Delaware Assistance Programs and Benefits
Free help finding assistance programs, from Wilmington to the beaches of Sussex County
Delaware may be small, but a surprise bill hits just as hard here. A layoff, an illness or a rent increase can leave you short at the end of the month. Helping Hands points out the Delaware assistance programs that fit and explains how to reach them.
Name the bill or the worry keeping you up. We point you to the programs, the eligibility basics and the offices that serve Delaware.
We cover all 3 counties in Delaware: New Castle, Kent and Sussex. You might live in Wilmington, Dover or Newark, in a growing town like Middletown, or on a farm road near Seaford. Our guidance is free from Claymont to Fenwick Island.
Help in Delaware comes from Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS), the State Service Centers, federal programs, food banks and local nonprofits. We help you figure out where to go first.
Check Your Eligibility for Free
Programs use different rules. Household income, family size, age, disability, housing costs and work history can each change what you qualify for.
We help you pick out the Delaware programs worth your time.
Delaware Financial Assistance Programs
Lost hours at work, a car that won't start or a medical emergency can wipe out your savings in a few weeks. Delaware families have several kinds of financial help to consider.
If paying for the basics has become a struggle, we help you find resources that fit your situation and show you where to apply.
Helping Hands can help you locate information about programs and resources involving:
Delaware Food Assistance and SNAP Benefits
Groceries cost more than they used to, and a tight budget feels every price jump.
We explain Delaware food assistance programs, with a focus on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). DHSS loads SNAP benefits onto an EBT card you swipe like a debit card at approved stores.
Not sure how you'll stock the kitchen this week? Run a SNAP eligibility check before anything else.
You can apply for SNAP, cash assistance and Medicaid through Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS), Division of Social Services, online at Delaware ASSIST or at a State Service Center.
We can also help Delaware residents locate:
Delaware Utility Bill Assistance
Coastal winters in Delaware bring damp cold and rising heating bills, and humid summers push air conditioning costs up. Falling behind on electric, gas or propane can lead to a shutoff notice or an empty tank.
Our list covers the utility programs open to Delaware households and who runs each one.
Resources may include information about:
LIHEAP Help in Delaware: DEAP
Delaware runs the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) as the Delaware Energy Assistance Program (DEAP), managed by the DHSS Division of Social Services.
DEAP covers winter heating, crisis help and summer cooling. Community partners take applications in all three counties, and you can also apply online through ASSIST. Funding and rules change, so confirm the current details.
We help you find the right partner and start your application.
Delaware Rental Assistance and Housing Assistance
Rent in New Castle County and near the beaches can eat up most of a paycheck.
Behind on rent, facing eviction or looking for an affordable place? We'll find Delaware programs and nonprofits that deal with those situations.
Helping Hands provides information about housing resources that may be available to qualifying Delaware residents, including:
Section 8 and Housing Assistance in Delaware
Delawareans who need affordable housing should learn about Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and other subsidized housing.
Local and state housing authorities run these programs, and each keeps its own wait list.
Helping Hands can provide information and resources to help you understand:
Delaware Eviction Assistance
Got an eviction notice or behind on rent? Don't wait for the court date. Get help this week.
Our Delaware list covers rental assistance, eviction prevention, emergency housing, legal aid and community resources in New Castle, Kent and Sussex.
Help may come from a nonprofit, a legal aid office, a State Service Center or a housing program, depending on your situation.
Foreclosure Prevention Assistance in Delaware
If a mortgage payment slips, act before the next one comes due.
Delaware homeowners can find foreclosure prevention and housing counseling referrals in our guide.
Afraid you'll lose the house? Phone your mortgage servicer before you miss another payment, and sit down with a housing counselor.
Delaware Assistance for Seniors
Older Delawareans may qualify for help with health care, meals, housing, transportation and daily bills.
For aging, disability and Medicare questions, call the Delaware Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 1-800-223-9074.
Helping Hands provides information about resources that may be available to older adults, including:
Delaware Medicaid and Medicare Resources
Medical bills put the most strain on seniors, people with disabilities and families with low incomes.
