Grants & Benefits for Texas Residents
Texas has 52 state-specific programs in our database, plus 20+ federal programs available to all residents. Use the free matcher to find what you personally qualify for.
Texas-Specific Programs
Programs administered by Texas state agencies.
TEXAS Grant
Texas's need-based grant for undergraduates at public universities and colleges who complete a recommended high school program.
Deadline: Varies by school
Texas State Affordable Housing Corp (TSAHC) Programs
Down payment assistance grants and tax credits for low-to-moderate income Texas homebuyers. Grants do not require repayment.
Deadline: Rolling
Texas CHIP / Children's Medicaid
Low-cost comprehensive health coverage for uninsured Texas children under 19.
Deadline: Rolling
TEXAS Grant (Toward EXcellence, Access & Success)
Texas's main need-based grant for in-state students at public colleges and universities. One of the most generous state grant programs in the South.
Deadline: Rolling — apply via FAFSA early
Texas TANF — Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Cash assistance for low-income Texas families with children. Texas TANF benefits are lower than most states but program includes Medicaid, childcare, and employment services.
Deadline: Rolling
Texas CHIP — Children's Health Insurance Program
Low-cost health insurance for Texas children in families that earn too much for Medicaid but can't afford private insurance. Covers doctor visits, prescriptions, dental, and vision.
Deadline: Rolling
Texas LIHEAP / CEAP Energy Assistance
Texas LIHEAP and Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program help pay electric and gas bills. Critical in Texas where summer cooling costs can be extreme.
Deadline: Seasonal — critical in summer for cooling
Texas HOME & CDBG Housing Repair Programs
Federal HOME and CDBG funds administered through Texas cities and counties for home repair, rehabilitation, and accessibility modifications for low-income homeowners.
Deadline: Rolling — competitive, varies by city
TX Governor's Small Business Activity Center
Texas offers multiple small business support programs through the Governor's office, including the Texas Enterprise Fund, Texas Industry Clusters, and SBIR matching grants.
Deadline: Rolling
TX Veterans Land Board Programs
Texas has the most generous state veterans benefits in the nation. The VLB offers below-market loans for land, homes, and home improvements exclusively for Texas veterans.
Deadline: Rolling
TX Emergency Rent/Utility Assistance (TEAM)
Texas Emergency Assistance for Multifamily residents (TEAM) and local CARES-funded programs provide rental and utility assistance to households facing eviction or utility shutoff.
Deadline: Rolling — check local agencies
TX CHIP / CHIP Perinatal
Texas CHIP covers uninsured children 0–18 not eligible for Medicaid. CHIP Perinatal covers unborn children of pregnant women who don't qualify for full Medicaid.
Deadline: Rolling
TX Skills for Small Business (SSB)
Texas Skills for Small Business reimburses training costs at community/technical colleges for small TX businesses — one of the most generous workforce training subsidies in the nation.
Deadline: Rolling
TX Electric Utility Rebates + LIHEAP
Texas utilities offer rebates for HVAC upgrades, insulation, and smart thermostats. Combined with federal LIHEAP, TX households can significantly reduce energy costs.
Deadline: Rolling — varies by utility
Texas Medicaid
Free or low cost health coverage for Texans who fall into specific eligibility categories. Texas did not expand Medicaid under the ACA, so adults age 19 to 64 without dependent children generally do not qualify regardless of income unless they are disabled, elderly, or pregnant. The parent income limit is one of the lowest in the country at roughly $230 per month for a family of four. Children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities have higher and more accessible thresholds.
Deadline: Rolling
Texas CHIP - Children's Health Insurance Program
Low cost health coverage for uninsured children under age 19 in families that earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance. Covers doctor visits, prescriptions, dental, vision, hospital stays, and mental health services. Annual enrollment fees range from $0 to $50 per family with small copays for some services.
Deadline: Rolling
Texas CHIP Perinatal
Health coverage for pregnant women in Texas who do not qualify for full Medicaid because of income or immigration status. Covers prenatal care, labor and delivery, and postpartum care for the mother. The newborn receives 12 months of continuous coverage starting at birth. Particularly important in Texas given the state did not expand Medicaid and has a large undocumented population.
Deadline: Rolling
Healthy Texas Women (HTW)
Free family planning, well woman exams, and limited preventive health services for low income Texas women. Covers contraception, screenings for high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and breast and cervical cancer, pregnancy testing, and treatment for postpartum depression. Does not cover general medical care or abortion. HTW Plus extends mental health and substance use services to women in their first 12 months postpartum.
