How to Find Credit Counseling and Financial Assistance Programs

What Is Credit Counseling?

Credit counseling involves working with a certified financial expert who can help you understand your financial options, build a budget and create a plan to tackle debt.

A counselor will typically start by reviewing your income, expenses and debts to get a full picture of your financial situation. From there, they can recommend strategies for managing your finances more effectively.

Reputable credit counseling agencies are generally nonprofits. They're often accredited by organizations like the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) or the Financial Counseling Association of America (FCAA), which set standards for ethical, high-quality service.

General Credit Counseling

Credit counseling agencies offer a range of free and low-cost services, including:

• Credit or debt counseling: After reviewing your goals and finances, a counselor can help you create a budget and walk through your debt management options.
• Debt management plan: If you're overwhelmed with unsecured debt like credit card balances, a debt management plan (DMP) may help. A counselor negotiates with your creditors to lower interest rates, waive fees and bring past-due accounts current. You make one monthly payment to the agency, which distributes it to your creditors—typically over three to five years.
• Credit report review: A counselor can review your credit reports and offer tips for improving your credit.
• Required educational courses: Some agencies are approved to offer courses required for bankruptcy filing, government-backed home purchases or reverse mortgages.

To find a reputable agency, use the NFCC or FCAA member directories, or check the U.S. Department of Justice's list of approved credit counseling agencies.

Learn more: How to Find a Good Credit Counselor

General Financial Assistance Programs

Financial assistance can take many forms, from subsidized housing and direct payments to free food and household goods. Programs vary widely by location and eligibility. These resource hubs are good starting points to find different types of assistance:

• 211: The 211 Network offers free and confidential guidance to help people find and sign up for assistance programs. You can call or text 211 to get started, or look online to see what types of assistance are offered in your area, such as help with housing expenses, utilities, food, health care costs and mental health.
• Feeding America: This directory can help you locate food banks and pantries that are part of the Feeding America network.
• Free legal aid: There are nonprofit legal clinics in many areas that may have consumer rights, employment and housing attorneys on staff who can answer your questions or represent you in court.
• USA.gov Benefits Finder: This government website provides information about a wide variety of government services.

Student Loan Counseling and Financial Assistance Programs

Student loans—especially federal ones—come with repayment options that other debts don't. As a federal loan borrower, for instance, you may be eligible for income-driven repayment plans, loan forgiveness or cancellation programs. Even some private student loan lenders may offer hardship programs that allow you to temporarily stop making payments.

StudentAid.gov is the primary resource for federal student loan borrowers. If you have private student loans, you can reach out to your loan servicer and ask about assistance programs.

Nonprofit credit counselors may also offer student loan counseling if you want personalized guidance. Attorneys and consultants who specialize in student loans are another option, particularly for complex situations or legal questions.

Learn more: How to Get Help With Student Loans

Medical Bill Counseling and Financial Assistance Programs

If you're looking for help with medical care, the government resources listed above may be a good place to start. Those tools can help you determine if you may be eligible for subsidized or free health care coverage through state or federal programs.

When you already have medical debts, or if you need help with ongoing treatments or medication, other options may be available:

• Ask your provider for discounts. Some health care providers offer reduced rates for full or partial upfront payment, or may set up a low- or no-interest payment plan.
• Hire a medical billing advocate. Advocates review your bills and negotiate on your behalf. The Alliance of Claims Assistance Professionals and Umbra Health Advocacy directories list vetted options. Ask about their experience and fee structure—advocates may charge assessment fees, hourly rates, retainers or project fees.
• Look for disease-specific financial assistance. Nonprofits focused on specific conditions may help cover bills, treatments or medications. Examples include CancerCare, Cancer Financial Assistance Coalition, Children's Diabetes Foundation, Blood Cancer United, the National Organization for Rare Disorders and the Patient Access Network Foundation.
• Search patient assistance programs (PAPs). Pharmaceutical companies run these programs for patients who can't afford their medications. RxAssist and Medicare.gov both have PAP search tools.

Learn more: How to Get Help With Medical Bills

Military Financial Counseling and Assistance Programs

Service members and veterans have access to counseling services tailored to their unique financial situations, as well as assistance programs tied to their service.

Military OneSource and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are strong starting points. You can call Military OneSource at 800-342-9647 or use its live chat to connect with counselors offering free personal finance, tax and legal services.

The Military Family Advisory Network also provides programs focused on finances, wellness and community building for military families. There's also a subset of the personal finance blogging space that focuses specifically on military members. The Military Wallet and Her Money Moves are two well-known military finance blogs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Take Control of Your Finances

If you're facing financial difficulties, you don't have to figure it out alone. Free and low-cost resources exist for nearly every type of financial challenge, from credit card debt to medical bills to student loans. Starting with a nonprofit credit counselor or one of the government resource hubs above can help you understand your options and put together a plan.

You can also get free credit monitoring from Experian, which includes real-time alerts, credit score tracking and access to your Experian credit report, so you always know where you stand.