Guides

Plain explanations of how to get government help and how property records work, for people who have never had to deal with either.

Help programs

• How to get help buying food: SNAP and WICHow to apply for SNAP, once called food stamps, and WIC: where to apply, what to bring, the interview, how fast a decision comes, your EBT card, renewals, the 2025 work rules and how to appeal.
• Cash assistance for families: TANF, SSI and general assistanceHow TANF cash help works: each state runs its own program under its own name, how to apply, the work rules and the 60-month time limit, plus SSI from Social Security and local general assistance.
• How to get Medicaid, CHIP or Marketplace health coverageApply for Medicaid and CHIP any time of year, buy a Marketplace plan during open enrollment for 2027, or use special enrollment after a life change. What the 2025 law changes and when.
• How to file for unemployment benefitsEach state runs its own unemployment program under federal rules. Which state to file with, what to have ready, weekly claims and job search, the waiting week, appeals and taxes.
• Help paying energy bills: LIHEAP and weatherizationLIHEAP is federal money that states, tribes and territories use to help pay heating and cooling bills and handle shutoff emergencies. How to apply, get weatherization help and deal with a shutoff notice.
• Help with rent and housing: Section 8, shelter and eviction helpHow Section 8 vouchers and public housing work through local housing agencies, where to find emergency rent help and shelter, and what to do if you face an eviction.
• Help paying for child careHow state child care assistance works: who qualifies, how to apply, waiting lists, choosing a provider, copays, and how free Head Start and Early Head Start differ.
• How child support worksHow state and county child support offices find a parent, establish paternity, set and collect support orders, review an order and handle cases across state lines.
• How to get help with veterans benefitsVA disability pay, health care, pension, GI Bill, home loans and burial benefits. How to get your DD214, get free help from accredited representatives and avoid paying anyone to file a claim.
• Help for older adults and people with disabilitiesWhere older adults and people with disabilities get help: the Eldercare Locator, Area Agencies on Aging, Medicare counseling, Social Security disability, job help, independent living centers and abuse reporting.
• How to find unclaimed money in your nameStates hold forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, deposits and insurance money until the owner claims it. Search every state you lived in for free, and check federal sources too.

Property

• How to find who owns a piece of landFind the parcel, read the assessor record, then check the recorded deed. Why the owner name can be out of date, and when you need a title search.
• How deeds are recorded in each stateMost states record deeds at a county office, but New England towns, Hawaii, Alaska and the territories do it differently. A table of the recording office in every state and territory.
• How property taxes work: who assesses, who collectsOne office values your property, local governments set the rate, and another office sends the bill. Who does each job in every state and territory, and how to question a value.