State Social Services

• Visit your state social services office to find out which programs the government offers in your area. State social services workers process applications for both state and federal benefit programs. At the federal level, you can apply for food stamps through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and housing assistance (Section 8) through Housing and Urban Development. Additionally, your state may offer winter heating or other utility assistance, or restricted income apartments for seniors.
  
  

American Veterans Foundation

• Veterans of the U.S. Armed forces can request assistance from the American Veterans Foundation. They offer help with utility bills. (See References.)
  
  

Home Gardening

• Lower your food expense by growing an indoor or outdoor garden. You can grow a large variety of fruits and vegetables in containers. Container gardening is not strenuous like outdoor gardening. Your local garden center can help you select dwarf fruit trees and varieties of vegetables that thrive in your region.
  
  

Collectibles

• Find the value of your collectibles. You may have a small treasure in old tools, gold and silver coins, carnival glass, silverware, crystal, photographs, autographs, sculpture or paintings. Check the Resources section for links to help assess the value of some popular collectibles.
  
  

Life Insurance

• Borrow against or sell your life insurance policy. Whole life insurance has a cash value that increases each year. Contact your insurance agent to see if you can borrow against the cash value of the policy.
  
  

Houses of Worship

• Contact your pastor and other local churches, synagogues and mosques. Many houses of worship assist seniors. They may provide bags of food, payment on a utility shut-off notice or financial help to prevent eviction. Additionally, many churches offer financial counseling to set up a budget that meets your needs.
  
  

Utility Companies

• Arrange for budget billing with the electric and phone companies. Some utilities will even take the past due balance and put it into the budget billing program. People on budget billing pay the same amount every month throughout the year.
  
  

Pharmaceutical Companies

• Visit the pharmaceutical company websites to find out how to obtain your prescription medicines free or at a reduced price. Complete the application and, upon acceptance, they will mail vouchers for free medicine or coupons for a significant discount. If you are not accepted into their program, then ask your doctor for a generic equivalent.
  
  

Community Senior Centers

• Visit some of the senior centers in your community. Some offer a free meal daily. Additionally, other seniors at the center may know of more places where you can get financial help or where to shop cheaply.
  
  

Charity

• Call charities in your area as many have programs for people over 65. The Salvation Army, United Way and Catholic Charities USA would be a good place to start. They provide emergency assistance for housing, food and utilities.