it "ended on June 1, 2024, due to a lack of additional funding from Congress." Our Lifeline guide explains what "free government phone" offers really are and how to avoid losing service.

Medical Bills: Ask for Financial Assistance Before Anything Else

According to the IRS, nonprofit hospitals can't charge people who qualify for their financial assistance more than the amounts generally billed to insured patients for emergency or medically necessary care. That can beat any charity grant, since the IRS says a policy must list each discount and any free care it offers, and free care removes 100% of the eligible charge. The rule comes from the IRS's section 501(r)(4) page (opens in a new tab), which also says each hospital's policy must spell out who qualifies for free or discounted care, how to apply, and that "Financial assistance may not be denied based on the omission of information or documentation" the policy didn't require. Hospitals must post the policy online, hand out free paper copies and print a notice on bills.

The order you do things in matters. The CFPB's medical credit card page (opens in a new tab) says to ask about income-based assistance before agreeing to a card or plan, warns that signing up for financing first may make assistance harder to get, and says deferred-interest cards can charge rates "upwards of 25 percent" once the promotion ends, sometimes on the full original amount.

Credit reports are a smaller worry than many people fear, but not zero. The CFPB's medical bills and credit page (opens in a new tab), last reviewed September 5, 2025, says unpaid medical debt more than 365 days delinquent and over $500 could appear on your reports. The CFPB's credit card page adds that the medical-debt reporting protections don't cover unpaid bills on medical credit cards or financing plans, which is one more reason to try the hospital's own assistance first.

If you're uninsured, HealthCare.gov's Medicaid expansion page (opens in a new tab) says expansion states cover adults with incomes up to 133% (effectively 138%) of the poverty level, and you can apply any time of year.

Deeper reading by bill type:

• Hospital and doctor bills: help with medical bills covers financial assistance applications, the No Surprises Act and a step-by-step dispute plan.
• Prescriptions: prescription assistance programs covers drugmaker programs, Extra Help and state plans; the HealthWell Foundation grants guide covers one of the largest copay charities.
• Medicare costs: SHIP Medicare counseling explains the free state counselors who screen for Medicare Savings Programs and Extra Help.
• Pet emergencies: help with vet bills covers charities and low-cost clinics.

Car Payments: Call the Lender Before You Miss One

In some cases a lender can repossess a car "without warning or court order after you've missed a payment," according to the CFPB's page on car payment trouble (opens in a new tab), last reviewed September 12, 2023. That's why the first call goes to your lender or servicer, as soon as you know a payment is at risk. The CFPB lists 3 options lenders may offer: an affordable payment plan, a new due date, or a pause through forbearance. It also suggests refinancing (with a warning that a longer term means more interest overall) or selling the car if you owe less than it's worth. Get any new deal in writing.

There are very few true grants for car payments. The car payment assistance guide covers what does exist and how to judge charity offers. If the problem is a repair bill rather than the loan, the car repair assistance guide is the better fit.

Debts and Collectors: Know Your Rights

A debt collector must give you 3 basics (the creditor's name, the amount owed and how to dispute the debt), according to the CFPB's debt collection hub (opens in a new tab), and one that won't or can't "could be a scam." The same page says you have the right to tell a collector to stop contacting you, that collectors can't use unfair practices under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and that "Only in rare cases can debt collectors take Social Security or VA benefits."

Practical order when money is short: keep housing, utilities, food, insurance and the car you need for work current first. Old collections and unsecured credit cards come after. Paying a collector before the rent is a common mistake: falling behind on rent puts your housing at risk, while an old collection mostly affects your credit. You can file a complaint about a collector with the CFPB online or at (855) 411-2372.

Free Up Cash: Food Help and Tax Credits

Money you don't spend on groceries or tax preparers can go to bills, and two of the largest programs work exactly that way.

Food. SNAP puts food money on an EBT card. USA.gov's SNAP page (opens in a new tab) says your state sets the income rules and looks at your income and the cash you have in the bank, and that you apply through your state or local SNAP office, often with an interview. WIC covers pregnant and postpartum women and children under 5, and USA.gov says eligibility depends on income, health and where you live. Our SNAP guide and WIC guide cover the limits and the application.

Tax credits. The Earned Income Tax Credit can be the biggest single payment a working family gets all year. The IRS's EITC tables (opens in a new tab) list these 2025 figures:

The IRS's free tax preparation page (opens in a new tab) says VITA sites generally serve people making about $70,244 or less, and you can find one at 800-906-9887. Paying a preparer a big fee out of a refund you need for rent is worth avoiding. The free tax help guide explains VITA, TCE and what to bring.

Grantsights Analysis: One Income, Six Different Answers

Grantsights compared the income lines of the bill programs above for a household of three, using the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines (opens in a new tab) ($27,320 for three people in the 48 contiguous states and D.C.) and each program's own rule. The result shows why "do I qualify for help with bills?" never has one answer.

Medicaid and LIHEAP dollar figures are Grantsights calculations from the percentages, and LIHEAP offices often still use the prior year's guidelines or a lower state limit. Specifically, a family of three earning $40,000 would miss Lifeline's $36,882 line and the Medicaid expansion line for adults, could still fall under the federal LIHEAP ceiling of $40,980 if their state uses it, would qualify for the EITC with two children, and in Pennsylvania would be inside the winter shutoff protection. The takeaway: don't rule yourself out of every program because you were turned down by one.

