Help Paying Rent and Utilities

Start with the bill, not the loan

Landlords and utility companies both have something most borrowers don't know about: a process for people who can't pay this month. Using it costs nothing. Skipping it and borrowing at several hundred percent APR to cover the bill costs a lot.

Utilities

In most states, a utility must offer you a payment arrangement before it disconnects you, and many states ban winter or extreme-heat shut-offs for households that are behind. Your state's public utility commission publishes the rules. Call the number on the bill, say the words "I need a payment arrangement", and ask two follow-ups: "Is there a hardship program?" and "Do you have a fund for customers behind on their bill?" Many utilities do; they rarely advertise it.

Then apply for LIHEAP — the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program — through your state. It helps with heating and cooling bills and sometimes with a crisis payment to stop a shut-off. Income limits are set by each state within a federal range — up to the greater of 150% of the poverty line or 60% of state median income — and they're higher than most people assume. Your 211 specialist or your state's LIHEAP office can tell you where to apply.

Rent

Ask in writing, before the due date if you can: a short email or text saying you'll be late, when you'll pay, and how much. Landlords who get a plan are far less likely to file than landlords who get silence. If you receive a notice, read the dates carefully — most states require a notice period before an eviction case can even be filed, and that period is your window.

Emergency rental assistance still exists in many areas through cities, counties and non-profits, even though the large pandemic-era programs have wound down. 211 is the fastest way to find what's open near you. Legal aid organizations can also tell you whether a notice is valid and what your rights are, for free.

Medical bills

Ask the billing office for a zero-interest payment plan — most hospitals offer one — and ask whether you qualify for financial assistance or "charity care". Non-profit hospitals are required by federal tax law (IRS Section 501(r)) to have a written financial assistance policy, and many people who qualify are never told.

The order that works

Call the utility or landlord first. Call 211 second. Look at a loan third, and only for the part no program covers.