Money Assistance Illinois – Help paying bills, rent, loans & more

Illinois falls right in the middle in terms of poverty level, ranking at number 25 according to PovertyUSA. With 15 percent of the population living in poverty and 20.7 percent of children at or below the poverty level, there are many individuals and families in need of financial assistance. There are many people dealing with unemployment or low-paying jobs and need assistance to help cover their bills. If you are among those who need help covering some monthly expenses, you may qualify for assistance through one of the many available programs.

Below are multiple ways to get financial help in Illinois. Services that include help paying bills, rent, food/groceries, personal loans, debt relief and as mentioned various government benefits and support agencies across Chicago, Aurora, Joliet and all other cities in Illinois.

Social Security Loans (SSI)
Many residents living in Illinois 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: If you need help paying your utility bills you could qualify for help through the Illinois Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program which helps low income families cover heating expenses. In addition, Ameren offers assistance based on income levels, which allows residents to pay a percentage of their income towards utilities. ComEd offers income based payment plans, assistance for cooling bills in the summer assistance for seniors and a residential hardship fund which offers help for families suffering a hardship from military service, disability or job loss.

Food Assistance: Illinois residents can get help with their monthly food expenses through the state Food Stamps (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) Program. The program offers a monthly stipend to help subsidize the cost of food expenses on a monthly basis. In addition, pregnant women and women with young children (under the age of 5) can get help through the Women, Infant and Children’s program. Women are given access to monthly food checks and educational resources. Families with school-aged children can get help by applying for free or reduced lunch through their local school district.

Loan Assistance: If you have had an unexpected expense pop up that requires cash, there are a range of responsible lending options available. Learn about different specialty loans through the banks in addition to non-profit and government based services as well. Get more detail here.

Rent and Mortgage: If you need help finding a place to stay, you can find emergency housing services through the Homeless Prevention program. The program also offers assistance with payment of past due rent (up to three months), help with rent and/or security deposit, help with utility bills and job services. Applicants must be in immediate danger or losing their home. In addition, low-income families can qualify for subsidized housing through the Section 8 housing program offered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Medical Assistance: Do you need help paying for medical expenses? You could qualify for free health insurance through the state Medicaid Program. The program offers insurance for low-income families and individuals. Additionally, children can get coverage through the Illinois All Kids Program. The purpose of the program is to provide free or low-cost health care for children. The coverage includes access to doctors, specialists, hospitals and prescription services.

Educational Assistance: Future college students can apply for help covering their tuition and other expenses through the Federal Pell Grant Program which offers free grants to students who come from lower-income families and who agree to attend school full-time. In addition, Illinois students can get help applying for loans, grants and scholarships through the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

Community Action Centers: If you need help applying for services or finding emergency assistance, stop by one of your local community action centers. You can get help finding housing, food assistance, education resources and employment services. The purpose of the program is to help families and individuals become more self-sufficient through use local resources.

Charities: According to WalletHubs 2014 rankings, Illinois is the 28^th most giving state. This means there are plenty of public and private resources available for individuals in need. You can get help through local charity programs like Alicia’s House, America’s Second Harvest and Heavenly Hands.

Learn more about free items and other money assistance services in Illinois, 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 Illinois. 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 Illinois. 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 Illinois, 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 Illinois. 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 Illinois 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 Illinois like most of the country are extremely high. This can put serious strain 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.