Help for Individuals

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

After Deployment
Web site
Serves as a mental wellness resource that assists military Service Members and the people close to them to anonymously seek mental health support and treatments.

Assisted Senior Living
Web site
Strives to help seniors and caregivers locate adequate care and senior living facilities. Site includes options to search by state and type of facility and provides resources for gathering more information on this topic.

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

Bridge to Benefits
Web site
Offers a free and confidential screening tool for individuals and families to use to determine their eligibility status for public assistance programs and tax credits. Service currently covers Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.
Sponsoring organization: Children's Defense Fund

Cash & Counseling
Web site
Provides a flexible monthly allowance to recipients of Medicaid personal care services or home and community based services, which allows them to direct and manage their own personal assistance services and address their own specific needs.
Sponsoring organization: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

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

Disability Benefits for Wounded Warriors
Web site
Provides information on eligibility for disability benefits through the Social Security Administration. Military service members can receive expedited processing of disability claims from Social Security. Benefits available through Social Security are different than those from the Department of Veterans Affairs and require a separate application. Also available in Spanish.
Sponsoring organization: Social Security Administration

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

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
Web site
Describes a federal income tax credit for eligible low-income workers which reduces the amount of tax an individual owes, and may be returned in the form of a refund.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Treasury

Family-Centered Care Self-Assessment Tool: Family Tool
Web site
Designed to help families increase their awareness and knowledge of family-centered care.
Sponsoring organization: Family Voices

Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, & Survivors
Print publication
Contains a summary of VA benefits legislated in Title 38 of the United States Code effective Jan. 1, 2008. The booklet also lists associated acronyms, plus websites and phone numbers for national VA entities and addresses of all VA facilities in the United States, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Find a Dentist
Web site
Allows the public to search for ADA dentists by city, state, zip code, and area by speciality.
Sponsoring organization: American Dental Association

Find a Health Center
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 from the 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, but not limited to: food assistance programs and housing and energy assistance.

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.

Grants for Nonprofits
Web site
Contains private funding sources directed primarily to nonprofit organizations, although some topics are of interest to individuals, such as academic support. Funding sources are arranged by topic. This tool is produced by Jon Harrison at the Michigan State University Libraries.

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

Housing Authority Websites
Web site
Provides lists of state and regional housing agencies.

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
Supplies information on free and low-cost health insurance programs for children including Medicaid and CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program).
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
Provides access to programs managed by local organizations that support a range of services, including shelter, food, counseling, and jobs skills programs. Information is organized by state.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Locate In-Person Services
Web site
Contains an A-Z list of government offices and services used to locate such services and offices by state or local area. Website is also available in many other languages.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. General Services Administration

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
Web site
Details general and application information about and 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

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 and Medicaid Services

MedlinePlus Go Local
Web site
Offers information about health services in local geographic areas, including hospitals, physicians, nursing homes, support groups, health screening providers and many others.
Sponsoring organization: National Library of Medicine

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

Returning Service Members (OEF/OIF)
Web site
Offers information, support, and services provided by the Veterans Affairs office and other entities for returning soldiers of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

RxAssist - Patient Assistance Programs
Database
Provides a 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.
Sponsoring organization: Volunteers in Health Care

SAMHSA Guide: Getting Through Tough Economic Times
Web site
Provides information and resource referrals for people dealing with emotional or other health problems associated with economic hard times.
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Social Security Online
Web site
Identifies programs and online services of the Social Security Office. Visitors can qualify and apply online for disability and survivorship benefits. Also, replacement Medicare cards can be requested from this website.
Sponsoring organization: Social Security Administration

Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity
Web site
A foundation-led, non-partisan initiative aimed at ensuring that political leaders take significant actions to reduce poverty and increase opportunity in the United States.

State Human Service Agency Information and Links
Web site
Provides a directory of state human service agencies. Includes telephone numbers and links to websites 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
Provides information, resources and frequently asked questions related to suicide prevention in rural areas.
Sponsoring organization: Rural Assistance Center

Summary of VA Benefits
Print publication
Provides brief bulleted descriptions of VA benefits and who is eligible for them. This brochure includes websites and phone numbers for finding more information.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Web site
Helps low-income people buy food, such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, they need for good health. Works with State and local agencies, advocates, employers, community and faith-based organizations, and others to reach eligible low-income people who are not currently participating in SNAP and share information about its nutritional benefits.
Sponsoring organization: USDA Food and Nutrition Service

Ticket to Work Program: Recruitment and Outreach
Web site
Provides most people receiving Social Security benefits (beneficiaries) more choices for receiving employment services.
Sponsoring organization: Social Security Administration

Together Rx Access
Web site
Helps eligible individuals and families save money on prescription medications. Also available in Spanish

U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2): Veteran & Military Service Organizations
Web site
Offers 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

Veteran Resource Guide: Mental Health
Web site
Serves as a brief directory of referrals and information on mental health, substance abuse, and other services for veterans and their families. Most are available freely and anonymously.
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Veterans Guide to Health Care: VA Midwest Health Care Network
Web site
Provides veterans with information on health care services and benefits. Includes websites, phone numbers, and facility locations in the VA Midwest Healthcare Network VISN 23, (Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and portions of Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Wisconsin and Wyoming).
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Veterans Health Administration
Web site
Serves as a portal to a variety of resources and services related to veteran health care.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Veterans ON-Line Application (VONAPP) Website
Web site
Enables veterans to apply for benefits using the Internet. U.S. military veterans and some service members within six months of separation or retirement can apply for compensation, pension, and vocational rehabilitation benefits. Provides online access to applications, FAQs and additional contacts.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline
Hotline/Toll Free Telephone
Provides veterans in emotional crisis free, 24/7 access to trained counselors. Dial 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and press "1" to be routed to the Veterans Hotline.
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

VirtualCAP
Web site
Provides information and resources 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: Virginia Community Action Partnership

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

Funding

Assistance to Needy Veterans and Family Members
Grant program for veterans that provides limited financial assistance to those in need and who have exhausted all other sources of aid.

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.

Jenny's Heroes Community Grant Program
Grants to individuals who submit the best ideas for tangible, lasting community projects.

Veteran Entrepreneurship Support Grant
Grants to support educational projects and organizations that address the entrepreneurial needs of Veterans, including Service-Disabled Veterans and members of the National Guard and reserve forces who are starting or growing small businesses.

Regulations, Forms & Other Useful Documents

American Veterans and Servicemembers Survival Guide
Sponsoring organization: Veterans for America
Describes problems faced by and services available to veterans, servicemembers, and their families. Discusses future issues and related impending decisions. Written to help the veteran and servicemember understand how various agencies work and how he or she can get the benefits and services to which they are entitled.
Date: 12 / 2008

Community Services Block Grant: Annual Report, 2007
Author(s): Jenae Bjelland, Madelaine Criden, Meg Power, Jennifer Clark
Sponsoring organization: National Association for State Community Services Programs
Reviews how the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)-funded network of state and local agencies helped individuals and families overcome economic insecurity in FY 2007.
Date: 05 / 2009

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: 08 / 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.

Feeding America
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. Previously, America's Second Harvest.

Legal Services Corporation (LSC)
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.

Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
Federal government
Provides resources about DOE's Weatherization Assistance Program that enables low-income families to permanently reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient.