What Government Assistance Can I Get in Texas? A 2025 Benefits Breakdown

When facing tough times, knowing what government assistance you can get in Texas is a critical first step toward stability. The process of finding and applying for help can feel overwhelming, especially when you're managing financial stress.

The state's support system is vast, offering help with food, healthcare, cash assistance, housing, and more. This breakdown provides a direct, organized, and human-centered map to the programs available to Texans, helping you identify the support you need and how to access it.

Understanding the System: Your First Steps

Texas's benefits landscape is primarily managed by three large state agencies, each responsible for different types of aid. This structure means that a family might need to interact with more than one agency to meet all their needs, creating a complex web of applications and offices.

However, the state provides two powerful tools to help you navigate this system. For anyone unsure where to begin, these are the best starting points.

• 2-1-1 Texas: This is the state's primary, comprehensive information and referral service. By dialing 2-1-1 or visiting their website, you can connect with a specialist who can help you find local services for almost any need, including food pantries, utility bill assistance, housing support, and crisis counseling. It is a free, confidential service available 24/7 and is the ideal first call for anyone needing guidance.
• YourTexasBenefits.com: This is the official online portal for the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). It is the single place to apply for the state's largest benefit programs, including SNAP food benefits, Medicaid health coverage, and TANF cash assistance. The state also offers the "Your Texas Benefits" mobile app, which allows you to manage your cases, upload documents, and check your benefit status directly from your phone.

The state's reliance on online portals like YourTexasBenefits.com reflects a move toward digital efficiency. While this is convenient for many, it can present a challenge for individuals without reliable internet access or digital skills.

For this reason, it's important to know that help is also available by phone and in person at local state offices and through community partner organizations.

Food and Nutrition Assistance (Administered by HHSC)

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) oversees the state's main programs designed to ensure families have access to nutritious food.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

The SNAP program, formerly known as food stamps, helps low-income families buy the food they need for good health. Benefits are provided on a Lone Star Card, which functions like a debit card at grocery stores and other authorized retailers.

SNAP funds can be used to purchase food items like bread, fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy products. However, they cannot be used to buy alcohol, tobacco, vitamins, or prepared hot foods, though exceptions for hot foods are sometimes made during natural disasters like hurricanes or winter storms.

Who is Eligible for SNAP?

To qualify for SNAP, you must be a Texas resident and meet certain income and resource limits.

Most adults between 18 and 52 who do not have children in the home can only receive SNAP for three months in a three-year period. This time limit does not apply if the person is working at least 20 hours per week or is in a job training program.

Simplified Application for Seniors and People with Disabilities

For households where all members are either age 60 or older or have a disability, Texas offers the Texas Simplified Application Project (TSAP). This program simplifies the application process and provides benefits for three years at a time instead of the standard six months, reducing the paperwork burden on vulnerable populations.

Benefit Amounts and Income Limits

The amount of SNAP benefits a household receives depends on its size and monthly income. The following table provides the maximum monthly income to qualify and the maximum benefit amount you could receive for 2025.

How to Apply for SNAP

The primary way to apply for SNAP is online at YourTexasBenefits.com. You can also apply by visiting a local HHSC benefits office or with the help of a community partner organization. The Your Texas Benefits mobile app is a useful tool for managing your case after you've applied.

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

WIC is a specialized nutrition program designed to support the health of pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, women who have recently given birth, infants, and children up to the age of five. It provides more than just food; it offers a comprehensive package of nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to other health and social services.

Who is Eligible for WIC?

To be eligible for WIC in Texas, an applicant must meet four criteria:

1. Categorical: Be pregnant, breastfeeding (up to one year postpartum), postpartum (up to six months after birth), an infant, or a child under age 5. Fathers, grandparents, and foster parents can apply for eligible children in their care.
2. Residential: Live in Texas. U.S. citizenship is not a requirement to receive WIC benefits.
3. Income: Have a household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. Families who are already enrolled in SNAP, Medicaid, or TANF are automatically income-eligible for WIC.
4. Nutritional Risk: Be determined to be at "nutritional risk" by a health professional at a WIC clinic. This is assessed through a simple health screening that includes height and weight measurements and a check for anemia.

What Benefits Does WIC Provide?

WIC provides a package of benefits tailored to the specific needs of its participants. This includes a WIC card to purchase specific healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, milk, eggs, and infant formula or baby food.

The program is also a major source of breastfeeding support. It offers access to lactation consultants, peer counselors, and even breast pumps for mothers who need them.

How to Apply for WIC

Unlike SNAP, WIC applications are not handled through the YourTexasBenefits.com portal. Instead, you must apply in person at a local WIC clinic. You can find your nearest WIC clinic by using the locator tool on the Texas WIC website or by calling 800-942-3678. The myWIC app can help you manage appointments and check your food benefits once enrolled.

Healthcare and Medical Coverage (Administered by HHSC)

HHSC also manages the state's largest programs providing free or low-cost health insurance to Texans.

Texas Medicaid

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides health coverage to millions of Americans. It serves eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities. In Texas, Medicaid covers a wide range of medical services, including doctor visits, hospital care, and prescription drugs.

