Benefits & emergencies

Food assistance, help for mothers and young children, what 911 is for, and where to get free legal help.

Food and family assistance
SNAP, WIC and school meals — who qualifies, what the five-year bar does and does not cover, and what using them means for immigration.
Check which benefits your household qualifies for
How eligibility is actually decided, why immigration status rules differ from one programme to the next, and where to check without giving your details to a stranger.
Emergency numbers and free legal help
What 911 is for, what to use instead, and where to get a real lawyer for nothing.
Will using benefits hurt my green card?
Which programmes the public charge test actually looks at, who it never applies to, and why the rules are changing on 18 September 2026.

Official links · Benefits

Select a state to see the offices and websites that apply to you.

Official links · Emergencies & legal help

Select a state to see the offices and websites that apply to you.