Financial Support Resources in the U.S.

Updated: 06/22/2026

This page lists official U.S. government and regulator resources where people in the United States can look for financial assistance information, debt guidance, housing support, benefit programs, student loan help, tax issue support, and financial complaint routes.

This page is informational only. Finravia US does not provide financial assistance, does not process applications, does not issue loans, does not negotiate debt, and does not make decisions for government agencies, banks, lenders, servicers, or regulators.

If you are at immediate risk of losing housing, utilities, access to food, access to medication, or basic safety, contact the relevant local emergency, housing, health, or municipal service first. Federal websites can explain programs and routes, but many applications and urgent services are handled by state, county, city, or local agencies.

Start here if you are not sure where to go

If you do not know which program or agency fits your situation, start with these official portals:

• USA.gov Benefits — best for finding federal information about food, housing, health care, utility bills, Social Security, and other basic living expenses.
• USA.gov Financial Hardship — best for a broad overview of help with living expenses, food assistance, welfare, rent, utilities, and related hardship programs.
• Benefits.gov — best for using an official benefit finder tool and searching by category to see which government benefits may fit your situation.

These portals do not guarantee approval. They help you identify possible programs and direct you to the correct agency or application route.

If you cannot pay a bill, loan, card, or account

If you are behind or expect to miss a payment, contact the creditor, servicer, lender, bank, card issuer, landlord, utility provider, or other provider as early as possible. Ask for any hardship, payment plan, forbearance, repayment, deferment, or restructuring option in writing.

Keep copies of:

• account statements;
• notices;
• emails;
• letters;
• payment confirmations;
• collection messages;
• screenshots of account terms;
• names and dates of calls;
• written hardship offers;
• final agreements.

Do not pay an upfront fee to a company that promises to “erase debt,” “guarantee approval,” “fix credit instantly,” or “unlock government help.” Verify the route through an official government website or regulator before sharing documents or money.

Useful official resources:

• CFPB Debt Collection — best for understanding debt collection rights, collection rules, and what to do if a collector contacts you.
• FTC Debt Relief and Credit Repair Scams — best for understanding warning signs of debt relief and credit repair scams.
• FTC Scams — best for learning how to recognize scams and what steps to take if you were targeted.
• ReportFraud.ftc.gov — best for reporting fraud, scams, and bad business practices to the Federal Trade Commission.

Financial complaints: banks, credit cards, loans, credit reports, debt collection

If your problem is with a financial product or service, first contact the company’s formal complaint channel. If the company does not respond, gives an unclear answer, or you believe the issue is unresolved, use the official complaint route that fits the product and regulator.

Main consumer financial complaint route

CFPB Submit a Complaint — best for complaints involving consumer financial products and services, including bank accounts, credit cards, credit reports, debt collection, mortgages, student loans, money transfers, payday loans, personal loans, vehicle loans, and similar issues.

CFPB Consumer Tools — best for learning about financial topics before or after filing a complaint.

If you need to identify the correct bank regulator

FFIEC Consumer Help Center — best when you are not sure which federal regulator handles your bank or financial institution complaint.

OCC HelpWithMyBank File a Complaint — best for complaints involving national banks or federal savings associations regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

FDIC Consumer Complaint Process — best for complaints involving state-chartered banks that are not members of the Federal Reserve System and are supervised by the FDIC.

Federal Reserve Consumer Help — best for complaints involving financial institutions supervised by the Federal Reserve System.

NCUA Consumer Assistance Center — best for complaints involving federally insured credit unions.

Housing, rent, eviction, mortgage, and foreclosure help

Housing issues can become urgent quickly. If you are at risk of eviction, foreclosure, or homelessness, contact your landlord, mortgage servicer, local housing agency, or local emergency housing service early. Ask for options in writing.

Official resources:

• USA.gov Housing Help — best for finding government information about emergency housing, rental assistance, eviction, foreclosure, subsidized housing, home repair help, and tenant rights.
• USA.gov Emergency Rent Assistance — best for finding state and local emergency rent assistance options.
• HUD Housing Counseling — best for finding HUD-approved housing counseling agencies that can help with renting, defaults, forbearance, foreclosure, and housing decisions.
• CFPB Find a Housing Counselor — best for locating HUD-approved counseling agencies through the CFPB tool.
• CFPB Mortgage Options — best if you cannot pay your mortgage and need to understand why you should contact your mortgage servicer and a HUD-approved housing counselor.
• CFPB Mortgage Forbearance — best for understanding what forbearance means and what happens after paused or reduced payments.

Utility bills, energy bills, and shutoff risk

If you cannot pay an energy or utility bill, contact the utility provider early and ask whether a payment plan, hardship program, or shutoff protection is available. Also check official assistance programs.

Official resources:

• USA.gov Help with Energy Bills — best for understanding help with heating, cooling, home weatherization, and utility disconnection issues.
• LIHEAP — Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program — best for official federal information about energy bill assistance, energy crises, weatherization, and energy-related home repairs.