Who Does Medicaid Cover?

While eligibility rules are complex, Medicaid in Texas primarily serves:

• Children from low-income families.
• Pregnant women.
• Parents or caretakers of eligible children.
• Adults aged 65 or older.
• Adults with disabilities.

Key Specialized Medicaid Programs

To meet diverse needs, Texas offers several specialized Medicaid programs, including:

• Medicaid for Pregnant Women & CHIP Perinatal: Provides prenatal and delivery care for low-income pregnant women.
• Medicaid for the Elderly and People with Disabilities: Offers long-term care services, either in a nursing facility or at home.
• Medicaid Buy-In Programs: Allow certain adults and children with disabilities who have higher incomes to "buy into" Medicaid by paying a monthly premium. This helps families with high medical expenses that are not covered by private insurance.
• Medicaid for Breast and Cervical Cancer Program: Provides full Medicaid coverage to women diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer through a specific screening program.

How to Apply for Medicaid

Applications for all Texas Medicaid programs are submitted through the YourTexasBenefits.com portal, which streamlines the process for families.

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is designed to fill the gap for families who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford to buy private health insurance for their children.

CHIP provides comprehensive coverage for children up to age 19. This includes regular check-ups, immunizations, dental care, and prescriptions.

CHIP Eligibility and Cost

Eligibility for CHIP is based on family size and income. Unlike Medicaid, which is free for those who qualify, some families on CHIP may be required to pay a small annual enrollment fee and co-pays for certain services. These costs are capped and depend on the family's income, ensuring that care remains affordable.

How to Apply for CHIP

The application process for CHIP is combined with the Medicaid application at YourTexasBenefits.com. When a family applies for health coverage for their children, the system automatically determines whether the children are eligible for Medicaid or CHIP, simplifying the process for parents.

Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) Program

The Health Insurance Premium Payment (HIPP) program is a lesser-known but highly valuable form of assistance. If an individual is eligible for Medicaid and also has access to a private health insurance plan, such as through an employer, the HIPP program may pay the monthly premiums for that private plan.

This allows the Medicaid recipient to keep their private insurance while Medicaid covers any additional costs. To qualify, a family member must be on Medicaid and the employer-sponsored health plan must be deemed cost-effective by the state.

Cash and Financial Help (Administered by HHSC)

For families facing severe financial hardship, HHSC administers the state's primary cash assistance program.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

TANF provides direct monthly cash payments to families with very low incomes to help them pay for basic necessities such as housing, utilities, clothing, and transportation. The program is designed to be temporary and emphasizes work, requiring adult recipients to participate in job training or search for employment.

Who is Eligible for TANF?

TANF has some of the strictest eligibility requirements of any state program. Families must have children aged 18 or younger and have very little income and few financial assets.

To receive benefits, adult recipients must agree to follow a set of program rules. These include cooperating with child support enforcement, not quitting a job, and ensuring their children attend school and receive vaccinations.

Types of TANF Assistance

Texas offers three distinct types of TANF assistance to meet different needs:

1. Monthly TANF: This provides ongoing monthly cash payments to families who meet the stringent income and asset tests.
2. One-Time TANF: This is a single payment of up to $1,000 for families experiencing a short-term crisis, such as a job loss or medical emergency. It is designed to help a family manage the crisis without needing to go on long-term assistance and can only be received once in a 12-month period.
3. One-Time TANF for Relatives: This is a once-in-a-lifetime payment of $1,000 available to grandparents, aunts, uncles, or siblings who take on the primary care of a related child.

TANF Benefit Amounts and Income Limits

TANF income limits and payment amounts are complex and vary based on family size and whether one or two parents are in the home.

How to Apply for TANF

Applications for all forms of TANF assistance are submitted through the YourTexasBenefits.com portal.

Housing and Utilities Support (Administered by TDHCA)

Assistance with housing and energy bills is primarily overseen by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA). A key aspect of TDHCA's operation is that it generally does not provide services directly to the public.

Instead, it acts as a funding agency. TDHCA distributes federal and state money to a network of local nonprofit organizations and government agencies, known as subrecipients, that deliver assistance to Texans in their communities.

Help with Utility Bills

TDHCA manages several programs to help low-income households with their energy costs.

• Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP): This is the main program for utility bill payment assistance in Texas. It is the state's implementation of the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and can help families pay their electric and gas bills.
• Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP): WAP focuses on long-term solutions by helping to make homes more energy-efficient. This can include adding insulation, sealing air leaks, or servicing heating and cooling systems to lower utility bills for years to come.

How to Apply for Utility Help

Because TDHCA works through local partners, you do not apply to the state for these programs. Instead, you must contact the local Community Action Agency or utility assistance provider that serves your county.

You can find your local provider by using the "Help for Texans" search tool on the TDHCA website. You can also get a referral by calling 2-1-1.

Rental and Housing Assistance

TDHCA and its local partners offer several resources for renters and those facing housing instability.

