TEXAS

This is an unofficial benefits estimator and not an application. No personal data is collected or stored. Actual amounts may vary based on individual circumstances, location, eligibility criteria, and recent data updates at the time of application.

Texas Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Texas TANF provides temporary financial and medical assistance to neediest children and the parents or relatives with whom they are living.

In Texas, TANF serves only very poor families with children with assets not exceeding $1,000 and countable incomes of not more than $188 per month for a family of three.

As the focus of TANF is self-sufficiency through work, families who receive cash assistance must actively seek employment or participate in work activities.

How much cash assistance can I get in Texas?

In Texas, TANF benefits vary by household size, income, and available resources. A family of three with no income may receive up to $382 per month in cash assistance.

How do I get a one time TANF in Texas?

One-time TANF of up to $1,000 in cash is also available for families in crisis. However, it can be given only once in a 12-month period to those who qualify.

How do I apply for TANF in Texas?

Applications for benefits can be made online through Your Texas Benefits  which is the one-stop portal for all Texas residents to apply for SNAP food benefits, Medicaid, CHIP, as well as TANF.

Texas Health and Human Services Commission
HHSC Benefits Assistance
(877) 541-7905

Texas Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Texas SNAP helps low-income people and families in Texas with cash assistance to buy the food they need for a nutritionally adequate diet.

As a condition of eligibility, SNAP recipients who are not exempt must either meet the general SNAP work requirements or the ABAWD work requirements.

Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) must comply with special work requirements or be subject to a three-month limit on SNAP benefits within a 36-month period.

What is the income limit for SNAP in Texas?

Most families in Texas with gross income up to 165% of the federal poverty level, or about $3,664 a month for a family of three, may qualify for food assistance.

How do I sign up for food stamps in Texas?

To apply for SNAP benefits, you may do so at Your Texas Benefits  which is the online platform to apply for social benefits in the State of Texas.

Once your application is received, an eligibility interview with a caseworker will then be arranged, either in person or by phone.

Texas Health and Human Services Commission
HHSC Benefits Assistance
(877) 541-7905

Texas National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

For the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school years, students who qualify for reduced-price school meals will receive both breakfast and lunch at no cost, regardless of income .

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally-funded meal program that provides nutritious, low-cost or free lunches to eligible students in participating Texas schools.

Under federal guidelines, ¹ only students from families whose incomes are at or below 130% of the poverty line are eligible for free breakfast and lunch at school. Families with incomes between 130% and 185% of the poverty line pay a reduced price for meals.

How do I apply for free lunch in Texas?

Some schools participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and provide free meals to all students, regardless of household income. If your child attends a CEP school, you do not need to submit an application.

If your child attends a school not participating in CEP, you can apply for free or reduced-price meals by completing the Free and Reduced-Price School Meals Application provided by your child’s school or district.

Texas Special Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

Texas WIC is a nutrition program that helps pregnant women, new mothers, and young children eat well, learn about nutrition, and stay healthy.

It provides monthly benefits for buying healthy foods to supplement their diet. Additional benefits include nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals to healthcare and social services.

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for WIC:

1. Live in Texas.
2. Be a pregnant, postpartum or breastfeeding woman, an infant or a child under 5 years old.
3. Have a household income less than 185% of the federal poverty limit.
4. Have a nutritional need or risk.

What is the income limit for WIC in Texas?

All applicants must be income eligible with incomes not exceeding 185% FPL, and be individually determined by a health professional to be “at nutritional risk”.

How long can I stay on WIC in Texas?

In Texas, WIC benefits last for different lengths of time depending on who is receiving them:

• Pregnant women: through pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after birth
• Breastfeeding women: up to 12 months after childbirth
• Non-breastfeeding postpartum women: up to 6 months after childbirth
• Infants: from birth until their first birthday
• Children: from age 1 until their 5th birthday

WIC is not automatic. Participants must recertify periodically to continue receiving benefits.

How do I apply for WIC in Texas?

You can start your application online  or over the phone. Use the WIC Office Locator  to find a WIC office near you or call (800) 942-3678 to schedule an appointment.

San Antonio WIC Clinic
7424 Military Dr W,
San Antonio, TX 78227
(210) 207-4690

Texas Medicaid

Texas Medicaid serves primarily children from low-income families, pregnant women, people age 65+ and people with disabilities who could not otherwise afford private insurance coverage.