Deadline: Rolling
Texas Family Planning Program (FPP)
State funded family planning and reproductive health services for low income Texans who do not qualify for Healthy Texas Women, including men. Provides contraception, STI testing and treatment, cancer screenings, and reproductive health counseling on a free or sliding scale basis. Available regardless of immigration status at participating clinics.
Deadline: Rolling
Texas Health Steps (EPSDT)
Free preventive medical, dental, and case management checkups for children and youth under age 21 enrolled in Texas Medicaid. Covers well child visits, immunizations, vision and hearing screenings, dental cleanings, lab work, and developmental and mental health assessments. Reminders are mailed when checkups are due.
Deadline: Rolling
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) Texas
Network of more than 70 community health center systems operating 600+ service sites across Texas providing primary medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services on a sliding fee scale based on family income. No one is turned away for inability to pay. Serves insured, uninsured, and underinsured patients regardless of immigration status. Critical option for the estimated 617,000 to 920,000 Texans in the Medicaid coverage gap.
Deadline: Rolling
STAR+PLUS Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver
Medicaid waiver that pays for long-term care services in the home or community for Texas adults age 21 and older who would otherwise need nursing home care. Services include personal attendant care, in-home nursing, respite, home modifications, adaptive equipment, home delivered meals, dental, and assisted living facility care. Family members can be hired and paid as caregivers through the Consumer Directed Services option (spouses generally cannot be paid). HCBS slots are capped, so applicants are placed on an interest list with months to years of wait time depending on region. Apply early - your time on the list does not start until you call.
Deadline: Rolling
Texas Medicaid for the Elderly and People with Disabilities (MEPD)
Foundational Medicaid coverage for Texans age 65 and older, blind, or disabled who do not need nursing home or HCBS waiver services but qualify for Medicaid based on income and resources. Provides full Medicaid benefits including doctor visits, hospital care, prescriptions, lab work, and limited dental and vision. Many SSI recipients qualify automatically. Functions as the entry point for older or disabled Texans into Medicaid before stepping up to STAR+PLUS managed care or waiver-based long-term services.
Deadline: Rolling
Texas Medicaid Buy-In Program (MBI)
Lets working Texans with disabilities earn substantially more than standard Medicaid limits and still keep full Medicaid coverage by paying a sliding scale monthly premium. Designed to remove the financial penalty that traditionally forced disabled adults to choose between working and keeping their health coverage. Covers all standard Medicaid benefits. Premiums are calculated using a formula based on countable income. Maximum premium is $500 per month combined.
Deadline: Rolling
Texas Medicaid Buy-In for Children (MBIC)
Lets families with higher incomes get full Medicaid coverage for a child with a serious disability by paying a sliding scale monthly premium. Critical for middle-income families with disabled children who would otherwise be uninsured or underinsured because they earn too much for standard Medicaid but cannot afford the specialized care their child needs. Covers all standard Medicaid benefits including long-term services and supports like in-home care and personal care. Monthly premium ranges from $0 to $230 depending on family income, with no premium if family already participates in HIPP (Health Insurance Premium Payment) program.
Deadline: Rolling
Consumer Directed Services (CDS) Option
Texas service delivery model that lets recipients of Medicaid HCBS waivers (STAR+PLUS HCBS, CLASS, HCS, TxHmL, MDCP, DBMD, and Community First Choice) hire and manage their own attendants and personal care providers - including family members like adult children, parents of adult children, and siblings. The recipient or their representative becomes the employer of record. Family caregivers can be paid for the care they already provide. A Financial Management Services Agency handles payroll, taxes, and compliance paperwork. Important restrictions: spouses generally cannot be paid, and parents of minor children cannot be paid through HCS or TxHmL. MDCP allows parents of medically fragile children to be paid in some cases.
Deadline: Rolling
Texas SNAP - Food Stamps (Lone Star Card)
Monthly grocery benefits loaded onto a Lone Star Card (the Texas EBT card), accepted at most grocery stores, farmers markets, and online retailers including Amazon, Walmart, and H-E-B. Texas serves over 3 million SNAP recipients - the largest SNAP caseload of any state. Maximum monthly benefit is $298 for a single person, with $218 added per additional household member (so $952 for a family of four at zero income). Most adults ages 18 to 49 without children at home are limited to 3 months of benefits in any 3-year period unless working 20+ hours per week or in approved training. Effective April 1, 2026, candy and certain sweetened drinks are no longer purchasable with SNAP in Texas.
