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Federally Funded Family Support Programs

The following is a list of federally funded programs that provide assistance and support to low-income families and their children. NCCIC does not endorse any organization, publication, or resource.

Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)

State child care assistance programs are funded through CCDF, which is a Federal program that assists low-income families, families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and those transitioning off TANF in getting child care so they can work or attend training/education. Each State has its own eligibility guidelines.

To learn more about the child care assistance program in your area, contact your State child care agency. Contact information for all CCDF agencies is available on NCCIC’s Web site at http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/statedata/dirs/display.cfm?title=ccdf.

Food Stamp Program

The Food Stamp Program is a State administered assistance program that helps low-income families pay for the cost of food.

To learn about the eligibility requirements and how to apply, contact your local Food Stamp Program office. A Food Stamp Application and Local Office Locators Directory is available at www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/outreach/map.htm. Additional information about the Food Stamp Program is available in the "Frequently Asked Questions: Food Stamp Program" section of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Web site at www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/faqs.htm.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a State administered health insurance program designed to help cover medical expenses for certain low-income families and people. Eligibility requirements are established at the State level and may include both income and categorical requirements. More information about Medicaid eligibility is available at www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicaidEligibility/01_Overview.asp.

To learn how to apply for Medicaid, contact your State Medicaid office. Contact information for all State Medicaid offices is available through the CMS.gov Contact Database at www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/contacts/.

Rental Assistance

The U.S. Department of Urban and Housing Development (HUD) administers various housing and rental assistance programs throughout the country. Rental assistance programs include the following:

  • Public housing;
  • Privately owned subsidized housing (low-rent apartments); and
  • Housing choice voucher programs (Section 8).

To learn more about these programs and about how to apply for rental assistance, visit www.hud.gov/renting/index.cfm.

State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)

SCHIP is a Federal and State program that provides health coverage to uninsured children whose families earn too much for Medicaid, but too little to afford private coverage. A list of resources and links to the SCHIP programs is available at www.insurekidsnow.gov/. You can also call 877-543-7669 (877-KIDS-NOW).

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Program

The SSI Program provides assistance through monthly payments to people who are of low-income and meet the following conditions:

  • Are age 65 or older;
  • Are blind; or
  • Are disabled.

Children younger than 18 may be eligible to receive SSI if they meet the meet the Social Security’s definition of disability for children and income requirements.

The total amount of SSI payments varies from State to State. To learn more about the SSI program in your State, contact your local Social Security office. Contact information for Social Security offices is available at https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/FOLO/fo001.jsp.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

TANF is a State administered program designed to help needy families achieve self-sufficiency. TANF eligibility requirements and application processes vary from State to State. To learn about the eligibility requirements and how to apply, contact the State TANF agency. Phone numbers for all TANF agencies are available at www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/states/tanf-num.htm.

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

WIC is a federally funded, State program designed to provide nutrition education, provide health care referrals, and offer supplemental foods to the following low-income populations:

  • Pregnant women;
  • Postpartum breastfeeding/nonbreastfeeding women; and
  • Infants and children (birth to age 5) who are found to be at nutritional risk.

To learn how to apply for WIC, contact your State WIC agency. Contact information for all WIC agencies is available at www.fns.usda.gov/wic/Contacts/statealpha.HTM. Toll-free numbers for WIC agencies are available at www.fns.usda.gov/wic/Contacts/tollfreenumbers.htm.

Updated August 2008

 
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