Delaware financial assistance directory
Low-Income Help and Resources in Delaware
If household costs are hard to manage, Delaware has programs that may help with food, housing, utilities, healthcare, child care, and other basic needs. Start with the statewide options below, then follow the local application route when a program is handled by a State Service Center, community partner, housing authority, or other local provider.
Money Fit serves Delaware residents statewide. If debt or monthly payments are also part of the problem, call 800-432-0310 or start a confidential debt review.
Where to start
The best starting point depends on whether the need involves a state benefit, housing or utility help, or another local service. Eligibility, funding, waiting lists, and application methods can vary.
Apply for food, cash, health, or child care benefits
ASSIST is Delaware's main online application for SNAP, TANF, General Assistance, Medicaid, the Delaware Healthy Children Program, Purchase of Care, LIHEAP, and other services.
Find nearby help
Delaware 211 provides statewide referrals for food, housing, utilities, healthcare, transportation, behavioral health, child care, aging, disability, and other community needs.
Housing or energy assistance
Delaware energy assistance is available through LIHEAP and local partners, while DSHA, DelawareHousingSearch.org, housing authorities, 211, and legal-aid providers handle different housing needs.
Delaware uses one main benefits portal but several local service routes. ASSIST can be used for many state programs, while State Service Centers and community partners can help residents apply in person or connect with local services. For DSS customer assistance, call 866-843-7212.
Food assistance
For ongoing grocery help, start with Delaware SNAP or WIC when it fits the household. For food needed sooner, the Food Bank of Delaware and 211 can help locate pantries, mobile distributions, and other emergency food.
Delaware SNAP
SNAP provides monthly grocery benefits to eligible Delaware households through EBT. Applications can be submitted through ASSIST or in person at a Delaware State Service Center.
DSS Customer Relations: 866-843-7212
Delaware WIC
WIC provides healthy foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and referrals for eligible pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum participants, infants, and children under age five. Clinics operate in New Castle, Kent, and Sussex counties.
Food Bank of Delaware
The Food Bank of Delaware distributes emergency food statewide through community pantries, mobile pantries, Healthy Pantry Centers, home delivery, senior nutrition, and other programs. Its pantry directory can help residents find nearby food.
Housing, rent, and utility help
Delaware housing and utility assistance is divided among state programs, community partners, public housing authorities, legal-aid organizations, and emergency shelter networks. Funding and waiting lists can change quickly.
Delaware Energy Assistance Program
DEAP is Delaware's LIHEAP program. Winter heating assistance is available from October 1 through March 31, crisis assistance is available year-round, and summer cooling assistance may also be available under current program rules.
DSS energy assistance: 302-255-9875
Delaware Weatherization Assistance Program
DNREC's Weatherization Assistance Program helps qualifying homeowners and renters reduce energy costs through approved improvements such as insulation, air sealing, and other efficiency measures. Not all applicants can be served in a given program year.
Application assistance: 302-504-6111
DelawareHousingSearch.org
Search market-rate, subsidized, and affordable rentals statewide. Listings can be filtered by location, rent, bedroom count, accessibility, and other features. Contact the property directly to confirm availability and eligibility.
Search assistance: 877-428-8844
Delaware State Housing Authority programs
DSHA administers subsidized rental programs in Kent and Sussex counties. Its waiting list is currently open, but other local housing authorities operate separately in Delaware and may have different waiting-list status.
DSHA: 888-363-8808
Emergency and transitional housing
Delaware DSS funds emergency shelter and transitional housing through community partners. Call 211 or text your ZIP code to 898-211 for 24-hour help locating shelter, motel-voucher intake, Code Purple resources, and other housing assistance.
Delaware 211: 211 or 800-560-3372
Delaware Legal Help Link
Delaware Legal Help Link connects residents with nonprofit civil legal-aid providers and self-help information. Delaware also provides free legal representation to some qualifying low-income tenants facing eviction or loss of a housing subsidy.
Healthcare coverage and clinics
Delaware Medicaid and the Delaware Healthy Children Program cover different eligibility groups. ASSIST is the main online application route, and community health centers can provide local care regardless of insurance status.
Delaware Medicaid
Delaware Medicaid provides free or low-cost health coverage to eligible adults, children, pregnant people, older adults, and people with disabilities. Most benefits are delivered through the Diamond State Health Plan managed-care program.
Medicaid Customer Relations: 800-372-2022
Delaware Healthy Children Program
The Delaware Healthy Children Program is low-cost health insurance for eligible uninsured children under age 19. Families can apply through ASSIST, by mail, or at a State Service Center.
Program help: 800-996-9969
Community health centers
Federally supported health centers provide primary care and may offer dental, pharmacy, behavioral health, substance-use, and other services. Health centers serve insured and uninsured patients and use sliding-fee programs based on income and family size.
Some Delaware Medicaid eligibility rules change October 1, 2026. Delaware ASSIST is currently warning that new federal rules may affect some non-U.S. citizens when they apply or renew. Use current DHSS guidance before relying on older eligibility information.
