Sources of Financial Help for Families

Low income families often receive financial help from state welfare agencies and many other nonprofit organizations but middle income families often don't qualify for assistance. Truth be told, middle income families don't need assistance as often as low income families do, but nearly everyone can use a hand at one time or another.

State Welfare Agencies

State welfare agencies offer a variety of types of financial assistance, including cash assistance, food stamps and medical cards. Middle income families often don't qualify but occasionally they do, especially if adults in the family are temporarily out of work or some sort of special circumstances arise. In addition, state welfare agencies often refer families to other sources of assistance for which they qualify. Visit the welfare agency in your county and take proof of all family income with you.

Social Security Disability Insurance

Adult family members that cannot work due to disabilities may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). To qualify, they need to have worked in the past and doctors must expect their disabilities to keep them from working for at least one year. Eligibility does not depend on the entire family having low income, so middle income families can qualify. Apply at your local Social Security Administration office.

Angel Food Ministries

Angel Food Ministries sells food packages at greatly reduced rates to anyone that wishes to purchases them. They have host sites all over the U.S. and sell food packages once a month. Middle income families are welcome to participate in the program; there are no applications to fill out and no eligibility criteria. The Angel Food Ministries website reports that the average food package costs about $30 and contains about $60 worth of high quality food. Check out their website online to find a host site near you.

Home Energy Assistance Program

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), available in all 50 states, helps families pay winter heating bills. Eligibility criteria vary somewhat from state to state and some middle income families may not quality, but others may. In most states, the state welfare agency administers the program, so check with the welfare office in your county. If the welfare agency does not administer the program in your state, ask at the welfare office if someone can tell you what agency does.

Sources:

Social Security Administration. http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10029.html#part1 . Disability Benefits.

Angel Food Ministries. http://www.angelfoodministries.com/about/ . About Us.