Fairfield County public assistance and aid.
Fairfield County, Bridgeport, and lower income families from other nearby towns may qualify for public assistance from the state of Connecticut or federal government. Several programs are offered and paid for by the state of Connecticut, and others are offered at the federal government level. A major focus is on ensuring families have their nutritional needs met, can access health care, and the county and state will also help ensure the availability of housing in Fairfield County.
Food stamps/SNAP or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is available. This federal government funded public program provides eligible households in Fairfield the means to buy food using vouchers and/or debit cards. It is usually offered along with a jobs training program.
These resources provide quality food, educational services, and training to State of Connecticut Administered Supplemental Nutrition Assistance as well as General Assistance recipients. Those who are able-bodied adults will need to commit to the employment services that are offered as part of SNAP.
The state and federal government funded SNAP or food assistance program provides eligible households the means to buy groceries, fresh food, baby formula, and more. In Fairfield County Connecticut families that are enrolled will use an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card to do their shopping, and this is accepted at most major retail food and grocery stores in southern and western Connecticut. While there are many conditions in place, the amount of SNAP benefits and public aid that a household can receive depends on certain deductible expenses, their income, and number of people in the household.
Elderly Referral Services and Hispanic Outreach offers benefit counseling, information, and more to the elderly Hispanic population residing in Bridgeport and Fairfield County. Phone 203-576-8469
The Community Development Block Grant Program is often run by community action agencies. It provides services to residents primarily through information/referral, case-management, assistance in applying for public benefits, and relocation services.
The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) offers referral services and information, emergency aid and case management to Bridgeport Connecticut residents.
Health care is offered by Healthy Start. The main goal of this federal government grant program is to reduce, to the extent possible, morbidity, infant mortality and low birth weights. Services are provided to eligible pregnant children and women up to three years old in the Southwestern area of Connecticut, and this public health care program offers care coordination, financial aid, focused health-related case management, and more. (203) 576-8181 or (203) 576-7458
Fairfield County Social Services administers the state of Connecticut General Assistance program which provides cash assistance for adults with very low income and low assets. It is offered for those who do not qualify for other federal or state assistance programs. Cash assistance is not offered to those who are able to work, and usually at most a few hundred dollars per month can be paid out.
Cremation and Burial assistance is coordinated by the Department of Social Services. The county will pay up to $1800 toward burial, funeral or cremation expenses of any very low income individual. Note it is not necessary to be a legal resident or citizen.
Women, Infants & Children (WIC) offers nutrition and food services to children up to 5 years old, women who are prenatal and postpartum females. The target population of WIC resides in the greater Fairfield County area, including Bridgeport, Stratford, Easton, Fairfield, and Monroe. Dial 203-576-8072 or 203-576-8074.
Temporary Family Assistance or First is a cash assistance program that can last up to 21 months. Aid is for very low income families with children under age 18 or pregnant women. Participants need to sign up for and attend a Department of Labor-managed job search, two- or four year degree program, or job training while receiving assistance.
Other Fairfield County programs include Child Support Assistance; Heating System Repair; Community Care Financing Programs for Disabled Adults; Homeless Shelter and Emergency Housing Program; and State Supplement for the Aged, Blind, Disabled. Some of the more specific medical assistance program are Health Insurance Programs such as Husky A/Husky B or Chip Program; Medicaid for Low Income Adults; and various Medicare Savings Programs such as QMB and SLMB.
Call the Fairfield County Department of Social Services at 203-256-3166.
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