Heating season is here, and on October 1, 20 U.S. senators sent a letter urging the administration to nearly double federal heating aid as energy costs climb. That is a request, not new money yet. Translation: this is the week to make sure you are getting every dollar of help you already qualify for. Eligibility varies by income, household size and state, so treat this as your checklist, not a guarantee.

10 free money programs people forget to claim

1. Claim the EITC you already earned

The IRS estimates that about one in five eligible taxpayers do not claim the Earned Income Tax Credit, and the average credit for tax year 2024 was $2,916. It is for working people with low to moderate income, with or without kids. When you file, make sure your preparer or software actually checks you for it.

2. Stop paying for basic tax prep

IRS Free File guided software was free this year for an adjusted gross income of $89,000 or below (the IRS can update that limit each filing season), and Free File Fillable Forms are open to anyone comfortable doing their own return, according to the IRS free filing page. The IRS’s VITA sites also do free in-person prep, focused on people who meet EITC guidelines. Bookmark that page now so February you is not paying a storefront fee.

3. Get on the LIHEAP list early

LIHEAP can help pay heating bills, prevent shutoffs, reconnect service, and repair or replace heating equipment. It also covers weatherization and minor energy repairs. Each state runs its own program and timeline, so call the National Energy Assistance Referral line at 1-866-674-6327 (weekdays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern) to find your local office.

4. Ask your utility the magic question

Before a bill goes past due, call the number on it and ask, word for word: “Do you have a hardship program, a payment plan, or budget billing?” Budget billing spreads your yearly cost into even monthly payments, so a cold January does not wreck your budget. Write down the rep’s name and what they offered.

5. Knock down your phone or internet bill

Lifeline takes up to $9.25 a month off phone or internet service, or up to $34.25 on Tribal lands. You can qualify with income at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines, or if you get SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, Federal Public Housing Assistance or the Veterans Pension. It is one per household. Apply through the National Verifier at LifelineSupport.org or ask your carrier.

6. Rescreen yourself for SNAP

Hours get cut, households change. From October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, the SNAP gross monthly income limit is $1,729 for one person and $3,575 for a household of four. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 changed some rules, including work requirements, so your state agency has the final word. Apply or screen through your state SNAP site.

7. Get Extra Help with prescriptions

On Medicare? Extra Help lowers Part D premiums, deductibles and copays. For 2026, the income limit is $23,940 for an individual and $32,460 for a married couple, with resource limits of $18,090 and $36,100. Not on Medicare? Medicare.gov also suggests checking whether the company that makes your drug offers help paying for it, so ask your pharmacist.

8. Search for money with your name on it

Uncashed paychecks, credit balances and other forgotten money get turned over to the state when companies cannot find you. Unclaimed.org links to official state sites and MissingMoney.com, and searching is free. Search every state you have lived in, plus maiden names and the names of loved ones whose estates you handle.

9. Pull your credit reports every week

All three credit bureaus have permanently extended free weekly reports at AnnualCreditReport.com, according to the FTC. Check before you apply for a car, apartment or job, and dispute anything that is not yours. You can also call 1-877-322-8228.

10. See if community college is free where you live

Some states now cover community college tuition. Massachusetts’ MassEducate covers tuition and fees for eligible residents, and some students can get up to $1,200 for books and supplies. Other states run their own promise programs with different age and residency rules, so fill out the FAFSA and ask your local community college’s financial aid office what applies to you.

Working through year-end deadlines too? Pair this list with our Q4 money checklist for Black families and our breakdown of ACA open enrollment for 2027.

Got a program your people keep sleeping on? Drop it in the comments so the next person gets it too.