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Hidden Benefits You Might Qualify For: Programs People Miss

By KPCB StaffCombined Expertise In The Low Income Housing Space For 10 Years · How we write our guides

Many people who get SNAP, Medicaid or SSI also qualify for smaller programs they never hear about, like a monthly phone or internet discount, help paying Medicare premiums, or free school meals. Often, getting one benefit is enough to qualify you for another. Start with our free benefit finder to see which programs fit your situation, then use the official links below to apply.

Each program is run by a government agency, and only that agency can decide whether you qualify. All of the programs below are running in October 2026.

Quick list of programs people often miss

ProgramWhat it helps withWhere to apply
LifelinePhone or internet billlifelinesupport.org or a participating phone company
Medicare Savings ProgramsMedicare premiums and, for some, copaysYour state Medicaid office
LIHEAPHeating and cooling bills, energy emergenciesYour state or local LIHEAP office
Weatherization Assistance ProgramHome repairs that lower energy costsYour state weatherization office
School meals and summer foodFree or reduced-price meals, summer grocery moneyYour child's school or state agency
Senior food programsMonthly food boxes, farmers market couponsYour state agency (not in every state)
Earned Income Tax Credit and free tax filingA larger refund, free tax preparationYour federal tax return, VITA or TCE sites

Lifeline: a discount on phone or internet service

Lifeline is a federal program that lowers the monthly cost of phone or internet service for people with low incomes. Under the FCC's rules, the standard discount is up to $9.25 a month. If you live on Tribal lands, you can get up to $25 more each month.

The discount is meant for service that includes internet or a phone-and-internet bundle. Since December 2021, phone-only plans generally don't qualify, except in areas where only one company offers Lifeline.

Who qualifies for Lifeline

You can qualify in either of two ways:

  • Your household income is at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines for your household size.
  • You, your dependent or someone in your household gets Medicaid, SNAP, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Federal Public Housing Assistance, or a Veterans and Survivors Pension.

People living on Tribal lands can also qualify through Bureau of Indian Affairs general assistance, Tribal TANF, Head Start (for households that meet its income standard) or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations.

Only one Lifeline benefit is allowed per household. If someone you live with already has it, you can't get a second one.

How to apply for Lifeline

  1. Go to the official Lifeline "Get Started" page. You can apply online, by mail, or through a phone or internet company that offers Lifeline.
  2. Have the last four digits of your Social Security number ready (or a Tribal ID number if you live on Tribal lands), plus your full name, address and date of birth.
  3. If you apply online or by mail, you may need to prove your eligibility, income, address and age. The Lifeline documents page lists which papers count and how to send them.
  4. The discount is applied by a phone or internet company that takes part in Lifeline, so you'll need to get service through one of them.

What happened to the Affordable Connectivity Program

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which used to give many households a larger internet discount, ended on June 1, 2024, because its funding ran out. No one can enroll in it now. Lifeline is a separate, older program and is still running.

Medicare Savings Programs: help paying Medicare costs

If you have Medicare and a limited income, your state may pay your Part B premium, and sometimes much more. These Medicare Savings Programs are run by each state, usually through the state Medicaid office.

Medicare.gov lists these 2026 federal limits:

ProgramWhat it paysMonthly income limit (single / married)Resource limit (single / married)
Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance and copays$1,350 / $1,824$9,950 / $14,910
Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB)Part B premium$1,616 / $2,184$9,950 / $14,910
Qualifying Individual (QI)Part B premium (you must reapply every year)$1,816 / $2,455$9,950 / $14,910
Qualified Disabled and Working Individual (QDWI)Part A premium, for certain working people with disabilities$5,405 / $7,299$4,000 / $6,000

Your state may let you qualify even if your income or savings are above these numbers. Some states don't count certain kinds of income or resources, and income limits are a little higher in Alaska and Hawaii. If you're close to the limit, apply anyway and let the state decide.

If you qualify for QMB, Medicare providers aren't allowed to bill you for deductibles, coinsurance or copays on services Medicare covers. Anyone who qualifies for a Medicare Savings Program also gets Extra Help with prescription drugs automatically. In 2026 that means you pay no more than $12.65 for each covered drug.

To apply, contact your state Medicaid agency. You can find your state's contact through HealthCare.gov's Medicaid page. If you're still getting set up with Medicare itself, see our guide to applying for Medicare online.

LIHEAP: help with heating and cooling bills

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is federally funded and run by each state, territory and many Tribes. It can help pay heating or cooling bills, prevent a shutoff, get service reconnected, and pay for repairs or replacement of heating equipment. Depending on where you live, it may also help with electric bills.

Each state sets its own income rules. LIHEAP gives priority to households that spend a large share of their income on energy, and to households with an older adult, a person with a disability or a young child.

How to apply for LIHEAP

  1. Use the LIHEAP eligibility tool to get a rough idea of whether you qualify.
  2. Find your state or local LIHEAP office. Some offices take applications online; others ask you to apply in person.
  3. If you need help finding an office, call the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) hotline at 1-866-674-6327, weekdays 9:00 am to 7:00 pm Eastern.

LIHEAP does not give grants directly to individuals and does not charge a fee for benefits. If someone offers you a "LIHEAP grant" or asks you for a fee, report it to the HHS fraud hotline at 1-800-447-8477.