Deadline: Rolling
Texas WIC - Women, Infants, and Children
Free monthly food benefits, infant formula, breastfeeding support, nutrition counseling, and referrals to other services for low income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age 5. Benefits load onto a WIC card and cover specific approved foods including milk, eggs, cereal, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, peanut butter, beans, juice, infant formula, and baby food. Average benefit value is approximately $50 to $100 per person per month. Does not affect immigration status.
Deadline: Rolling
TEFAP - Feeding Texas Food Bank Network
Free emergency food distribution through 21 regional food banks serving all 254 Texas counties via more than 2,400 food pantries, soup kitchens, and partner agencies. The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) supplies USDA commodity foods that food banks distribute alongside locally donated and purchased items. No application or appointment usually required - walk in to any partner pantry. Most pantries allow visits once per month. Find your nearest pantry at FeedingTexas.org or call 2-1-1.
Deadline: Rolling
Texas TANF - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Monthly cash assistance loaded onto a Lone Star Card to help families with children pay for basic needs like rent, utilities, clothing, and household supplies. Texas has some of the lowest TANF benefits in the country - a single parent with two children receives a maximum of $353 per month, only about 16% of the federal poverty level. Benefits are limited to 60 months over a recipient's lifetime. Recipients must comply with work requirements (training, job search), child support cooperation, school attendance, immunization, and parenting class rules through the Personal Responsibility Agreement.
Deadline: Rolling
One-Time TANF (OTTANF) - Crisis Cash Payment
One-time $1,000 cash payment for Texas families with children who are facing a short-term financial crisis - loss of job, loss of housing, medical emergency, or loss of child support. Designed to keep families stable without enrolling them in monthly TANF. Available once per 12-month period. A separate One-Time TANF for Relatives provides a once-in-a-lifetime $1,000 payment to grandparents, aunts, uncles, and siblings caring for a related child under age 18. The income threshold for OTTANF (200% FPL) is far more accessible than monthly TANF (50% FPL), so many Texas families overlook this option.
Deadline: Rolling
Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) - Texas LIHEAP
Texas's implementation of the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Helps eligible households pay heating and cooling bills, manage energy-related crises (shutoff notices, no power during weather emergencies), and reduce energy burden. Benefit amounts vary by household size, income, and energy costs - typical assistance ranges from $400 to $1,600 per year per household. Also provides emergency utility assistance during disconnection or weather emergencies. Households with members who are elderly, disabled, or have young children are prioritized. Administered through 39 local Community Action Agencies covering all 254 counties.
Deadline: Rolling
Texas Lifeline Program - Phone and Internet Assistance
Discount on phone or internet service for low income Texas households. Federal Lifeline benefit of $9.25 per month is combined with the state Texas Lifeline benefit (managed by the Public Utility Commission of Texas) for additional savings. Many participating providers offer free wireless service plans (basic minutes, texts, and data) to Lifeline-eligible households. One Lifeline benefit per household. Choose phone OR internet, not both.
Deadline: Rolling
TSAHC Homes for Texas Heroes Home Loan Program
Down payment assistance and 30-year fixed rate mortgage for Texans in essential service professions. Provides 3% to 5% of the loan amount as either a non-repayable grant OR a forgivable second lien (forgiven over 3 years if you do not sell or refinance). Free Mortgage Credit Certificate (worth $500 to $2,000/year in federal tax credits) included. Works with FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional loans. Run by the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation, a state-authorized nonprofit. No first-time buyer requirement.
Deadline: Rolling
TSAHC Home Sweet Texas Home Loan Program
Down payment assistance and 30-year fixed rate mortgage for low and moderate income Texans who do not qualify for the Homes for Texas Heroes program. Provides 3% to 5% of the loan amount as either a non-repayable grant OR a forgivable second lien (forgiven over 3 years if you do not sell or refinance). Works with FHA, VA, USDA, and conventional loans. Available statewide through participating lenders. No first-time buyer requirement (though buyers may pair with a Mortgage Credit Certificate if they are first-time).
