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Top 10 Federal Benefit and Assistance Programs

By Robert Longley, About.com

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Let’s get this out of the way first: there are no federal government assistance programs, grants or loans to help people pay off credit card debt. However, there are federal government benefit programs available to help with many other life situations and needs. Here you will find profiles, including basic eligibility criteria and contact information for 10 of the most popular federal benefit and assistance programs.

1. Social Security Retirement

Social Security retirement benefits paid to retired workers who have earned enough Social Security credits.

2. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal government benefit program providing cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter to persons who are blind or otherwise disabled and have little or no other income.

3. Medicare

Medicare is a health insurance program for people 65 years of age or older, some disabled people under 65 years, and people with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure treated with dialysis or a transplant).

4. Medicare Prescription Drug Program

Everyone with Medicare can get this coverage benefit that may help lower prescription drug costs and help protect against higher costs in the future.

5. Medicaid

The Medicaid Program provides medical benefits to low-income people who have no medical insurance or have inadequate medical insurance.

6. Stafford Student Loans

Stafford Student Loans are available for undergraduate and graduate students at virtually every college and university in America.

7. Food Stamps

The Food Stamp Program provides benefits to low-income people that they can use to buy food to improve their diets.

8. Emergency Food Assistance

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a Federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income needy individuals and families, including elderly people, by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost.

9. Employment Training and Assistance

Services are available to individuals seeking a job or developing work skills. Services include job search assistance, referral and placement assistance, reemployment services to unemployment insurance claimants, labor market information, and individual skills assessments.

10. Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers

The Section 8 Housing program aids very low income families in obtaining decent, safe, and sanitary rental housing.

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