Helping Hands helps you find information about Medicare, Medicaid, health-care assistance and other medical resources in Delaware.
Medicare and Delaware Medicaid run on separate rules, so read the current requirements for the one you need.
Disability Assistance in Delaware
Delawareans with disabilities may qualify for specialized programs, home services and community support.
Each program sets its own qualifications, so check them one by one.
Helping Hands can help Delaware residents locate information about resources involving:
Legal Assistance for Delaware Residents
A denied benefit, a landlord dispute or a collection notice can call for a lawyer.
Delawareans who qualify can get legal aid and free legal resources, and we'll show you where to start.
Every Delaware legal aid office decides on its own who gets free or low-cost help.
Legal assistance may be particularly relevant for issues involving:
Education, Employment and Training Assistance
A one-time payment buys you time. New skills can raise your pay for good.
Helping Hands also shares education, job training and workforce resources that help Delawareans find better work and steadier income.
Resources may include:
Delaware Food Banks and Emergency Food Resources
Need food today? Food banks and pantries serve Delaware from the Brandywine to the Maryland line.
We look up pantries and meal programs close to you, with options for families, seniors, people with disabilities and anyone short on cash this month.
No groceries left, a shutoff notice or nowhere to sleep? Dial 2-1-1 in Delaware. Delaware 211 connects you with local services.
Assistance Available Throughout All 3 Delaware Counties
Our guide covers all 3 counties in Delaware, from Claymont at the Pennsylvania line to Selbyville near Maryland.
Our Delaware resources cover cities, towns and beach communities, including:
- Wilmington
- Dover
- Newark
- Middletown
- Smyrna
- Milford
- Seaford
- Georgetown
- Elsmere
- New Castle
- Lewes
- Rehoboth Beach
- Millsboro
- Laurel
- Harrington
- Bear
- Claymont
- New Castle County
- Kent County
- Sussex County
- And communities throughout Delaware
From a rowhouse in Wilmington to a farm outside Georgetown, the help you can get depends on your household and the programs near you.
How Helping Hands Can Help
Even in a small state, sorting through agencies, forms and wait lists can take days you don't have.
Helping Hands puts Delaware's programs side by side so you can compare them.
Our goal is to help you:
- Identify programs that may match your situation.
- Understand basic eligibility requirements.
- Find the appropriate agency or organization.
- Learn where and how to apply.
- Locate additional resources if one program does not meet your needs.
Our help and resource information is free for anyone living in Delaware.
Need Help in Delaware? Start Here.
Can't cover food, rent, the electric bill or a doctor visit? Let us handle the digging.
We'll show you the options and the Delaware agencies and groups that may help.
Common Delaware Assistance Programs
Food & Nutrition
- SNAP / Food Stamps
- EBT information
- Food banks
- Food pantries
- Emergency food assistance
Housing
- Rental assistance
- Section 8
- Low-income housing
- Eviction assistance
- Foreclosure prevention
- Emergency housing
Utilities
- LIHEAP (DEAP)
- Electric assistance
- Gas assistance
- Utility bill assistance
Financial Assistance
- Emergency financial assistance
- Cash assistance
- Family assistance
- Single-parent resources
- Community grants and assistance
Health & Senior Services
- Medicare
- Medicaid
- Senior assistance
- Disability resources
- Health-care assistance
Other Resources
- Legal assistance
- Education
- Job training
- Workforce resources
- Community services
Immediate Delaware Assistance
Need help right now? Dial 2-1-1 for Delaware 211, which links you to food, shelter, utility help and emergency services.
For SNAP, cash assistance and Medicaid, contact Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS), Division of Social Services.
For aging, disability and Medicare questions, call the Delaware Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) at 1-800-223-9074.
Keep this page saved for Delaware's key contacts.
Check which Delaware programs your household may qualify for today.
Helping Hands is a resource and information service. Program eligibility, availability, funding, and application requirements are determined by the applicable government agency, nonprofit organization, housing authority, or other program administrator. Providing information about a program does not guarantee eligibility or approval.
