Step-by-step: How to get immediate help for bills when facing a financial crisis

The uncertainty of not having enough funds to cover even the essential living expenses is indeed daunting. With piling up bills and increasing financial distress, you are not alone in facing these hardships. Thankfully, there are available and accessible resources to empower you to achieve control of your financial stability and life. These resources are there to offer monetary aid to overcome the turbulent waters. With this guide, we shall learn about accessibility to immediate help for bills, fostering a more stable financial future.

Assess your financial standing

Before you get started, it is wise to have a complete understanding of where your financial position lies. What you can do is:

List all your potential expenses: Start by jotting down all of your possible expenses to be included in the monthly bill. This may cover everything from rent, utilities, mortgage, transportation, groceries, and medical bills.
Separate essential and non-essential expenses: Identify and separate your needs from your wants. Where essentials are things fundamental to life, non-essentials are those which can be postponed or reconsidered.
Analyze your total earnings: Make a habit of noting all your income sources, such as salary, wages, benefits, and any assistance programs you are benefitting from.

Taking hold of your financial standing is vital to have a structured plan and choice to seek help for bills.

Contact 211 for local assistance

In the US, 211 is a dial number that can readily connect you with available local help 24/7.

How to reach 211: Just dial 211 on your phone or visit their official platform to learn of various resources accessible in your area. You can also check out the United Way’s 211 pages.
Services offered: Assistance via 211 directs you to suitable programs, providing aid with energy, housing, healthcare, food, and so on.
What to expect: You will receive guidance from trained professionals who will evaluate your requirements and find the perfect, locally available services for you.

Explore various government assistance programs

Multiple federal and state programs offer monetary aid to help pay bills to people in need. A few common examples of such programs include:

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): SNAP is an assistance program designed to help individuals purchase food or groceries. The eligibility criteria vary by state.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): This program provides funds to households struggling with essential bills like housing and food.
Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): This support program helps with home energy costs, such as heating and cooling.

Visit the Benefits.gov website to know more about your eligibility and application process.

Seek help with utility bills

If your high utility bills are the root cause of your distress, consider the following options:

LIHEAP: LIHEAP is designed to support households facing challenges in covering their home energy costs. This program is administered by the state government and has a varying application process.
Local utility agencies: Many utility companies now offer hardship initiatives or flexible payment plans to assist troubled consumers. You may enquire them of available options applicable to you.

More information is available on USA.gov’s utility assistance page.

Address housing concerns

Housing stability is one thing, but housing expenses do rack up a reasonable margin of your income. But worry not; there are various assistance available to overcome such concerns:

Rental assistance: Multiple programs are available to support rent payments with varying eligibility criteria based on your location.
Mortgage assistance: For those homeowners facing risks of foreclosure due to non-payment of mortgage, you may find programs applicable to you.

For more details on rental support in your area, get in touch with the local housing authority or visit the USA.gov website.

Manage medical bills

Healthcare costs tend to spike in such a short time. This only adds to the pressure of ongoing financial burden. To reduce this burden, you can take the steps below:

Negotiate bills: Do not hesitate to contact your healthcare providers to discuss and confirm available payment plans and, if possible, bill discounts.
Community health centers: These centers provide healthcare services on a sliding scale depending on the individual or household’s income.
Charity Care Programs: These days, hospitals are taking initiatives to offer financial aid to low-income patients struggling with high medical bills.

United Way’s community resources hold specific guidance on availing these programs.

Explore additional financial assistance

Beyond assistance with access to basic needs, many useful programs provide help for bills.

Food assistance: Other than SNAP, several local food banks also offer to ease grocery costs during hard times.
Student loan relief: If you have student loans under your name, which is now a financial burden, you may consider options like forbearance or deferment.
Unemployment benefits: Suppose you lost your job or are simply unable to land yourself a secure job; you might be eligible for unemployment support.

Utilize community resources

If it takes time to benefit from federal programs or you are not qualified for one, you can turn to local agencies who offer immediate help for bills.

Community Action Agencies (CAA): These agencies usually offer support and services to low-income individuals and families.
Faith-based organizations: Several faith-based institutions present services or allocate funds dedicated to assisting community members during critical times.
Non-profit organizations: Non-profit organizations like Catholic Charities or Salvation Army often provide useful assistance programs to help the needy.

You can reach out to local agencies in your area to learn about the resources available to you in your community.

To sum up

A financial crisis is, without a doubt, a challenging phase in life. But thanks to all the support programs that provide help for bills, such situations can be overcome. Just assess your circumstance, proactively reach out to available and trusted resources, and find solutions to navigate through your economic hardship.

While this assistance can help you stabilise financially, you can also start developing a viable long-term financial plan for better financial management. To receive personalized assistance, contact 211 without any hesitation and grab your options.