Your bank account was frozen or your pay is being taken
Why accounts get frozen and wages garnished, what money is protected, how to file a claim of exemption, wage limits, and undoing a judgment.
Getting food help: how to apply for SNAP
How to apply for SNAP food benefits, what to bring, emergency benefits within 7 days, the interview, your EBT card, and other food help.
Bankruptcy: how it works and what you keep
Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13, the automatic stay, what you keep, which debts stay, the required courses and what it does to your credit.
A huge medical bill: how to check it and lower it
How to check a medical bill for mistakes, appeal insurance denials, get financial assistance, use surprise-bill protections and set up a fair payment plan.
Debt collectors won’t stop calling: your rights
How to make a collector prove a debt, what they can’t do, how to stop the calls, old debts, and where to report abuse.
Your power or gas is about to be shut off: what to do
How to stop a power or gas shutoff: payment plans, LIHEAP energy help, medical and weather protections, and shutoff scams.
Behind on rent or got an eviction notice: what to do
What an eviction notice means, your rights as a tenant, rental help, and why you must never miss the court date.
Behind on your mortgage? What to do
What to do after a missed payment, the options to ask about, free help, and scams to avoid.
Got a letter from the IRS? What to do
How to read an IRS notice, meet the deadline, spot scams, set up a payment plan, and find help.
You were served with a lawsuit: what to do first
How to read a summons, find your deadline, check the case is real, file an answer and avoid a default judgment.
Laid off: how to file for unemployment
How to apply for unemployment benefits, what you need, weekly certifications, job search rules, appeals and taxes.
Someone emptied a joint bank account: what to do
Why banks usually can’t reverse joint account withdrawals, how to protect your money now, and ways to get your share back.
Getting your security deposit back
How to protect your deposit at move-in and move-out, what landlords can deduct, state deadlines, and what to do if they keep it.
Sewage backing up into your tub or basement: what to do
What to do when sewage backs up: stop using water, stay safe, plumber or city, insurance coverage, cleanup and prevention.
Building credit from nothing
How to start a credit history with a secured card, credit-builder loan or authorized user status, the habits that matter, and avoiding credit repair scams.
When student loan payments start, and what to do now
Grace periods, finding your loans and servicer, choosing a repayment plan, autopay, what to do if you can’t pay, and avoiding loan scams.
How US healthcare works, for newcomers
Ways to get covered, community health centers, where to go for care, emergency rights, free interpreters, and avoiding surprise costs.
Choosing childcare: what to look for and how to pay
Types of childcare, starting early, checking licenses and inspections, what to ask on visits, help paying, and keeping an eye on things.