Guides: Surviving Inflation on a Fixed Income

The ongoing global pandemic has wreaked havoc on our daily lives. As we move through this historically trying time, for various reasons, we are now faced with ever rising costs of goods. It is becoming increasingly harder to put an affordable, healthy meal on the table, to pay for gas, rent, utilities and so on. If you are living on a fixed income, or have lost essential income due to the pandemic, and are having a hard time keeping up with the rising costs of daily living, this guide will offer resources to help ease the burden of pandemic-related inflation. Particularly, if you are facing food insecurity, difficulty paying your rent and utilities, or medical copays and insurance premiums, read on for resources local to Wisconsin as well as nationwide resources.

If you do not live in Wisconsin, here are a few resources that offer assistance throughout the United States:

Many government programs have relaxed eligibility during the Covid-19 Pandemic. You may qualify for temporary help from government programs to pay rent, funeral expenses, and student loans. Food stamps and federal meal programs also changed their rules to provide extra help during the coronavirus pandemic. To find out more, visit USA.gov

The Salvation Army provides a range of assistance to individuals and families in need, incluidng food banks, pandemic-related emergency assistance, and more.

If you wish to speak to someone about your specific needs, you can also dial 211 or visit 211 Online to be connected with a variety of resources in your area.

Select from the following quick links:

Food Insecurity Assistance

 The rising cost of crude oil as well as global supply chain shortages due to the worldwide pandemic have caused an unprecedented surge in prices at our local grocery stores. If your monthly income and/or SNAP credit is not enough to cover these rising costs, your local food pantry may be able to fill this nutrition gap.

Food pantries are located in or very near most communities, but can sometimes be hard to locate. In addition to offering fixed locations, many food pantries throughout the US have begun to offer mobile pantries, visiting particularly hard-hit communities with truck loads of fresh produce, meats, and canned goods.

Below, we offer a list of food pantries with locations in Wisconsin. If you do not reside in Wisconsin, visit Feeding America to find your local food bank.

Wisconsin Food Banks and Mobile Markets

Hunger Task Force - Serving Southeastern Wisconsin

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin - Serving Eastern Wisconsin

Second Harvest Madison - Serving Madison Wisconsin

Feed My People Food Bank Central Wisconsin - Serving Central Wisconsin

Second Harvest Heartland - While physically located in Minnesota, this food bank serves Western Wisconsin as well.

    Call: 651-484-5117

    Contact them directly to be connected with service partners in Western Wisconsin.

Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank - Serving Northwest Wisconsin

WAFER LaCrosse - Serving LaCrosse Wisconsin

Emergency Rent Assistance

The rising costs of nearly everything over these past two years may have made your current rent or mortgage payments difficult. If you are behind on your rent and facing eviction or unable to pay your mortgage, there are local resources available here in Wisconsin.

If you are not a resident of Wisconsin, find your local rent assistance program via the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Wisconsin Emergency Rental Assistance (WERA) offers rent and utility assistance if you are a Wisconsin resident and meet the following:

  • Qualifies for unemployment, or has experienced a reduction in household income or an increase in major costs/financial struggles due to COVID-19.

  • Experiencing a risk of being evicted or losing your home.

  • Has a household income at or below 80% of the county median.

NOTE: If you reside in Brown, Dane, Milwaukee, or Waukesha this assistance is offered through local organizations as follows:

Emergency Mortgage Assistance

 Various types of assistane are available to homeowners facing financial hardship due to the effects of the Covid-19 crisis, including forbearance, a temporary lowering or pause of monthly payments, as well as direct assistance for those behind on their mortgages. Local housing organizations and counselors can help you determine the right path for you.

The Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) is a federal assistance program that helps homeowners who have been financially impacted by COVID-19 pay their mortgage or other home expenses.

Here in Wisconsin the Department of Administration oversees the HAF Program for Wisconsin homeowners. Funds have been distributed to organizations across Wisconsin. Find your regional HAF program. Up to $40,000 per household may be available to help with overdue housing bills.

Emergency Utility Assistance

 Emergency Utility funds have been distributed to programs across the United States to assist with overdue utility and water bills that were caused by the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. If you live outside of Wisconsin USA Gov has collected a list of programs that offer Help with Bills, including heating and cooling, electricity, and weatherization. Call 202-401-9351 to be connected with your local provider. Also, Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) offers assistance to low-income households for water and wastewater bills.

Keep Wisconsin Warm/Cool Fund offers assistance to households facing a significant energy burden and whose incomes fall within their guidelines. KWWF may also be able to offer supplemental support to WHEAP participants.

Wisconsin Help for Homeowners (WHH), in addition to mortgage payment assistance, also offers assistance with past due utility bills, casued by Covid-19 related hardship.

Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) offers both ongoing and emergency energy assistance. If you are experiencing a no heat situation on account of overdue energy bills, call 1-800-506-5596 to apply for emergency assistance.

  • WHEAP also offers weatherization assistance. If you have cold and drafty windows/doors, poor insulation, and/or need your furnace or water heater serviced or replaced this program may be able to help.

Internet/Broadband/Phone Assistance

Everyone On connects people in underserved communities to affordable internet service and computers, and provides digital skills trainings.

Lifeline is a federal program dedicated to making phone and internet service more affordable for low-income households. This benefit provides eligible consumers with a monthly discount of up to $9.25.

Medication/Health Care Assistance

 No one should have to forgo essential treatments and medication due to an inability to pay for them. In addition to Medicaid, Medicare and other state-sponsored insurances, many organizations across the United States have set up funds to assist with medical care associated with specific life-long disabilities and chronic illnesses. Each organization has different funds that open and close based upon demand. Be sure to visit each resource to see if any are currently accepting enrollees for your specific disability or illness.

Accessia Health helps pay for medication, provide health insurance premium and copay assistance, navigate health insurance plans, and give health-related legal advice.

Good Days assists chronically ill people with insurance premiums, co-pays, treatment-related travel, and diagnostic testing that is not covered by insurance.

Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company provides medications at a significant out of pocket savings. A new prescription will need to be submitted to their online pharmacy. Insurance is not required.

PAN Foundation assists federally and commercially insured people living with life-threatening, chronic and rare diseases with the out-of-pocket costs for their prescribed medications.

Patient Advocate Foundation Co-Pay Relief offers direct assistance for the payment of co-pays related to a variety of medications within their list of approved illnesses.

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