Texas General Assistance Program: What Exists for Adults and Families

Is there a Texas general assistance program?

Not in the way people usually mean it. In some states, "general assistance" or "general relief" is a small monthly cash grant for adults who do not qualify for TANF or SSI. Texas has no program like that at the state level. On its financial help page, HHSC lists Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) as its cash program, along with a repatriation loan program for U.S. citizens returning from abroad in a crisis. Neither serves single adults in general.

Texas law does let county commissioners courts support residents who cannot support themselves, and older state law described this as a county duty toward "paupers." In practice, each county decides what to fund and how much. That is why the answer to "Can I get general assistance in Texas?" depends almost entirely on the county where you live.

Be careful with websites that describe a "Texas general assistance program" with set dollar amounts or a single application portal. We could not find any official source for such a program. Real county and state help is free to apply for, and no one should charge you a fee to sign up.

How county assistance works in Texas

County help in Texas usually comes through one of these offices:

• A county human services, social services, or family support department that may help with rent, utilities, food, or case management.
• A county indigent health care office or hospital district for medical care, required by the Health and Safety Code, chapter 61.
• A community action agency that runs the state's utility program (CEAP) and other services for the county.
• The county's indigent burial program, often run by the same department.

County help is generally one-time or short-term, tied to an emergency such as a disconnection notice or eviction, and limited by budget. Many counties require proof of residency, income for the past 30 days, Social Security numbers for the household, and the bill or notice you need help with. Some only help once a year. Funding often runs out before the end of the budget year, so call early in the month and ask when new funds open.

County Indigent Health Care Program

The closest thing Texas has to a guaranteed program for very poor adults is the County Indigent Health Care Program (CIHCP). Under chapter 61 of the Health and Safety Code, counties, hospital districts, and public hospitals are responsible for basic health care for eligible residents. HHSC lists these rules:

The 21% standard is very low. Using the 2026 federal poverty guideline of $15,960 for one person, it works out to roughly $279 a month for a single adult, though counties use HHSC's own published income table and some counties set a more generous limit. If you are turned away by one office, ask whether a hospital district or a charity care program at a public hospital covers you instead. Because Texas has not expanded Medicaid, most adults without children or a disability cannot get Medicaid; see our Texas Medicaid guide for who does qualify.

County examples: Travis, Tarrant, and Harris

These three large counties show how different local help can be. Details were checked on November 8, 2026.

Travis County Family Support Services

Travis County Family Support Services runs neighborhood community centers that offer utility assistance, a food pantry, case management by licensed social workers, burial services, a clothing closet at some centers, help with SNAP and Medicaid applications, and warming and cooling centers. Eligibility depends on Travis County residency, income documents, household size, age and disability, and how often you have received help.

Funding is tight. In a notice dated November 4, 2026, the county's apply page said it has very limited funding for utility assistance and no special funding for disconnections, though residents may still apply. It also said its social work and case management program was at capacity and would take new referrals again in January 2027. If your utilities are disconnected, the county asks you to contact a community center after you apply.

Tarrant County Human Services

Tarrant County moved its rent and utility help to a community partner. Its Human Services page says that as of November 1, 2025, rent and utility assistance is handled by the Center for Transforming Lives (817-607-8137). The county page still lists burial assistance.

Harris County

Harris County's Housing and Community Development department has listed rental help and emergency utility help on its website, and older county directories list social services for rent and utilities. We could not load the county's current program pages to confirm what is open today. Call 2-1-1 or the county directly before you plan around it.

TANF and One-Time TANF for families

If you are raising a child 18 or younger, Texas does have cash help. HHSC's TANF cash help page lists a maximum of $382 a month for one parent or caretaker with two children. Most adults must take part in the Texas Workforce Commission's Choices work program, and time limits apply. Our Texas TANF guide covers income limits and time limits in detail.

Two one-time payments work differently from the monthly grant:

• One-Time TANF: a $1,000 crisis payment for families with children who face an emergency like a job loss, a lost home, or a medical emergency. The Texas Works Handbook explains that choosing it makes the household ineligible for TANF or One-Time TANF for 12 months.
• One-Time TANF for Relatives: a once-in-a-lifetime $1,000 payment for a grandparent, aunt, uncle, sibling, or other relative age 25 or older who cares for a related child receiving TANF, within an income limit set by HHSC.

Apply for either at YourTexasBenefits.com or by calling 2-1-1.

SNAP food benefits and the adult work rule

SNAP is open to single adults, which makes it the most widely available ongoing help for Texans without children. HHSC's SNAP work rules say adults ages 18 to 64 who can work and have no one under 14 in the household can get SNAP for only three months in a three-year period unless they work, join a work program, or do workfare for at least 80 hours a month. Exemptions include pregnancy, being physically or mentally unfit to work, and living in a waiver area. For a single person, SNAP pays up to $306 a month from October 2026 through September 2027. See our Texas SNAP guide for the state's vehicle and resource rules.

SSI for adults who are disabled or 65 and older

For adults who cannot work because of a disability, or who are 65 or older, the federal Supplemental Security Income program is the real safety net. In 2026, SSI pays up to $994 a month for one person and $1,491 for an eligible couple, reduced by other income. You apply through the Social Security Administration, not the state. Approval can take months, so apply early and keep using county and food help while you wait. Legal aid offices and some county caseworkers help people with SSI applications and appeals at no cost.

Where to turn, by need

Getting help this month, step by step

1. Call 2-1-1 (or 877-541-7905). Ask what your county funds right now for rent, utilities, food, and health care. Our guide to 211 Texas financial assistance explains what to ask.
2. Apply for SNAP at YourTexasBenefits.com, even if you think the amount will be small.
3. If you have children, apply for TANF or ask about the $1,000 One-Time TANF payment if you are in a crisis.
4. Contact your county's indigent health care office if you need medical care and have no coverage.
5. Gather papers: ID, proof of county address, income for the last 30 days, Social Security numbers, and the bill, cutoff notice, or eviction notice.
6. If you are disabled or 65+, start an SSI application with Social Security.
7. If you lost a job, file for unemployment with the Texas Workforce Commission.

Related guides

• State of Texas emergency financial assistance
• Texas rental assistance
• Texas utility assistance
• Harris County eviction assistance

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information. County programs change with local budgets, so confirm details with your county before you apply. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with the State of Texas, any county, or any government agency.