Tools for Tough Times
- Healthcare
- Employment assistance
- Financial and legal help
- Counseling and crisis intervention
- Food and shelter
- And much more
Steps to Weathering the Financial Storm | Use this checklist to discover the resources to help you through any of the following situations:
- If you've been laid off
- If you're losing your home
- If you have banking issues
- If you need bankruptcy protection
- If you are a retiree
Credit Information | Receive one free credit report every 12 months. See your credit history Annual Credit Report –1-877-322-8228 https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp
The Benefit Bank http://www.thebenefitbank.com/SouthCarolina
Each year thousands of families in South Carolina do not claim more than $800 million in federal work supports for which they are eligible in the form of tax credits, public benefits, and student financial aid. The Benefit Bank® of South Carolina connects low- to moderate-income families to those work supports though a free software system.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program | If you are applying for SNAP benefits, your benefit amount will depend upon the number of people in your food stamp "household", your "household's" total monthly income, and certain "household" monthly expenses. You may complete an application form for SNAP benefits at your local Department of Social Services (DSS) or you may use the forms on this web-site (3800, 3800-a, 24126) and deliver, mail or fax the application to your local DSS office. Link to the DSS SNAP (food stamps) benefits calculator: http://dss.sc.gov/content/customers/food/foodstamp/foodstampcalc.aspx
Search online for affordable housing! Palmetto State's FREE service to list and locate rental housing. http://www.schousingsearch.com/
Access to Health Care | These programs help people who do not have health insurance.
- Health Insurance after a layoff--This is the link to COBRA for those individuals who are unemployed and choose COBRA. 65% of the premium can be paid by this program. http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/COBRA.html
- Find a federally funded health center. They have received additional funding to address the increase demand from uninsured individuals. http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/
- FamilyWize prescription discount drug card. It gives an overview of how the card works with a link to the FamilyWize website for printing to card. http://www.uway.org/our_work_community_impact/health/familywize_prescription_card/
- SC Eye Care Initiative-- a program by SC Optometric Association to provide low cost eye exams and eyewear. http://www.uway.org/our_work_community_impact/health/sc_eye_care_initiative/
- Insurance finder--Use this site to see which public, private and community programs can meet your healthcare needs http://finder.healthcare.gov/
Coping with Stress | find out how stress can impact your life and health and tips and resources you can use to cope. Click here.
