Individual Assistance

The Rural Assistance Center works to support rural health and human services at the community level, rather than providing personal financial assistance or individual counseling. This guide lists some of the many good resources that individuals can use to identify programs and services that will help meet their needs.

Tools

BenefitsCheckUpRX
Web site
Helps Medicare beneficiaries learn about and enroll in government benefits, including Medicare Part D, the new outpatient prescription drug benefit, and other federal, state and private programs that can help save money on health care and prescription drugs.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Community Action Links: Community Action Agencies and State Associations
Web site
Directory of Community Action Agencies (CAAs) that help low-income people and those living in poverty. Links to CAA web sites are provided for each state.
Sponsoring organization: National Community Action Foundation

Cover the Uninsured: Resources for Individuals
Database
Lists resources and programs by state that can help individuals find health insurance, help paying for prescription medication, and related needs.
Sponsoring organization: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

DoD TransPortal
Web site
Assists service members leaving active duty by providing information and resources. To be used as part of a comprehensive program of transition and employment assistance.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Defense

Find Affordable Health Care
Database
The Bureau of Primary Health Care Service Delivery Sites tool allows users to search for health centers, including Federally Qualified Health Centers and other Bureau of Primary Health Care service delivery sites, by location. These health centers provide free and low-cost health services. Services include primary medical, obstetrical and gynecological, dental, mental health and substance abuse care, other types of medical and support services.
Sponsoring organization: Bureau of Primary Health Care

Find State and Local Housing Resources
Web site
Users may select a state or territory on the map or list of states to find housing resources in a specific area for people with disabilities.
Sponsoring organization: White House

Find State and Local Public and Private Health Care Resources
Web site
Users may select a state or territory on the map or list of states to find health related resources in a specific area for people with disabilities.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

GovBenefits.gov
Web site
Provides information and links to nearly 1,000 federal and state benefit programs, including food assistance programs, housing and energy assistance and more.

GovLoans.gov
Web site
Single point of access for information about Federal loan programs from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and U.S. Small Business Administration.

Help With Prescription Drug Costs
Web site
Helps Medicare beneficiaries that qualify apply for help with Medicare prescription drug costs.
Sponsoring organization: Social Security Administration

Hill-Burton Free and Reduced Cost Health Care
Web site
Information on free or below cost health care available to people who meet poverty guidelines from certain health care facilities that received federal funds for construction or renovation under the Hill-Burton program.
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration

HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agencies
Web site
Housing counseling agencies throughout the country that are funded by HUD who can give advice on buying a home, renting, defaults, foreclosures, credit issues and reverse mortgages.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Individual Assistance Center (FEMA)
Web site
Federal site for registration of services for people affected by disasters in federally designated disaster areas. Includes telephone, TTY and online access to registration and information that is available in English and Spanish.
Sponsoring organization: Federal Emergency Management Agency

Insure Kids Now!
Web site
Information on free and low-cost health insurance programs for children.
Call toll-free at 877.543.7669.
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration

Lifeline and Link up
Web site
Use this website to determine whether you are eligible to receive Lifeline and Link Up support. Lifeline support lowers the cost of basic, monthly local telephone service. Link Up support reduces the one-time cost associated with initiating telephone service and line extension to the consumer's residence.

Local Homeless Assistance
Web site
An information portal by state providing access to programs managed by local organizations that support a range of services, including shelter, food, counseling, and jobs skills programs.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
Web site
Application information for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a federally-funded program to help eligible low income homeowners and renters meet their home heating and/or cooling needs.
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families

Med Solutions
Web site
Assists individuals in accessing Patient Assistance Programs (PAPs) that may help reduce prescription medication costs. The service fee may be waived for those with financial need.

Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Finder
Web site
Online tool for identifying and enrolling in Medicare prescription drug plans. Includes information about plans available in each state. Available in Spanish.
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Partnership for Prescription Assistance
Web site
Provides patients and providers with resources to help qualifying patients who lack prescription drug coverage gain access to low-cost medications. Provides access to more than 475 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 180 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.
Sponsoring organization: Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America

RxAssist - Patient Assistance Programs
Database
Searchable database of patient assistance programs that provide free or low-cost prescription medications to people who cannot afford to buy their medicine. Includes information for patients and for health care providers. Free, but registration is required.

State Housing Agencies
Web site
Provides links to state housing agencies such as the Housing Finance Authority and the Department of Community and Economic Development.
Sponsoring organization: Housing Assistance Council

State Human Service Agency Information and Links
Web site
Directory of state human service agencies. Includes telephone numbers and links to web sites for each state's agency or agencies dealing with human service programs.
Sponsoring organization: American Public Human Services Association

Suicide Prevention Information Guide
Web site
Information, resources and frequently asked questions related to suicide prevention in rural areas.
Sponsoring organization: Rural Assistance Center

Together Rx Access
Web site
Free program that helps eligible individuals and families save money on prescription medications.

U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program: Veteran Service Organizations & Resources
Web site
An annotated list of congressionally chartered and non-profit organizations that support the health care, employment and rehabilitation needs of veterans.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Defense

USA.gov: Locate In-Person Services
Web site
An online portal for U.S. citizens to locate services from the U.S. government.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. General Services Administration

VirtualCAP.org
Web site
A clearinghouse of information and material that can be used by Community Action Agencies and others to help low-income persons and families move toward self-sufficiency and to reduce poverty in communities across the United States.
Sponsoring organization: Office of Community Services

Welfare Reform and Social Services State Links
Web site
Links to state social services agencies and state agencies handling welfare reform.
Sponsoring organization: Administration for Children and Families

Funding

FEMA Individuals and Households Program (IHP)
Provides money and services to people in federally designated disaster areas when losses are not covered by insurance and property has been damaged or destroyed.

Regulations, Forms & Other Useful Documents

Help After a Disaster: Applicant's Guide to the Individuals & Households Program
Sponsoring organization: Federal Emergency Management Agency
This program guide provides information about the Individuals and Households Program (IHP) and explains how to apply. The IHP provides money and services to people in disaster areas when losses are not covered by insurance and property has been damaged or destroyed. Designed to help individuals with critical expenses. Guide is available in Spanish and English.
Date: 05 / 2005

Organizations

2-1-1
Nonprofit/Foundation
Provides callers with information about and referrals to human services for everyday needs and in times of crisis.

America's Second Harvest
Nonprofit/Foundation
Nation's largest hunger relief organization. Network of 200+ food banks and food-rescue programs. Includes a directory of food banks by zip code or state.

Legal Services Corporation
Nonprofit/Foundation
Funds legal aid programs around the nation to help poor Americans gain equal access to the judicial system. Provides contact information for legal aid programs in each state.

Modest Needs
Nonprofit/Foundation
Works to empower normally self-sufficient people to remain productive, by helping them meet relatively small, one-time necessary expense for which they are unprepared.

United Way of America
Nonprofit/Foundation
Works to improve people's lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities. Includes contact information and links for local United Way organizations.

United Way y la Comunidad Latina
Nonprofit/Foundation
La misión de United Way es mejorar la calidad de vida por medio de la movilización de la capacidad humanitaria y caritativa de las comunidades.