What Bill-Help Lists Don't Tell You

Most "help paying bills" lists online are long directories of national charities, and many still name 3 federal programs that have closed. Here's what they leave out:

• Two big federal bill programs are gone. LIHWAP (water) closed in fiscal year 2024 and ACP (internet) ended June 1, 2024. Treasury's Emergency Rental Assistance ended its final period on September 30, 2025. Lists that still name them are stale.
• Most help pays the company, not you. Energy aid, rent funds and charity grants usually go straight to the utility or landlord. A "grant" that arrives as cash in your bank account after you pay a fee is a red flag.
• Timing beats eligibility. A shutoff protection, medical certificate or lender hardship plan almost always has to be requested before the deadline. The same household that gets a payment plan on day 5 may get a disconnection on day 61.
• Partial help is normal. Charity funds often cover part of one bill. Plan to combine a utility payment plan, a LIHEAP benefit and a 211 referral rather than hoping one source covers everything.
• Your own company is a source of help. Utilities, hospitals and lenders all have hardship options that rarely appear on charity lists. The billing department is often a faster yes than any outside program.

Our honest take: the fastest relief for most households comes from three phone calls made the same day: 211, the utility or landlord, and the state agency for the biggest bill. Online applications to national charities are worth it, but they're the slowest route.

Scams Aimed at People Behind on Bills

People who are behind on bills are prime targets, and a shutoff threat that gives you 1 hour to pay is a classic opener. The FTC's utility impostor page (opens in a new tab) is blunt: real utility companies won't demand immediate payment to avoid same-day disconnection. Red flags:

• A shutoff threat with a payment demand. If someone says your power goes off in an hour unless you pay now, hang up and call the number on your bill.
• Gift cards, wires, payment apps or crypto. The FTC says never pay anyone who demands payment those ways; only scammers say you can only pay one of those ways.
• "Bill grants" for a fee. No real program charges you to apply for help with bills.
• ACP or ERA "applications." Both programs have ended, so a site taking applications for them is out of date or collecting your data.
• A collector who won't name the creditor. The CFPB says a collector who can't give you the creditor, amount and dispute rights could be running a scam.

Report fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (opens in a new tab) and to your state attorney general.

For a quick, free list of official routes, the Grantsights eligibility checker asks two questions: pick "Individual" and then "Personal financial help," and you'll get links to the USA.gov benefit finder and official rent, utility and food help, with a reminder about 211 and the FTC's scam warnings. It doesn't apply for you or hold local charity lists, so pair it with a 211 call. Families who rely on one paycheck may also find our grants for single mothers guide useful for benefits and tax credits.

FAQ: Help Paying Bills

Who can help me pay my bills right now? Dial 211 for local referrals any time, call the company you owe before the due date, and use (866) 674-6327 for energy help.

Is there a government grant to pay my bills? No cash grant you apply for online. Help comes through LIHEAP, Lifeline, housing vouchers, Medicaid, hospital financial assistance and tax credits.

What is the income limit for help paying bills? It differs by program. For three people in 2026: Lifeline $36,882, Medicaid expansion about $37,702, the LIHEAP federal ceiling $40,980.

Can my electricity be shut off if someone in my home is sick? In many states a medical certificate delays shutoff. In Pennsylvania the first one lasts up to 30 days, with extensions, and the bill is still owed.

Is there still help with water bills or the internet bill? The federal water program closed in FY2024 and ACP ended June 1, 2024. Lifeline still discounts phone or internet by up to $9.25 a month.

What should I pay first if I can't pay all my bills? Housing, utilities, food and your work car come before credit cards and old collections. Never pay a shutoff threat by gift card or crypto.

Sources

1. 211.org, About 211 (opens in a new tab)
2. CFPB, Get help paying rent and bills (opens in a new tab)
3. USA.gov, Help with energy bills (opens in a new tab)
4. USA.gov, Help with utility bills (opens in a new tab)
5. 42 U.S.C. 8624, LIHEAP applications and requirements (Cornell LII) (opens in a new tab)
6. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, Protections for Responsible Utility Customers (February 2026) (opens in a new tab)
7. Pennsylvania PUC, FirstEnergy winter termination settlement release (March 26, 2026) (opens in a new tab)
8. Federal Program Inventory, Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (93.499) (opens in a new tab)
9. U.S. Treasury, Emergency Rental Assistance Program (opens in a new tab)
10. HUD, Housing Choice Voucher applicant and tenant resources (opens in a new tab)
11. Lifeline Support Center, home page (opens in a new tab)
12. Lifeline Support Center, How to qualify (2026 income table) (opens in a new tab)
13. USAC, Affordable Connectivity Program (opens in a new tab)
14. IRS, Financial assistance policy and emergency medical care policy, section 501(r)(4) (opens in a new tab)
15. CFPB, Medical credit cards and payment plans (opens in a new tab)
16. CFPB, Do medical bills affect my credit? (opens in a new tab)
17. HealthCare.gov, Medicaid expansion and you (opens in a new tab)
18. CFPB, What should I do if I can't make my car payments? (opens in a new tab)
19. CFPB, Debt collection (opens in a new tab)
20. USA.gov, Food stamps (SNAP) (opens in a new tab)
21. USA.gov, Food assistance and WIC (opens in a new tab)
22. IRS, Earned income and EITC tables (opens in a new tab)
23. IRS, Free tax return preparation for qualifying taxpayers (opens in a new tab)
24. HHS ASPE, 2026 Poverty Guidelines (opens in a new tab)
25. FTC, Scammers pretend to be your utility company (opens in a new tab)