Most people who receive Medicaid in Texas are enrolled in one of the following managed care programs:

1. STAR
2. STAR Kids
3. STAR Health
4. STAR+PLUS (for adults who have disabilities or are age 65 or older)
5. CHIP

As Texas is not expanding Medicaid coverage, eligibility for non-disabled adults is limited to parents with incomes below 15% of poverty level whose child is enrolled in Medicaid. Children under age 19 are covered at 149% of poverty.

How much can I make in Texas and still get Medicaid?

For a single mother with two kids, the parent is only eligible for Medicaid if the kids are on Medicaid and her total household income doesn’t exceed $3,998 per year or $333 per month.

This creates a large “coverage gap” where they don’t qualify for Medicaid but struggle to afford private insurance, while their children often do qualify.

How do I apply for Medicaid in Texas?

Go to a Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) benefits office near you  or apply online through Your Texas Benefits  and choose “Apply for new benefits.”

Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Medicaid & CHIP Services
(800) 252-8263

Is there Medicaid for adults in Texas?

No, adults without dependents are ineligible for Medicaid regardless of how low their income is, unless they’re disabled, in which they have the option to “buy-in” to Medicaid coverage by making monthly payments.

Texas Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

Texas CHIP is designed for children whose families who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid, yet cannot afford to buy private insurance.

With CHIP, kids from low-income families can receive free health coverage for various medical services such as routine check-ups, dental and vision care, prescription drugs, hospital visits and lab tests.

Depending on your income, you may have to pay an enrollment fee ($0 - $50 a year) ² and co-pay for doctor visits and medicine, based on the service and range from $3 - $25.

What is the income limit for CHIP in Texas?

In Texas, children in families with incomes up to at least 206% of the federal poverty level, or about $4,575 a month for a family of three, are eligible for CHIP.

To apply for health coverage, you will need to fill out and submit an application to Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).

Texas Health and Human Services Commission
Medicaid & CHIP Services
(800) 252-8263

Once you’re approved for Medicaid or CHIP, you’ll choose a health plan for your child from the ones available in your service area .

Healthy Texas Women

Healthy Texas Women (HTW) is a program dedicated to offering health and family planning to eligible women ages 15–44 in Texas whose income is no more than 200% of the poverty level.

Under the HTW program, eligible low-income women may get preventive health screenings, women’s health exams, and family planning, including contraception, at no cost.

What is the income limit for Healthy Texas Women?

Healthy Texas Women (HTW) income limits vary by family size, but generally require income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.

Pregnant women or those enrolled in Medicaid, CHIP, or Medicare Parts A or B are not eligible for Healthy Texas Women and will be referred to a program such as Medicaid for Pregnant Women or CHIP Perinatal.

How do I apply for Healthy Texas Women?

If you are currently uninsured, you can apply for Healthy Texas Women over the phone by calling 2-1-1 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central Time, Monday to Friday or apply online via Your Texas Benefits .

Texas CHIP Perinatal

Texas CHIP Perinatal is a program that provides limited health coverage for pregnant women and their unborn children who are not eligible for Medicaid due to immigration status.

CHIP Perinatal coverage includes:

• Prenatal care, including referrals for specialty services
• Up to two postpartum visits within 60 days of giving birth
• Emergency care for emergency medical conditions

CHIP perinatal care is provided by all CHIP health plans throughout the state. Women can apply for coverage online at Your Texas Benefits .

CHIP Perinatal Member Services
(888) 760-2600

Texas Child Care Services (CCS) Program

Parents in Texas who work, attend school or participate in job training may be eligible for financial assistance, also known as subsidy, to cover a portion or, in some cases, all of the cost of child care.

As a condition of eligibility, parents are required to work for a combined total of at least 50 hours a week or 25 hours a week for a single-parent family.

Due to limited funds available, parents applying for child care assitance may be placed on a wait list. The wait time averages about 6-9 months.

What is the income limit for child care assistance in Texas?

Eligibility criteria may vary in different regions of the state but generally, families whose income not exceeding 85% of the State Median Income (SMI) qualify for assistance.

The income limits for families of different sizes are listed in the chart below.

How do I apply for child care assistance in Texas?

Eligibility requirements may vary by providers. Depending on what part of the state you live in, find your local Workforce Solutions office  to access the availability of assistance or waitlist application.

Workforce Solutions
Financial Aid Support Center
(713) 334-5980

Texas Section 8

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs (TDHCA) Housing Choice Voucher Section 8 Program waiting list is currently closed.

