Bill Assistance Programs: How to Get Help Paying Your Bills

Bill assistance programs help households who are struggling to pay utilities, rent, mortgage, or other essential bills by offering temporary financial help, payment plans, or discounts. HowToGetAssistance.org is an informational site only; to apply or check status you must use official government or provider channels.

Most communities have multiple layers of help: federal programs, state or local assistance, nonprofit support, and hardship options directly from utility companies, landlords, and lenders. You typically need to show proof of income, identity, and the bill you need help with.

Quick summary: where bill assistance usually comes from

  • Energy & utility bills: LIHEAP, local energy funds, utility company payment plans.
  • Water & sewer bills: Local utility hardship funds, city assistance programs.
  • Phone & internet: Lifeline, Affordable Connectivity (if still active in your area), provider hardship programs.
  • Rent & mortgage: Local housing agencies, emergency rental assistance, nonprofits.
  • Other bills (medical, collections, credit cards): Hospital charity care, negotiated payment plans, nonprofit credit counseling.

Most programs vary by state, county, and even by utility company, so your first step is usually to identify the official agency or provider that serves your address.

Do I qualify for a bill assistance program?

Eligibility typically depends on income, household size, location, and the type of bill.

Common eligibility clues:

  • Low or moderate income: Many programs use a percentage of the Federal Poverty Guidelines or Area Median Income (for example, under 150% or 200% of poverty level).
  • Past-due or shut-off notice: Some utility and housing programs require a disconnection or eviction notice, or proof your service is at risk.
  • Hardship situation: Job loss, reduced hours, medical issues, disability, or fixed income (like Social Security) may support your case.
  • Citizenship/immigration: Some federal programs have citizenship or eligible noncitizen rules, while many local and nonprofit programs help regardless of immigration status.

Terms to know (plain language)

  • LIHEAP: Federal program that helps with home heating and cooling costs.
  • Lifeline: Federal program that provides a discount on phone or internet service for low-income households.
  • Shut-off notice: A written notice from a utility that your service will be disconnected by a certain date if you don’t pay.
  • Emergency assistance: Short-term help intended to stop an immediate crisis like eviction or shutoff.

Because program rules differ by state and city, a good starting point is your state or local social services/human services department, your state housing finance agency, or dialing 211 to be referred to local programs.

What you’ll need ready before you apply

Having documents ready reduces delays and back-and-forth with agencies or providers.

You’ll typically need:

  • Proof of identity: Driver’s license, state ID, or other government-issued photo ID.
  • Social Security number or alternative ID: For you and sometimes for household members, if required by the program.
  • Proof of income: Recent pay stubs, unemployment benefit letter, Social Security/SSI/SSDI award letter, pension statement, or self-employment records.
  • The bill itself:Most recent bill showing your name, account number, service address, amount due, and any shut-off or late notice.
  • Housing documents (if rent/mortgage help): Lease agreement, mortgage statement, or eviction notice if applicable.
  • Benefit letters (if you have them): SNAP, TANF, or other benefit award letters sometimes help confirm income level.

Real-world friction to watch for: A common reason applications get delayed is that the name and address on the bill, ID, and application don’t match, or income documents are older than the program allows (often more than 30 or 60 days). If anything doesn’t match exactly, contact the agency or provider before submitting to ask what they will accept.

Your next steps: how to look for and request bill assistance

1. Start with the type of bill you need help with

a) Electric, gas, or heating fuel

  1. Contact your local LIHEAP office.

    • Use the LIHEAP locator on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services site to find your state/local office: search for “LIHEAP” on acf.hhs.gov.
    • What to expect next: Typically you’ll complete an application (online, by mail, or in person) and may have to provide income and household information.