Deadline: Rolling
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program (Texas)
Federal rental assistance that pays a portion of monthly rent directly to a private landlord, with the tenant paying the rest (typically 30% of household income). Tenants choose their own apartment or house from any participating landlord, anywhere in the country once issued. Run locally in Texas by Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) covering individual cities, counties, or regions. Demand far exceeds supply: most PHA waiting lists in Texas are closed or have multi-year waits, so applicants should join multiple lists when possible. The voucher is portable nationwide once issued.
Deadline: Rolling
Texas General Residence Homestead Exemption
Removes $140,000 of your home's appraised value from school district property taxes. Applies to your primary residence only. Texas voters approved this increase (from $100,000) in November 2025 via Proposition 13, with the new amount effective for the 2026 tax year. Annual savings average $1,400 to $1,600 on school taxes alone. Many counties and cities also offer optional local homestead exemptions of up to 20% of appraised value, which stack on top of the school district exemption. File once - the exemption renews automatically each year. Late applications accepted up to 2 years after the delinquency date for retroactive savings.
Deadline: Rolling
Texas Over-65 and Disabled Homeowner Property Tax Benefits
Three stacked benefits for Texas homeowners age 65+ or with a qualifying disability. (1) Additional $60,000 school district homestead exemption on top of the standard $140,000 (combined $200,000 off school taxable value), raised from $10,000 in November 2025. (2) School Tax Ceiling - freezes the school district portion of your tax bill at the level paid in the year you turned 65 or became disabled. The frozen amount stays put even if appraised values or rates rise, and transfers to a surviving spouse age 55+. (3) Many counties and cities offer additional optional senior/disabled exemptions ($3,000 minimum). Combined annual savings frequently exceed $2,000 to $3,500.
Deadline: Rolling
Texas Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption
Property tax exemption for Texas veterans with a service-connected disability. The amount depends on VA disability rating: 10% to 29% rating = $5,000 off assessed value; 30% to 49% = $7,500; 50% to 69% = $10,000; 70% to 99% = $12,000. Veterans with a 100% disability rating OR rated as totally unemployable by the VA receive a TOTAL exemption on their primary residence (no property tax owed at all - one of the most generous benefits in the country). The partial (10% to 99%) exemption can be applied to ANY one property the veteran owns, not just their homestead. 100% disabled veterans may apply up to 5 years after the delinquency date for a retroactive refund.
Deadline: Rolling
Texas Surviving Spouse Property Tax Exemptions
Multiple property tax exemptions for surviving spouses of Texas military members and disabled veterans. (1) Surviving spouse of a 100% disabled veteran: full exemption on the homestead continues if the spouse does not remarry. If the surviving spouse moves, the same dollar amount of exemption transfers to the new home. (2) Surviving spouse of a US service member killed or fatally injured in the line of duty: 100% exemption on the homestead under Tax Code 11.133, no remarriage. (3) Surviving spouse of a service member who died on active duty: $5,000 exemption applicable to any one property. (4) Surviving spouse age 55+ of an Over-65 homeowner: may continue the deceased spouse's school tax ceiling and over-65 exemption if they remain in the home.
Deadline: Rolling
Texas Property Tax Deferral for Seniors and Disabled Homeowners
Lets Texas homeowners age 65+ or with a qualifying disability completely STOP paying property tax on their homestead for as long as they live there. Deferred taxes accrue 5% annual interest (well below market rate) and are repaid when the home is sold, transferred, or no longer the primary residence. While deferred, the taxing units cannot foreclose for non-payment. The home can still be inherited - heirs simply pay accrued tax and interest from sale proceeds. Critical safety net for cash-strapped seniors who are equity-rich but income-poor. The deferral does not eliminate any taxes already delinquent before the deferral was filed.
Deadline: Rolling
Houston Food Bank
One of the largest food banks in the US, distributing food through a network of pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters across 18 Texas counties.
Deadline: Rolling
Central Texas Food Bank
Serves 21 counties in Central Texas including Austin. Distributes food through pantries, mobile distributions, and community partners.
Deadline: Rolling
San Antonio Food Bank
Distributes food across 16 South Texas counties through pantries, mobile pantries, and emergency distributions.
Deadline: Rolling
Texas WIC Program
Provides nutritious foods, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and healthcare referrals for eligible women, infants, and children.
Deadline: Rolling
Texas TANF (Texas Works)
Monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children. Part of the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program administered by Texas HHS.