• Finding Affordable Housing: The TDHCA Vacancy Clearinghouse is an online search tool that lists rent-reduced apartments across Texas that have been funded by the state. You can search by city, county, or zip code to find available units.
• Rental Assistance Programs: Long-term rental assistance is typically provided through the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program or Public Housing. These programs are administered by local Public Housing Authorities (PHAs), not TDHCA, and often have very long waiting lists due to high demand.
• Homelessness Prevention: TDHCA distributes funds from programs like the Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) program to local organizations that provide emergency shelter, rapid re-housing services, and other support for individuals and families who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

A Note on Emergency Programs

It is important to note that large-scale, crisis-response programs like the Texas Rent Relief (TRR) Program and the Texas Homeowner Assistance Fund (TXHAF) have closed. These programs were created using temporary federal funds allocated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Once that funding was exhausted, the programs ended. This highlights the nature of emergency assistance: when new programs are created in response to future crises, the window to apply may be limited, so prompt action is often necessary.

Homeownership Assistance

For those looking to buy a home, TDHCA offers The Texas Homebuyer Program. This program provides down payment assistance and 30-year mortgage loans, often with competitive interest rates, to eligible first-time homebuyers. To access these benefits, you must work with a participating lender approved by TDHCA.

Employment and Child Care Support (Administered by TWC)

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) oversees programs designed to support the state's workforce, including unemployment benefits for those who have lost a job and child care assistance for working parents.

Unemployment Benefits

Unemployment insurance is an employer-paid program that provides temporary, partial income replacement to workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

Who is Eligible for Unemployment?

Qualifying for unemployment benefits in Texas depends on three factors:

1. Past Wages: You must have earned enough wages during your "base period" (the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters) to establish a claim.
2. Job Separation: You must be unemployed or working significantly reduced hours through no fault of your own. This generally includes being laid off due to a lack of work. If you were fired, your eligibility depends on whether the termination was for "misconduct." If you quit, you are generally not eligible unless you can prove you left for a "good cause connected with the work," such as unsafe working conditions.
3. Ongoing Requirements: To continue receiving benefits, you must be able and available for work and actively searching for a new job each week.

How Much Can You Receive?

Your Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) is calculated based on your earnings in the highest-paid quarter of your base period. For 2025, the WBA ranges from a minimum of $74 to a maximum of $591 per week.

The total amount of benefits you can receive in a year is known as your Maximum Benefit Amount (MBA). This is generally 26 times your WBA.

How to Apply for Unemployment

You should apply for benefits as soon as you become unemployed. You can apply online using TWC's Unemployment Benefits Services portal or by calling a TWC Tele-Center at 800-939-6631.

Be prepared to provide your Social Security number, driver's license or state ID number, and detailed information about your last employer.

Child Care Services (CCS)

The TWC's Child Care Services (CCS) program provides scholarships (also known as subsidies) to help eligible low-income parents pay for child care. This support enables parents to work, attend school, or participate in job training programs.

Who is Eligible for Child Care Assistance?

Eligibility for a child care scholarship is determined by local Workforce Development Boards, but general requirements include:

1. Need: The child must be under the age of 13 (or under 19 if the child has a disability).
2. Residency and Citizenship: The family must live within the local board's service area, and the child must be a U.S. citizen or legal immigrant.
3. Income: The family's gross monthly income must fall below the limits set by the local board.
4. Participation: The parent(s) must be participating in work, school, or training for a minimum number of hours per week. For a single-parent family, this is typically 25 hours per week. For a two-parent family, it is usually a combined 50 hours per week.

Income Guidelines (Example)

Income limits vary slightly by region. The table below is an example of the maximum gross monthly income limits for a family to qualify for child care assistance.

How to Apply for Child Care Help

The CCS program is administered by 28 local Workforce Development Boards across Texas. The state has launched a new centralized portal, TexasChildCareConnection.org, where families can complete an eligibility screener and apply for assistance.

This portal will connect you with your local workforce board, which will guide you through the rest of the process.

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services

TWC also offers Vocational Rehabilitation services to help Texans with physical or mental disabilities prepare for, find, and retain employment. This can include counseling, training, and other support services tailored to the individual's needs and career goals.

Your Texas Benefits Toolkit: Key Agencies and Contacts

Navigating the system is easier when you know who to contact. Here are the primary state agencies responsible for government assistance in Texas.

• Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC): The main agency for food benefits (SNAP, WIC), health coverage (Medicaid, CHIP), and cash assistance (TANF). The primary application portal is (https://www.yourtexasbenefits.com/).
• Texas Workforce Commission (TWC): The agency for employment-related support, including Unemployment Benefits, Child Care Services, and Vocational Rehabilitation. Their main website is twc.texas.gov. 
• Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA): Oversees funding for utility bill assistance, weatherization, and affordable housing programs. Assistance is provided through local partners, which can be found via the "Help for Texans" page on their website, tdhca.texas.gov.
• The Ultimate First Call: 2-1-1 Texas: For personalized guidance and referrals to local services for any need, the best place to start is by dialing 2-1-1 or visiting 211texas.org.

Frequently Asked Questions