Energy assistance is usually administered through state, tribal, territorial, or local agencies. Eligibility and application rules vary by location.

Food, health care, and basic living expenses

If your financial issue affects food, health care, or basic living expenses, start with official benefit portals rather than paid “application helpers.”

Official resources:

• USA.gov Food Assistance — best for official information about SNAP, food assistance for older adults, WIC, and related programs.
• USDA SNAP — best for official federal information about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
• USA.gov Welfare Benefits / TANF — best for official information about Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and state-run welfare programs.
• HealthCare.gov Lower Costs — best for checking whether income may qualify you for Marketplace savings, Medicaid, or CHIP.
• HealthCare.gov — best for Marketplace coverage, enrollment information, plan updates, and finding local help.

Job loss and unemployment benefits

If you lose your job or your hours are reduced, unemployment benefits are usually handled by the state where you worked. File as soon as possible after becoming unemployed and use the official state unemployment insurance route.

Official resources:

• U.S. Department of Labor — How to File for Unemployment Insurance — best for understanding that unemployment insurance claims are filed with the state where you worked and that state rules vary.
• CareerOneStop Unemployment Benefits Finder — best for finding your state unemployment insurance program and filing information.
• Benefits.gov — useful if job loss also affects food, housing, health care, utility bills, or other benefit eligibility.

Student loan repayment and student loan problems

If you have federal student loans and cannot make payments, start with your official loan servicer and Federal Student Aid resources. Do not pay a third-party company for help before checking official routes.

Official resources:

• Federal Student Aid — Loan Repayment — best for learning about repayment plans, missed payments, consolidation, lower payment options, and repayment preparation.
• Federal Student Aid Loan Simulator — best for comparing estimated monthly payments and federal repayment options.
• StudentAid.gov — best for logging in, checking federal loan information, finding servicer details, and using official federal student aid tools.
• CFPB Student Loans — best for understanding student loan issues, repayment problems, and complaint options.

If you have a student loan complaint that your servicer does not resolve, you may be able to use the CFPB complaint process.

Tax debt, IRS notices, and tax problems

If your financial issue involves the IRS, tax debt, a notice, refund issue, or unresolved tax problem, use official IRS and Taxpayer Advocate Service resources. Be careful with companies that promise to “settle IRS debt for pennies” without reviewing your actual situation.

Official resources:

• IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service — best for official information about the Taxpayer Advocate Service and help with IRS problems.
• Taxpayer Advocate Service — best for guidance about notices, IRS issues, taxpayer rights, and whether TAS may be able to help.
• Contact the Taxpayer Advocate Service — best if you have tried to resolve a tax problem with the IRS and need to check whether TAS can help.
• IRS Payments — best for official IRS payment options, payment plans, and tax payment information.

Fraud, identity theft, scams, and abusive practices

If someone asks for upfront fees, gift cards, crypto, wire transfers, bank login credentials, remote device access, or payment to “unlock” a benefit or loan, pause and verify through official channels.

Official resources:

• ReportFraud.ftc.gov — best for reporting fraud, scams, and bad business practices.
• FTC Scams — best for learning how to spot and respond to scams.
• IdentityTheft.gov — best if your identity was stolen or someone used your personal information without permission.
• CFPB Fraud and Scams — best for consumer finance scams, fraud warnings, and financial protection guidance.

How to choose the right route

Use this route map:

Problem	Start here
You cannot pay a credit card, loan, or debt	Contact the company in writing, then review CFPB debt collection resources
A financial provider acted unfairly	File with CFPB or the correct bank regulator
You are not sure which bank regulator applies	Use FFIEC Consumer Help Center
You may lose housing or face eviction	Use USA.gov Housing Help, emergency rent assistance, and HUD counseling
You cannot pay your mortgage	Contact your servicer and use HUD/CFPB housing counselor resources
You cannot pay utility or energy bills	Use USA.gov Energy Bills and LIHEAP
You need food or basic living support	Use USA.gov Benefits, SNAP, Benefits.gov, and TANF information
You lost your job	Use the U.S. Department of Labor unemployment insurance guidance and your state UI program
You have federal student loan problems	Use StudentAid.gov, your servicer, and CFPB student loan resources
You have IRS or tax debt problems	Use IRS payment resources and Taxpayer Advocate Service
You suspect a scam	Use FTC Scams, ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and IdentityTheft.gov if identity theft is involved

Before you share personal or financial information

Before entering personal data, bank information, Social Security number, card details, or documents, check that:

• the website is an official government domain such as .gov or .mil when dealing with a government agency;
• the provider name matches the official agency or company;
• the page uses HTTPS;
• the program does not require an upfront fee to access government benefits;
• the request is related to a real application or complaint process;
• you understand who will receive your information.

Finravia US does not collect applications for financial assistance, government benefits, loans, debt relief, housing support, or complaints. Use the official resources listed above to contact the relevant agency, regulator, servicer, or provider directly.