Public Benefits (Youth & Young Adult Legal Issues Edition)

Yes. In the state of Montana, there is no minimum age requirement to apply for public assistance.

• SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program): Federal nutrition program that helps you stretch your food budget and buy healthy food. 
• WIC (Women, Infants, Children (for all genders)): Special supplemental nutrition program that provides nutrition education, nutritious foods, breastfeeding support, and healthcare referrals for income-eligible parents who are pregnant, postpartum, have infants, and/or children up to age 5.
• TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families): Cash assistance for families with children under the age of 18 in the home who need financial assistance. Adults and parents who apply for TANF benefits must fulfill certain work requirements. 
• LIEAP (Low Income Energy Assistance Program): Program helps low-income households reduce their heating and cooling costs by paying part of a recipient’s winter energy bills or weatherization of the residents (usually directly to the utility provider).
• Local Health Department: Your local health department provides a wide range of services, including medical treatment to members of the community who otherwise would lack access to healthcare. 
• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) & Supplemental Security Income (SSI): Social Security pays benefits to people who can’t work because they have a medical condition expected to last at least one year or result in death.  
  • Under SSDI, workers, a spouse, children, or other dependents may also be eligible to receive partial benefits. 
  • Under SSI you can quality for payments if you have a disability, no matter your age. To qualify for SSI, you must have a very limited income. 
• Unemployment: The state pays unemployment compensation to unemployed workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own. The program provides a source of income for jobless workers until they find employment again. 

More information is avaliable at MontanaLawHelp.org

Legal Help

• Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) provides free civil, non-criminal legal help to eligible clients. Apply for free legal help by calling 1-800-666-6899 or applying online.
• Tribal community members may have additional ways of accessing benefits. If you are a tribal member living in a tribal community, contact MLSA for advice on your specific situation at 1-800-666-6899 or by applying online.
• Contact your nearest Self Help Law Center for free legal information and forms.

Legal Forms

• Apply for SNAP and TANF benefits online through the Montana Department of Health and Human Services.

Non-Legal Resources

• The Youth Homelessness Development Project (YHDP) is designed to support Montana service providers in the development and implementation of a coordinated community approach to preventing and ending youth homelessness. More information is avaliable at the YHDP website.
• County resource guides provide an up-to-date listof avaliable help centers.