Financial Aid

In Georgia, financial aid is available for low-income households, senior citizens, and people with disabilities. This support includes help with housing, food, and medical expenses. Additional benefits include child care and family support, healthcare assistance, food assistance, and much more.

Food Stamps

The Georgia Department of Human Services monitors the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, previously known as food stamps, in the state of Georgia. SNAP Food Stamps provides low-income residents of this state with funding to help cover the expenses of meeting nutritional requirements.

Food stamps cover the cost of food authorized for you and your entire family. In the state of Georgia, it is mandatory for you to be a citizen of the United States or provide proof of legal status. The amount of assistance you receive is determined by your income, cost of living expenses, number of people in your household and medical costs. Depending on the severity of your case, food stamps may be issued as early as five days after submitting an application, or up to 30 days.

LIHEAP

Georgia LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) helps low-income households in Georgia to pay their energy bills. The federally funded program provides grants through local community action agencies.

Medicaid

Medicaid is the official medical service program of Georgia's Community Health Department that makes health care accessible to low-income residents. Qualified residents will receive a member identification card which they have to show prior to receiving any health care service to accredited Medicaid doctors, hospitals or health care providers.

National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a nationally assisted meal program which is implemented in public and non-profit private schools as well as residential child-care centers. It offers nutritious but cheap or even free lunches to eligible children during school days. The meals are designed to promote wellness and fight obesity.

PeachCare

Georgia PeachCare provides zero to low-priced total health care for the children of residents whose incomes are below poverty level but are over the required limits for Medicaid. For a very minimal amount, qualified children can avail of the following: basic to specialist child care, dental and eye care, hospitalization, emergency room services, prescribed medicines and psychological care. A Georgia Families Care Management Organization (CMO) is assigned for each child enrolled in the program.

SSDI

Georgia residents who qualify can take advantage of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. SSDI benefits in Georgia are designed to help those who are unable to work because of a disability.

TANF

Georgia's TANF program provides cash assistance while placing a strong emphasis on finding employment. Recipients must participate in work-related activities. The program also offers health care through Medicaid and supports for child care, transportation, and job training.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)

Georgia's TEFAP, supported by the USDA, offers emergency food assistance with items like whole wheat bread, canned peaches, and frozen vegetables. Local organizations, including food banks, organize distribution to residents.

Unemployment

The Georgia Unemployment Insurance (UI) program provides financial benefits to workers who have lost their employment through no fault of their own. These benefits are of temporary nature and unemployed workers receiving them are expected to continue looking for work or have a definite recall to work within 6 weeks of getting unemployed. Funds for UI benefits come from insurance premiums paid by the employers. The program determines eligibility of unemployed workers through their past wages and reason for losing job. Anyone meeting basic program eligibility can file a claim for UI benefits at local office of Department of Labor by visiting in person by using the online application.

Veterans Disability

Georgia provides Veterans Disability benefits to veterans who were injured or developed a medical condition during their active military service. These benefits are part of a wider package designed to honor their service. Along with disability benefits, Georgia veterans have access to Dependents and Survivor Benefits, VA home loans, comprehensive healthcare services, and much more.

WAP

Georgia Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) helps low-income households with financial grants so that they can reduce energy costs and make their homes energy efficient. The program provides number of weatherization energy-conservation services to eligible households to lower their utility bills.

WIC

The Georgia WIC program provides supplemental foods and nutrition education to families living below federal income guidelines. Georgia WIC program is operated in hospitals, clinics and Division of Family and Children Services offices throughout the entire state. The objective of this program is to increase healthy eating habits, promote breastfeeding and help participants identify nutritional risk factors.