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

Kentucky ranks number 45 among the states in terms of poverty level in the United States. The overall poverty rate is 18.8% which means nearly a fifth of Kentucky residents are impoverished. These statistics are provided by Poverty USA whose goal is to raise awareness and help decrease these percentages by providing assistance.

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

Social Security Loans (SSI)
Many residents living in Kentucky 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’re a resident of Kentucky and you’re in need of help paying your utility bill, you may be able to turn to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. This program assists the community in all 120 counties located throughout Kentucky. If you’re deemed eligible, you could qualify from $34 to $274 (with $150 being the most common average) to go towards your primary fuel type. Eligibility is based on your income and the benefits will be paid directly to the vendor of your primary fuel.

Food Assistance: In Kentucky, a program called The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) helps families buy food. Eligibility is determined by income levels and family size. The goal of this program is to increase a family’s food buying power. The benefits allow people to buy the groceries necessary for healthy meals from certain participating stores. The stipend is loaded onto an Electronic Benefit Card (EBT), to allow people to purchase foods – excluding ready-to-eat hot foods.

Loan Assistance: If you are experiencing difficulties with qualifying for a loan. There are specialty loan options out there which don’t include expensive payday loans. Many credit unions, non-profits and even banks provide low income loans that are specific for those having issues qualifying for mainstream loans and want to avoid payday loans. Learn about these loan options here.

Rent and Mortgage: For assistance in paying rent, Kentucky residents can gain access to low income housing through to programs. These are Kentucky Section 8 Housing and Project Based Housing Rent Assistance Program. Qualifying families provide rental assistance by allowing the family to only be responsible for a percentage of the rent. A voucher for the remainder will be issued directly to the landlord. HUD Housing in Kentucky allows homeowners access to free or low cost foreclosures and mortgage help.

Medical Assistance: There is medical assistance for eligible residents of Kentucky. The Department for Medicaid services is available to assist both adults and children in receiving healthcare. The Medicaid qualification is income based. For children without insurance who are ineligible for Medicaid based on their income, Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program (KCHIP) is available. Kynect, Kentucky’s Healthcare connection, can help families to find health insurance at affordable rates that suits their needs.

Educational Assistance: The state of Kentucky offers educational assistance to foster and adopted youth as well as youth who extend their commitment to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. If this does not apply to you, Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) can help to connect you with merit-based scholarships, financial aid awards and need-based grants.

Community Action Centers: Community Action Kentucky is a non-profit organization that works to represent individuals with low incomes to policy makers and public service commissions on the local, state and national level. They provide employment services, financial and asset building, housing, nutrition, education, transportation and energy assistance. They work side by side with state wide programs such ad Kentucky’s Healthcare Connection (kynect), Demand Side Management, Weatherization and Earned Income Tax Credit to assist Kentucky residents.

Charities: In Kentucky, there are many that believe they have a responsibility to assist those in need. The Salvation Army, the YMCA, and the Catholic Charities are constantly working with the community to get families and individuals the things that they need. Community Health Charities of America and St. Vincent Depaul Society are also excellent charities to look into. GreatNonProfits is a website that allows you to search for Kentucky Charities by city.

Learn more about free items and other money assistance services in Kentucky, 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 Kentucky. 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 Kentucky. 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 Kentucky, 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 Kentucky. 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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky 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.