For a step-by-step walkthrough, see our guide to applying for LIHEAP energy assistance.

If your power or gas is about to be shut off

Every state has its own rules about when utility companies can and can't disconnect service for nonpayment. These rules may depend on the weather, your age, whether you have a disability and which company you use. Look up your state's disconnection policy and call your LIHEAP office right away.

Weatherization: home fixes that lower energy bills

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) looks at your whole home and makes changes that lower your energy costs and make the home safer. Whether you qualify depends on your income, and you may also qualify if you already get TANF or SSI. To apply, find your state's weatherization office.

USAGov warns that the federal government doesn't hand out "free money" to individuals for home repairs. Ads promising that are often scams. Real weatherization help goes through your state program.

Free school meals and summer food for kids

Your child may get free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch at school, or free milk where the school doesn't serve federal meals. For the July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027 school year, free meals are for households at or below 130% of the federal poverty guidelines and reduced-price meals are for households at or below 185%.

Children can also qualify if the household gets SNAP, TANF, WIC or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, if they are foster children, or if they are enrolled in Head Start. Rules can vary by state, so check with the school.

Ask your child's school for a meal application. You can apply at the start of the year or any time your income or household changes. Some high-poverty schools use the Community Eligibility Provision and serve breakfast and lunch free to every student with no application.

Summer food programs

  • SUN Meals (the Summer Food Service Program) offers free meals during summer break to all children and teens 18 or younger. You don't apply and there's no income limit. Use the summer meals site finder to find a location.
  • SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) gives $120 in grocery benefits per eligible school-age child in participating states, Tribes and territories. If you already get SNAP or TANF, you may be enrolled automatically. Check whether your area takes part.

Food help for adults 60 and older

Two USDA programs serve older adults, but not every state offers them. The Commodity Supplemental Food Program provides a monthly box of food, and the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program gives coupons for fresh produce at farmers markets. If your state participates, you may qualify if you are 60 or older with income at or below 185% of the federal poverty guidelines. Find your state contact.

If neither program runs in your state, look into SNAP. Our guide on how SNAP works explains the application.

The Earned Income Tax Credit and free tax filing

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) lowers the tax you owe and can increase your refund if you work and have a low income. The amount depends on whether you have children or a disability, but you may be able to claim it even with no qualifying child.

If you didn't claim the EITC in earlier years, you may still be able to. You have 3 years from the date a return was due to file a claim. If you skipped filing altogether, see our guide on what to do if you didn't file a tax return.

The IRS's EITC Assistant tells you whether you qualify, whether your children count, and about how much you'd get.

Free ways to file

  • Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) prepares basic returns for free if you make $69,000 a year or less, have a disability or speak limited English. Use the VITA/TCE site locator.
  • Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) offers free help to all taxpayers and focuses on people 60 and older, especially with pension and retirement questions.
  • IRS Free File lets you prepare and file your federal return online for free if your adjusted gross income is under the program's income limit, which the IRS sets each year.

Health coverage through Medicaid and CHIP

You can apply for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) any time of year. CHIP covers children and pregnant women in families that earn too much for Medicaid, and every state sets its own income limits. Apply through HealthCare.gov or directly with your state Medicaid agency. Our Medicaid enrollment guide walks through each step.

Being on Medicaid also qualifies you for Lifeline.

Common mistakes that cost people benefits

  • Assuming you earn too much. Limits differ by program, by state and by household size. Apply and let the agency decide.
  • Forgetting that one benefit can qualify you for another. SNAP, Medicaid and SSI all count toward Lifeline, and SNAP or TANF can qualify your children for free school meals.
  • Missing renewals. The QI program, for example, requires you to reapply every year.
  • Paying someone to apply. Government benefit programs decide eligibility themselves. Be suspicious of anyone who charges a fee to get you a benefit or a grant.
  • Using the wrong website. Apply through the agency links in this guide or the office your state lists.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find out which benefits I qualify for?

Start with the KPCB Edge benefit finder. It points you to programs that match your situation. Then apply through each program's official agency, which makes the final decision.

Is the Affordable Connectivity Program coming back?

The ACP ended on June 1, 2024, when its funding ran out, and it isn't taking applications. Lifeline is still available and offers up to $9.25 a month off phone or internet service, or more on Tribal lands.

Can I get Lifeline if I already get SNAP or Medicaid?

Yes. Getting SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance or a Veterans and Survivors Pension qualifies you for Lifeline, as long as no one else in your household already has it.

I have Medicare. Can my state pay my Part B premium?

It may. If your income and savings are within your state's Medicare Savings Program limits, the state can pay your Part B premium and sometimes your other Medicare costs. Contact your state Medicaid office to apply.

Do I have to fill out a form to get free school meals?

Not always. Schools that use the Community Eligibility Provision serve free breakfast and lunch to every student with no application. Children in households on SNAP, TANF, WIC or FDPIR qualify too. Ask your child's school whether you need to fill out a form.

Does LIHEAP charge an application fee?

No. LIHEAP does not charge a fee, and it does not give grants directly to individuals. Report anyone asking for a fee to the HHS fraud hotline at 1-800-447-8477.

Sources

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