Money Assistance Maryland – Help paying bills, rent, loans & more
Maryland is a state with a below average poverty rate. With 10.1% of residents falling under the national poverty level, it is ranked 3rd in the country with one of the lowest poverty rates. However there are still a large number of residents who are doing it tough. If you are one of the many individuals or families who are struggling financially, take advantage of the different financial support programs available. There are numerous financial assistance services that cover most living needs.
Below are multiple ways to get financial help in Maryland. Services that include help paying bills, rent, food/groceries, personal loans, debt relief and as mentioned various government benefits and support agencies across Baltimore, Columbia, Germantown and all other cities in Maryland.
Social Security Loans (SSI)
Many residents living in Maryland collecting Social Security may qualify for more financial assistance through SSI. For those whose only income is Social Security and you are in need of a loan, there may be specialist lenders who will assist. Learn more about SSI and other social security loan options here.
Assistance with Utilities: There are three energy assistance programs in the State to help low-income families deal with their home energy bills. The Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) helps families with their heating bills and also has limited funds to help replace broken or inefficient furnaces. The Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP) helps with paying current bills, past bills and putting in place efficiency remedies to lower future bills. The Utility Service Protection Program helps stop low-income families from getting cut off from utility services.
Food Assistance: Maryland’s iteration of the federal SNAP, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) which aids low income families and individuals with supplementing their grocery budget. There is also a Maryland Food Stamp program that can help families visit food banks for extra food items when needed.
Loan Help: Learn about the different specialty loans provided by non-profits, credit unions and some banks. These loans are specifically for low income earners or those with poor credit and are great alternatives to expensive micro lending loans. Get information on these loans here.
Rent and Mortgage: Maryland offers three different mortgage and foreclosure aid programs through its Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Lifeline Refinance program to help those that have fallen behind on current payments, the Homesaver Refinance program for those in delinquency on their mortgage, and Bridge to HOPE that help stop foreclosures with short term payment help. Renters facing eviction or needing rental housing assistance can do so through the same department under the Federal Section 8 HUD program.
Medical Assistance: Besides the federally funded Medicaid program in Maryland, residents can also rely on Maryland Health Care and Community Clinics that is a non-profit based organization that provides low or no cost quality health care to those without insurance or are low or no income individuals or families. The Maryland Health Insurance Plan helps those that do not qualify for other programs and need health coverage, it is state administered.
Educational Assistance: With at least 5 need based grants available annually in the State of Maryland to those students in need of financial aid found here, higher education can be an option. Besides needs-based there are also unique population grants, merit based, legislative scholarships and even career based grants. There are also Federal Student Aid Programs that can help students in various situations achieve payment aid. Through a Child Care Subsidy or Purchase of Child Care (POC) Maryland also helps families find subsidized child care.
Charities: With over 700 listed charities in Maryland there is bound to be a few that will be willing to help out with your current needs. These charities specialize in many different areas including housing, food, education, parenting, mental health, drug and alcohol addiction and many other areas that you may need help with. You can search this database or browse here.
Learn more about free items and other money assistance services in Maryland, including: Free clothes, furniture, car, school accessories, help with fines, seasonal items & more!
The below services are in general and may not be available in Maryland. However, if not available, many may have partnerships with other organizations through out the state that they can connect you with.
Free Hotel or Motel Vouchers for the Homeless or Emergencies
Those experiencing hardship and are without a roof over their head can access different types of short and possibly longer term accommodation throughout Maryland. Learn more about accommodation assistance in here.
Dealing with tickets or fines
If you have unpaid tickers or fines, avoiding them will only create further financial and credit problems. Learn about ways to get assistance with dealing with fines in Maryland, from requesting a waiver or challenging inaccurate fines. Get the information you need to tackle fines here.
How to get a free laptop or computer
Low income families have a range of organizations that provide free technology assistance such as computers and laptops throughout the country including Maryland. Learn about what free computers and laptop organizations are near you and how to apply here.
Getting a free or low cost car
At any given time there are different organizations that assist low income earners with transportation. Across the country and in Maryland there are different services that assist people with getting a vehicle. Learn more about free cars, how to get one and where to apply.
How to get free gas for emergencies
Gas prices in Maryland like most of the country are extremely high. This can put serious pressure on the family budget. For those dealing with cashflow issues and finding it hard to put fuel in the car, there is help. Learn how to get free gas for emergencies through free gas vouchers.
