Free, independent, updated for 2026
Claim what's already yours.
Plain-language guides to Section 8, SNAP, Medicaid and the other U.S. programs that help families pay for housing, food and health care.
- Never asks for your SSN
- Links to official agencies
- Nothing you enter is saved
Every guide links straight to the agency
- HUD
- USDA
- CMS
- Social Security
- HHS
- Medicaid.gov
- USA.gov
Why we exist
The first food stamps came off a Washington press in 1939. The programs have grown ever since, and so has the paperwork. KPCB Edge exists to make it readable.
KPCB is short for Keep Pushing Costs Back. We read the federal rules and agency handbooks, then rewrite them for the kitchen table. We're independent, never take applications or fees, and the site is free to read, supported by advertising. How we research our guides
12
federal programs, explained in plain English
50
states plus DC, each with its own rules in the finder
$0
to apply for any of them. Nobody should charge you.
Programs worth checking first
The twelve federal programs most families ask us about, and who runs each one.
Not sure where to start?
The benefit finder checks all twelve against the 2026 income limits for your state and household. About a minute, and it stores nothing.
How it works
From confused to covered,
in four steps
- 1
Read the guide.
Who each program is for, what it pays and what you will need to bring, without the jargon.
- 2
Check the rules.
Every guide links to the agency that runs the program, because income limits change every year.
- 3
Apply to the agency.
Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply or promise you'll be approved.
- 4
Keep pushing.
Waiting lists can run long. Our guides cover what to do, and what else to apply for, while you wait.
Guides by topic
Start with what you need most
Latest guides
- What Is Area Median Income (AMI)? A Housing Help GuideHousing · Oct 21, 2026
- Does Medicaid Pay for In-Home Care? Coverage and How to ApplySection 8 · Jul 10, 2025
- PHA Pre-Application: How to Get on a Housing Waiting ListHousing · Jul 1, 2025
- Social Security Payments: Dates, Amounts and the 2027 COLASeniors · Jun 24, 2025
- 60,000 New Section 8 Vouchers? What HUD Funded and How to ApplySection 8 · Jun 18, 2025
Common questions
Straight answers
Is this a government website?
No. KPCB Edge is an independent publisher. We explain government programs and link to the agencies that run them, but we are not part of any agency and cannot make decisions about your case.
Can you apply for benefits for me?
No. Applications go straight to the agency that runs each program: a local housing authority, your state's SNAP or Medicaid office, or Social Security. Every guide tells you where to apply.
Does it cost anything to apply?
Applying for programs like SNAP, Medicaid and Section 8 is free. Be wary of anyone who charges a fee to apply or promises approval.
How current is this information?
Each guide shows the date it was last reviewed. Income limits and benefit amounts change, usually every year, so always confirm the current figures on the agency page we link to.
What if I'm on a waiting list?
Keep your contact details up to date with the agency so you don't lose your place, and check whether you can join more than one list. Many housing authorities run separate lists.
Will you ask for my Social Security number?
Never. We don't take applications, so we have no reason to ask for it. Only give it to the official agency you are applying to.