Texas residents who need housing assistance may apply for the Section 8, also known as the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program. The program offers rental subsidies that allows eligible low-income families to rent a home of their choice on the private market.

Eligibility is based on several factors, including the household’s income, size and composition, citizenship status, assets, medical and childcare expenses. Priority is given to extremely low-income families with children.

Eligibility guidelines define a “extremely low-income family” as one with a total gross household income that is equal to or less than 30% of the local area median income.

How do I apply for Section 8 housing in Texas?

To apply for subsidized housing assistance and to find out if you qualify, please contact one of these HUD Regional Offices:

Texas Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)

Texas’ Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) is a utility assistance program available to help eligible Texas households with their utility bills, particularly those with the lowest incomes and the highest home energy costs.

CEAP targets low income households with incomes not more than 60% of the State Median Income (SMI). For example, a three-person household in Texas with a monthly household income of $4,548 or less might qualify for CEAP.

Eligible households may receive a one-time credit of up to $2,400 in utility assistance.³ As funding is limited, households that include young children, elderly or disabled members are given first priority.

What is the income limit for utility assistance in Texas?

How can I get help with my electric bill in Texas?

CEAP is available in each of the 254 Texas counties. If you need assistance with utility bills, call TDHCA to find the local CEAP service provider nearest you.

Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
(877) 399-8939

Texas Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)

NOTICE: Funding is no longer available for LIHWAP. Households may not receive LIHWAP benefits at this time.

Texas LIHWAP provides eligible low-income households in Texas with up to $2,400 for water and wastewater services, depending on household income.

Households facing the threat of disconnection, or those that have already been disconnected, are eligible for priority consideration.

Applications for LIHWAP are open now through September 30, 2023, pending funding availability. The application process and requirements are the same as for CEAP.

How do I get help paying my water bill in Texas?

If you are in danger of falling behind on your water bills and need help, you may apply for LIHWAP at Texas Utility Help  or call (855) 566-2057 for assistance. Help is available in multiple languages.

Texas Unemployment Insurance

Texas Unemployment Insurance (UI) offers temporary financial assistance to employees who lost their jobs through no fault of their own, providing a safety net for them and their families during times of unemployment.

In order to be eligible for unemployment benefits, you must have earned a minimum amount of wages in a recent ‘base period’ and must have:

1. wages in at least two quarters of the base period, and
2. earned at least $1,400 during the highest paid quarter of the base period, and
3. total base-period wages of at least 37 times your Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA)

If your calculated WBA is $200, your total base-period wages must be at least $7,400 (37 × $200), and with wages in your highest quarter being at least $1,400.

How much is unemployment insurance in Texas?

Depending upon your previous earnings, your weekly benefit amount will be between $75 and $605. Most Texans receive unemployment benefits for up to 26 weeks.

How do I file for unemployment in Texas?

You may submit an application for unemployment benefits online  or if you wish to file by phone, call Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) Tele-Center at (800) 939-6631 to speak to a customer service representative.

Unless exempt, you are required to register as a job seeker on WorkInTexas.com  within three business days of applying for benefits or you might not be paid.

TEXAS Grant

Towards EXcellence, Access and Success Grant (TEXAS Grant) is state-funded need-based grant awarded to Texas students who are working on their first undergraduate degree.

To be considered, students must first demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA — that is, a 9 month SAI of no more than 6,514, and be enrolled at least three-quarter time.

Eligible students who are pursuing their first-degree may receive up to $5,000 per semester, contingent upon the availability of state funds.

Since funding is limited, you must complete and submit the FAFSA or Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) by January 15 for priority consideration.

Texas State Tution Grant (TSTG)

Texas State Tution Grant (TSTG) is an institutional grant awarded to Texas residents based on their financial need. Typically, this grant is awarded to eligible students once Texas Public Educational Grant funds are exhausted.

The current maximum award for TSTG is $5,300.

TSTG is, however, contingent upon the availability of state funds and will be cancelled or reduced in the event state funds are no longer available.

Texas Public Educational Grant (TPEG)

Administered by the state of Texas, Texas Public Educational Grant (TPEG) provides assistance to students with financial need who are seeking a first Bachelor’s degree, a graduate degree or professional degree.

Texas residents and out of state residents who meet the priority deadline are eligible. Award amounts may vary based on availability of funds and number of eligible applicants.

Since each institution set its own priorities in making awards to students, it’s best that you contact your college financial aid office for additional information on eligibility or availability of fund.