Financial help when money is tight

Free national services

• 211

  Help with rent, utilities, food and other urgent bills.

  Find your local 211

  211.org Checked September 23, 2026

• Nonprofit credit counseling

  Help with a budget or a debt management plan.

  Find a nonprofit counselor

  nfcc.org Checked September 23, 2026

• Legal aid

  Free civil legal help if your income is low; income limits vary.

  Find legal aid

  lsc.gov Checked September 23, 2026

• Federal complaints

  Complaints about any lender, to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

  Submit a complaint to the CFPB

  consumerfinance.gov Checked September 23, 2026 Available in Spanish

Start with your state

Pick your state to see the loan types its law allows, worked cost examples, local help and the rules lenders follow there.

Benefits portals are run by each state. Pick your state below; its guide links the official site for food, cash and other benefits under Resources.

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Plan for loan payments

Use the loan payment calculator to explore monthly payments and total cost using your own illustrative figures.