Most people searching for help with bills go straight to LIHEAP or their local utility company. Those are solid starting points, but they are not the whole picture. Dozens of programs exist at the federal, state, and nonprofit level that most households never hear about. Some have short application windows. Others are buried inside government agency websites that are hard to navigate. The result is billions of dollars in unclaimed aid every single year. These are the ten bill assistance programs that deserve far more attention than they get.

1. The Weatherization Assistance Program

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is run by the U.S. Department of Energy. It pays contractors to improve the energy efficiency of your home at no cost to you. This means upgraded insulation, sealed air leaks, and smarter heating systems. The result is a lower energy bill every month going forward. WAP targets low-income households, and income limits are based on 200% of the federal poverty level. Most states have a waitlist, so applying early is the smartest move you can make. You are not borrowing money or taking on debt. WAP is a grant that stays with the home even after you move. The DOE’s WAP page has a state-by-state directory of local agencies that manage applications.

2. The Emergency Broadband Benefit Replacement: ACP and What Replaced It

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) ended in 2024, but its successor programs are still active and largely unknown. Several states launched their own broadband subsidy programs to fill the gap. California’s Internet for All initiative and New York’s ConnectALL program both offer monthly discounts on internet service for qualifying households. These state programs do not get the press that ACP did. Many eligible families assume all broadband aid dried up in 2024, but that is not accurate. Check your state’s public utilities commission website to see what is currently running in your area.

3. Utility Arrearage Management Programs

Most utility companies run Arrearage Management Programs (AMPs) that are almost never advertised. An AMP lets you reduce or eliminate your past-due balance by making consistent on-time payments going forward. For every month you pay your current bill, a portion of your arrearage gets forgiven. Some programs forgive the entire back balance after 12 months of good payment history. You have to ask your utility company directly because these programs are rarely listed on the front page of their website. Call the customer service line and ask specifically whether they have an arrearage management or debt forgiveness program for customers facing hardship.

4. The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program

Water bills do not get the same attention as electric or gas bills, but they are just as likely to cause a shutoff. The Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) is a federal program that helps low-income households pay drinking water and wastewater service bills. It operates through state agencies, and not every state has fully deployed it yet. LIHWAP is separate from LIHEAP and covers a gap that many households fall into when their water bills become unmanageable. The ACF’s LIHWAP program page lists state contacts and eligibility guidelines.

5. Telephone and Lifeline Upgrades Through Tribal Programs

The Lifeline Program from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) offers a monthly discount on phone and internet service. Most people know this one. What they do not know is that households on tribal lands qualify for a much higher monthly benefit. The enhanced Lifeline benefit for Tribal members is $34.25 per month compared to $9.25 for non-Tribal enrollees. This nearly quadruples the value of the benefit. If you live on or near tribal lands and are not enrolled in the enhanced tier, you are leaving money on the table every single month.

6. The HOME Investment Partnerships Program

The HOME Investment Partnerships Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Most people think of it as a housing construction fund, but HOME also provides rental assistance and homeowner rehabilitation grants. If your home needs repairs that are driving up your utility bills, a HOME-funded project in your area may pay for those repairs. Eligible homeowners with low to moderate income have received thousands of dollars in improvements through local HOME-funded agencies. Search your city or county’s housing authority website to find out which local agencies distribute HOME funds in your area.

7. State Percentage of Income Payment Plans

Percentage of Income Payment Plans (PIPPs) are state-level programs that cap your monthly utility bill at a fixed percentage of your household income. Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois have some of the most established PIPP programs in the country. Under a PIPP, you never pay more than a set percentage of your gross income on your energy bill regardless of how high your usage goes. The difference between your actual bill and your capped payment gets credited against your account balance over time. Not every state has a PIPP, but the National Energy Assistance Directors Association maintains updated state-by-state information on energy assistance programs including PIPPs.

8. The Community Services Block Grant

The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) funds local Community Action Agencies (CAAs) across the United States. These agencies offer direct financial assistance for bills, food, housing, and transportation. The CSBG is not a direct payment program you apply to online. Instead, you contact your local CAA and they assess what help you qualify for. Many CAAs have emergency funds that can cover one or two months of a specific bill with no repayment required. The CSBG agency locator is the fastest way to find the CAA nearest to you.

9. Medical Bill Financial Assistance at Nonprofit Hospitals

This one surprises a lot of people. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), every nonprofit hospital in the country is required to have a financial assistance policy. These are sometimes called charity care programs. If your income falls below a certain threshold, usually 200% to 400% of the federal poverty level, the hospital must reduce or eliminate your bill. The threshold varies by hospital. Many hospitals do not make this easy to find. You have to call the billing department and ask specifically for their financial assistance policy or charity care application. The Hospital Financial Assistance Policy Finder from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has guidance on how these policies work.

10. Employer-Sponsored Emergency Assistance Funds

This is the most overlooked bill assistance program on the entire list. Many large employers maintain emergency assistance funds for their employees and sometimes even former employees. These funds are often run through the company’s HR department or through an affiliated nonprofit foundation. They can cover utility bills, rent, medical expenses, and other household costs. The amounts are typically small, ranging from $500 to $2,500, but they arrive fast and require no repayment. If you work for a major employer, it is worth a direct conversation with HR to ask whether an emergency assistance fund or employee hardship program exists.

These programs exist because the need is real and widespread. The gap between eligible households and enrolled households is enormous across every program on this list. Applying takes time and paperwork, but the payoff is direct relief on bills that are already due. Start with the programs most relevant to your specific situation and work outward from there. If one program has a waitlist, apply and move to the next one while you wait.