Massachusetts ORGANIZATIONS THAT provide FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

has delivered millions of gallons of discount home heating oil to poor and elderly households in Massachusetts and other cold weather states since 1979. This unique program helps protect needy families from volatile heating oil prices, which often leave households having to choose between heating the home and paying for other life essentials, such as food, health care, or clothing.

Here is a list of state bill assistance programs. Municipal government or non-profit organizations may also offer bill assistance options.

Commonwealth Care is the Health Connector’s health insurance program for uninsured adults who meet income and other eligibility requirements which provide comprehensive benefits and a choice of health plans. Benefits include regular check-ups, treatment when you are sick or injured, prescriptions, vision care, mental health or substance abuse treatment. Some members are eligible for dental care.

Community Partnerships for Children are programs that help make quality preschool education and services available to low-income families.
The CPC programs have five goals: to help low-income families get financial assistance for preschool; to get families, businesses, and community organizations involved in early childhood care and education; to give support services to preschool children and their families (for example, parenting education, referrals, and health and nutrition services); to make sure that preschool teachers and caregivers are well-trained and licensed; and to reach out to families who might not plan to send their children to preschool

DTA child care is free or low-cost child care for current and former TAFDC families. Eligible families get first priority for vouchers and slots and do not have to put their names on a waiting list. DTA child care is for families who need child care because they are working, looking for work, attending school or a job training program, or disabled.

Energy Bucks is a state-wide campaign encouraging eligible households to contact their local Community Action Agency to enroll in energy assistance programs. The combination of energy assistance programs can significantly reduce household energy bills.
Energy Bucks is sponsored by regulated utilities in Massachusetts (WMECO, National Grid, NSTAR, KeySpan, Bay State Gas, Unitil and the Cape Light Compact) as well as LEAN (Low-Income Energy Affordability Network) and MASSCAP (Massachusetts Community Action Program Directors Association) who works together to help eligible customers reduce their energy bills.

Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children (EAEDC) is a state-funded program that provides emergency assistance to individuals and certain families with children. It is administered by the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA).
Cash assistance and medical benefits are available to individuals over 65 awaiting Supplemental Security Income (SSI), disabled individuals and caretakers of disabled individuals, and families who are eligible for TAFDC due to specific reasons.

The Health Safety Net is a program for Massachusetts residents who are not eligible for health insurance or can’t afford to buy it. The Health Safety Net is sometimes called Free Care. The goal of the Safety Net is to make sure that all Massachusetts residents can get health care when they need it, regardless of income.

Families are eligible for subsidized child care if they meet EEC’s income eligibility requirements and have a reason for needing child care. This reason is called a service need. The service need is defined as the amount of time (during which subsidized child care is available) that neither parent is available to care for the child because they are: beginning or continuing paid employment; or seeking paid employment; or participating in education or training (not including graduate school); and or are incapacitated.

The MassHealth program provides comprehensive health insurance – or help in paying for private health insurance – to more than one million Massachusetts children, families, seniors, and people with disabilities.

Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund has provided energy assistance to hundreds-of-thousands of residents in temporary crisis who are struggling to pay their energy bills and do not qualify for federal or state energy funds.

The Medical Security Program (MSP) is a health care plan for low and moderate-income Massachusetts residents who are getting unemployment insurance benefits. This program is run by Blue Cross/Blue Shield.
The MSP has two options: the Premium Assistance where the Medical Security Program will help individuals who cannot continue paying the insurance premiums of their current health insurance because of losing their job; and Direct Coverage where MSP offers direct coverage individuals and their families who can’t afford to continue their previous health plan or doesn’t have a health insurance

Prescription Advantage is a prescription drug insurance plan available to all Massachusetts residents age 65 and older, as well as under age 65, work 40 or fewer hours per month, meet CommonHealth disability guidelines, and have gross annual household incomes at or below 188% of the Federal Poverty Level.

The Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), formerly known as the Chapter 707 Program, provides a permanent improvement in the lives of low-income families and individuals by offering both tenant- and project-based rental subsidies. The tenant-based voucher, which is known as Mobile, is assigned to the Participant and is valid for any housing unit that meets the standards of the state sanitary code. Project Based vouchers are assigned to a specific housing unit or development. The owner rents these units to a program eligible tenant, and Project Based tenants who move forfeit the subsidy

RAFT, is a state-funded homelessness prevention program. If you and your family are at risk of becoming homeless or are experiencing homelessness, RAFT may be able to help you avoid or exit homelessness. The program provides up to $3,000 to eligible families to help with such needs as first month’s rent, security deposits, and back utility bills.
The RAFT program is administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) through the network of regional nonprofit housing agencies’ Housing Consumer Education Centers (HCECs).

Utility Arrearage program help Massachusetts households pay overdue utility bills, prevent utility shut-offs or restore utility service that has already been shut off. The program offer payment plans, debt forgiveness, or a combination of the two.

Massachusetts laws prevent utility companies from shutting off service to people in special situations. Each utility company in Massachusetts must follow the laws and provide service to households that qualify for shutoff protection.
Senior households, low-income families with infants, people with serious illnesses who cannot afford to pay their utility bills, tenants whose landlords are responsible for utility bills, and low-income people who would be without heat during the winter are eligible for shutoff protection.

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