Money Assistance South Carolina – Help paying bills, rent, loans & more

South Carolina is ranked number 43 in the US in reference to its poverty level according to Poverty USA. About 18.6% of residents are at or below the poverty level – that’s almost one fifth of the population. Fortunately, South Carolina has facilitated programs on the state and national level to help low income families and individuals in need.

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

Social Security Loans (SSI)
Many residents living in South Carolina 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 are having trouble affording your utility bills, you may be eligible for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The goal of this program, LIHEAP, is to provide South Carolina residents with the assistance they need to pay their heating bills in the winter and their cooling bills during the summer. Eligibility is determined by income level.

Food Assistance: Food assistance in South Carolina is available through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This is a federal program administered by the South Carolina Department of Social Services. The goal of the program is to end hunger and help low income families receive adequate nutrition. Benefits can be used to buy food at participating stores. Eligibility is determined by income and family size.

Loan Help: If you are finding it hard to get a loan to assist with household needs. Try utilizing a specialty loan from the bank (rarely advertised) or low income loans from non-profits, credit unions. Learn more about these different loan options here.

Rent and Mortgage: If you’re having trouble paying rent, South Carolina offers residents help through subsidized apartments. This is made possible by the U.S. Department of Housing and Development (HUD). Section 8 Housing is also available. These are Public Housing Apartments whose rent can be supplemented with vouchers from the government. South Carolina offers help for homeowners through the Hardest Hit Program. Individuals in need can get help with their mortgages through this program if they’re facing hardships such as unemployment or medical expenses.

Medical Assistance: South Carolina residents in need can receive medical assistance through a few different programs. Medicaid is a program that helps low income individuals receive paid for health coverage. Eligibility is determined by income. The Children’s Health Insurance Plan offers insurance to children whose families are not eligible for Medicaid because the family makes too much.

Educational Assistance: The South Carolina Higher Education Tuition Grants Commission offers help to low-income individuals who want to pursue higher education. The goal of this program is to improve accessibility to higher education for all residents. They provide need based grants for eligible full time students. Each grant is appropriated by the State General Assembly annually.

Community Action Center: The South Carolina Association of Community Action Partnerships is a program geared toward addressing the needs of low income residents of South Carolina. They work to provide necessary resources and programs as well as advocating policies that strengthen these assistance programs. Their goal is to help residents by promoting self-sufficiency and offering extensive training and professional development opportunities.

Charities: Because of the poverty levels in South Carolina, many charities have arisen in order to help those in need. Operation RoundUp is a charity offered by many of the utility companies in South Carolina including Mid-Carolina Electric Cooperative and Palmetto Electric Cooperative. They help low-income families and individuals receive grants and financial aid for clothing, shelter, food, healthcare, utilities and other community services.

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