Child care, family, and cash assistance
Delaware uses ASSIST for child care subsidies and cash assistance. Families may also qualify for General Assistance when they do not fit a federally funded cash program.
Purchase of Care
Purchase of Care helps eligible families pay part of child care costs for children under age 13, with special rules for some older children with qualifying needs. Families generally pay a weekly copay based on income and program rules.
Child care search help: 800-220-3092
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
TANF is Delaware's primary cash-assistance program for eligible families with children. It combines temporary financial support with employment and work-related requirements intended to help families move toward self-sufficiency.
General Assistance
General Assistance is a state-funded cash program for some low-income Delaware residents who do not qualify for TANF or Social Security benefits. Eligibility depends on age, health, caregiving, school status, income, and resources.
Head Start and Early Head Start
Head Start programs provide early learning, health, nutrition, and family support for eligible young children and families. Local programs handle eligibility, applications, openings, and waiting lists.
Locator help: 866-763-6481
Work, legal help, and essential services
Job loss, a legal problem, or loss of affordable phone or internet service can quickly affect housing, healthcare, and the ability to apply for other assistance.
Delaware unemployment insurance
Eligible workers who lose work through no fault of their own may be able to receive temporary unemployment benefits. New and reopened claims are filed through the Delaware Department of Labor's unemployment system.
Delaware JobLink and American Job Centers
Delaware JobLink provides statewide job-search tools, while American Job Centers in Dover, Georgetown, Newark, and Wilmington offer employment services, career guidance, training connections, and other workforce support.
American Job Centers: 302-761-8085
Delaware Legal Help Link
Delaware Legal Help Link is a statewide service created by Delaware's nonprofit civil legal-aid providers and justice partners. It helps residents find legal information and the provider that may handle issues involving housing, benefits, debt, disability, family matters, employment, or other civil problems.
Federal Lifeline benefit
Lifeline may reduce the monthly cost of qualifying phone or broadband service. Eligibility can be based on income or participation in programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or Federal Public Housing Assistance.
Lifeline Support Center: 800-234-9473
Older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers
Delaware's aging and disability network can help residents locate meals, caregiver support, in-home services, long-term-care information, benefits counseling, disability resources, and safety services.
Delaware Aging and Disability Resource Center
The ADRC is a statewide one-stop resource for older adults, people with physical disabilities, caregivers, and families looking for information, referrals, and guidance on long-term services and supports.
ADRC: 800-223-9074
Home and community-based services
Delaware Medicaid and aging programs may provide qualifying residents with services that support living at home or in the community instead of a nursing facility. Eligibility and service options depend on the program and individual needs.
Delaware Adult Protective Services
APS receives reports involving suspected abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or financial exploitation of older Delawareans and adults with disabilities. Call 911 first when someone is in immediate danger.
Adult Protective Services: 888-277-4302
Crisis, safety, and disaster resources
If someone is in immediate danger, has a life-threatening medical emergency, or cannot stay safe, call 911.
988 and Delaware crisis services
Call or text 988 for free, confidential, 24-hour support involving emotional distress, mental health, suicide, or substance use concerns. Delaware also operates regional mobile crisis services and a non-crisis Hope Line.
Call or text: 988
Delaware Hope Line: 833-946-7333
Delaware 24-hour domestic violence hotlines
Confidential domestic violence hotlines are available 24 hours a day and can help with safety planning, shelter, legal resources, counseling, and local support. Delaware uses county-based hotline numbers.
New Castle County: 302-762-6110
Kent and Sussex Counties: 302-422-8058
Delaware 211
Delaware 211 provides statewide information and referrals for food, housing, utilities, healthcare, transportation, behavioral health, family services, and other community needs.
Call: 211 or 800-560-3372
Delaware and federal disaster assistance
DEMA provides recovery information for residents after storms, flooding, and other emergencies. FEMA Individual Assistance becomes available only after qualifying federal disaster declarations and only for designated locations and eligible losses.
FEMA Helpline: 800-621-3362
Review the household budget and unsecured debt together
Public assistance may help with food, housing, healthcare, child care, or utilities while credit cards, medical bills, collections, personal loans, or payday loans continue taking money from the rest of the budget. Money Fit nonprofit credit counseling can help Delaware residents review income, expenses, debts, and possible next steps.
A debt management plan may help organize eligible unsecured debts into one monthly payment to Money Fit, which then sends payments to participating creditors. It is not a new loan or debt settlement. Creditor participation, concessions, account treatment, fees, and payment changes can vary.
Money Fit does not provide cash assistance, food benefits, rent assistance, utility benefits, government benefits, or emergency grants. The counseling form below is for help reviewing debt and monthly payments.
Open the Money Fit debt review form
Share a few details so Money Fit can respond to your request. Your information stays with Money Fit and is not sent to a marketplace of lenders or debt companies.
Related Money Fit resources
These resources can help with debt, housing, financial education, and assistance in other states.