Deadline: Rolling
Salvation Army Texas Emergency Assistance
Provides emergency financial assistance for utilities, rent, food, and other basic needs to individuals and families in crisis across Texas.
Deadline: Rolling
Catholic Charities of Texas Emergency Assistance
Provides emergency financial assistance for rent, utilities, and basic necessities to individuals and families in crisis regardless of faith.
Deadline: Rolling
Texas Emergency Relief (Local Mental Health Authorities)
Many Local Mental Health Authorities (LMHAs) in Texas administer emergency financial assistance for housing, utilities, and basic needs to individuals with mental illness.
Deadline: Rolling
Texas Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
Free home weatherization services including insulation, air sealing, and heating/cooling upgrades to reduce energy costs for low-income households.
Deadline: Rolling
CenterPoint Energy Low-Income Assistance
Bill payment assistance and energy efficiency programs for low-income customers in the CenterPoint Energy service area in Texas.
Deadline: Rolling
Atmos Energy Share the Warmth
Emergency natural gas bill assistance for low-income customers in the Atmos Energy service area in Texas who cannot afford to heat their homes.
Deadline: Rolling
Federal Programs Available in Texas
Administered by federal agencies and available to eligible residents in all 50 states. Showing 20 of 111 federal programs — use the matcher to see all that fit your situation.
Federal Pell Grant
Need-based grant for undergraduate students who haven't earned a bachelor's degree. Does not need to be repaid.
Deadline: Rolling — FAFSA opens Oct 1
Federal SEOG Grant
Supplemental grant for undergrads with exceptional financial need. Funds limited — priority to earliest FAFSA filers.
Deadline: Varies by school
TEACH Grant
For students planning to teach in high-need fields at low-income schools. Converts to loan if service requirement unmet.
Deadline: Rolling
Post-9/11 GI Bill (Ch. 33)
Covers tuition at state schools plus housing allowance and book stipend for veterans who served 90+ days post-9/11.
Deadline: Rolling
Head Start Program
Federally funded comprehensive early childhood education for ages 3–5 from low-income families. Covers school readiness, health, nutrition, and family services. Early Head Start serves 0–3.
Deadline: Rolling — contact local program
WIC — Women, Infants & Children
Nutritious foods, nutrition counseling, and healthcare referrals for low-income pregnant women, new mothers, and children under 5.
Deadline: Rolling
Child Care & Development Fund (CCDF)
Helps low-income working families pay for childcare. Each state administers its own version of this federal block grant.
Deadline: Rolling
TANF — Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
Monthly cash assistance for low-income families with children. Each state runs its own program with different benefit levels and work requirements.
Deadline: Rolling
Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8)
Federal rental assistance for low-income families, elderly, and disabled. Tenants pay 30% of income; voucher covers the rest up to a payment standard.
Deadline: Waitlist — check local HA
USDA Home Repair Grants (Section 504)
Grants and loans for very low-income rural homeowners to repair homes or remove health/safety hazards.
Deadline: Rolling
LIHEAP Energy Assistance
Helps low-income households pay heating and cooling costs. Administered locally through Community Action Agencies.
Deadline: Rolling — varies by state
SBIR Phase I Grant
Seed funding for small businesses to explore R&D feasibility for federal agencies. America's largest innovation grant program.
Deadline: Varies by agency
SBA 8(a) Business Development Program
9-year mentoring and contracting program for socially and economically disadvantaged small businesses.
Deadline: Rolling
WOSB Federal Contracting Set-Asides
Federal contracts reserved for women-owned small businesses in underrepresented industries.
Deadline: Ongoing via SAM.gov
SDVOSB Contracting Set-Asides
Federal contracts reserved for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.
Deadline: Ongoing via SAM.gov
GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS)
Pre-approved contract vehicle allowing any federal agency to buy your commercial products/services without competitive bid.
Deadline: Rolling
SNAP (Food Stamps)
Monthly EBT card benefits to buy food at authorized retailers. Average ~$175/person/month.
Deadline: Rolling
Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program
Medical care and support for people with HIV who lack adequate insurance coverage.
Deadline: Rolling
IRA Home Efficiency Tax Credits (25C/25D)
30% federal tax credits for insulation, windows, heat pumps, and solar panels.
Deadline: Through 2032
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
Free insulation, air sealing, HVAC repair, and energy-efficient upgrades for low-income households.
Deadline: Rolling
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