  2. Call your utility company’s customer service or hardship department.

    • Ask: “Do you offer payment plans, budget billing, or any hardship/assistance programs?”
    • Many utilities offer extended payment plans, deposit waivers, or company-funded grants, especially if you already applied for LIHEAP.

b) Water and sewer

  • Call your water utility and ask about “customer assistance” or “bill relief” programs.
  • Some cities run low-income water rate discounts or emergency grants through the city water department or public works department.

c) Phone and internet

  • Check Lifeline eligibility and participating providers through the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) at lifelinesupport.org.
  • If you have an internet or mobile bill, also ask your provider about low-income plans or temporary hardship programs; many have internal policies to lower or spread out payments.

d) Rent or mortgage

  • Look up your local housing authority or state housing finance agency and search for “emergency rental assistance,” “homelessness prevention,” or “foreclosure prevention.”
  • Nonprofits such as local community action agencies, faith-based organizations, and legal aid often administer short-term rental or mortgage help funded by city, county, or state grants.

e) Medical or other unsecured bills

  • For hospital bills, contact the hospital billing office and ask about charity care or financial assistance policies, which nonprofit hospitals are generally required to have.
  • For other debts, consider contacting a nonprofit credit counseling agency (often recognized by your state attorney general) for help negotiating lower payments.

2. Decide how to contact the agency or provider

Most programs allow one or more of these:

  1. Online application: Often fastest if you can upload documents.
  2. Phone intake: Useful if you have questions or limited internet access.
  3. In-person visit: Common at county social services offices or community action agencies, sometimes by appointment only.

Do this next:Call 211 (or visit 211.org) and say, “I need help with [electric/gas/rent/etc.] bill assistance in [your city/county].” They can typically give you phone numbers and websites for local official programs and nonprofits.

What to expect after you apply:

  • Some programs give you a confirmation number or receipt; keep it.
  • Processing can take days to several weeks, depending on demand and funding.
  • Utility-related assistance is often paid directly to the utility, and you might receive a notice that a pledge was made on your account.

Avoid mistakes and bill-assistance scams

Any time money or personal information is involved, be cautious.

Common snags (and quick fixes):

  • “Fees” to apply: Legitimate government and nonprofit bill assistance programs do not charge an application fee. If someone asks you to pay to apply, walk away.
  • Requests for unusual payment methods: A real agency or utility will not ask you to pay them with gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers to “unlock” assistance.
  • Fake websites or social media offers: Always confirm you’re on an official .gov site, known utility website, or recognized nonprofit before entering personal data.

Scam-safety tips:

  • Never share full Social Security numbers, bank logins, or debit card details with anyone who called you unexpectedly. Hang up, then call back using a number from your bill or the agency’s official site.
  • Look for .gov domains or websites clearly tied to your city, county, state, or known utility. When in doubt, ask 211 or your local social services department to confirm a program.
  • If you suspect fraud related to utilities or assistance, you can report it to your state attorney general’s office or the Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov).

If you’re denied or the help isn’t enough

If you’re told you’re not eligible or the amount doesn’t solve the problem, there are often still options.

  1. Ask why you were denied.

    • Clarify whether it was income, missing documents, funding ran out, or not meeting a specific rule.
    • If the issue was documentation, ask if you can submit corrected or additional paperwork.

  2. Request information on appeals or re-applying.

    • Some agencies have a formal appeal process or allow you to reapply if your circumstances change.
    • Ask for the deadline and what evidence you need to provide.

  3. Layer multiple sources of help.

    • You can often combine: a utility payment plan + a small LIHEAP grant + charity help from a local nonprofit.
    • 211, local churches, Salvation Army locations, and community action agencies sometimes provide small, one-time payments or vouchers that fill remaining gaps.

  4. Communicate early with bill providers.

    • For utilities, housing, and lenders, call before the shut-off or due date when possible.
    • A simple script you can use:
      “I’m experiencing a temporary financial hardship and I’m trying to avoid disconnection/eviction. Are there any payment plans, hardship programs, or due date extensions available for my account?”

  5. Get legal or housing counseling if eviction or foreclosure is possible.

    • Look for legal aid organizations in your state (often funded to provide free or low-cost help).
    • Many states have HUD-approved housing counseling agencies that can help you understand options if you’re behind on rent or mortgage payments.

By identifying the right official office (often your local social services agency, housing authority, or utility provider), gathering the standard documents, and using 211 or state websites to confirm legitimate programs, you can typically find at least one realistic path to request bill assistance and reduce the immediate pressure from essential bills.