The most important thing to know about DHHS grant programs is that they do not fund individuals. The Department of Health and Human Services is the largest grant-making agency in the federal government, but its grants go to states, tribes, universities, hospitals, and community organisations, which then deliver services to people. You cannot apply to HHS for a grant to pay your medical bills or personal expenses, and any offer to do so is a scam. That said, many HHS-funded programs do help individuals, and reaching them is simply a matter of going to the right organisation rather than HHS itself. Here is how it works and where to actually get help.
The Core Fact
HHS states it plainly: most of its grants are provided to states, territories, tribes, and educational and community organisations, which then pass the benefit to eligible people. The federal grants portal, Grants.gov, is equally direct that few opportunities are open to individuals, and none provide personal financial assistance.
So if you have arrived here hoping to apply for a government grant to cover a medical bill, that specific thing does not exist. What does exist is a large network of HHS-funded programs that provide care, coverage, and assistance, which the rest of this page walks through.
How HHS Grant-Making Is Organised
HHS makes grants through a set of operating divisions, each with a different focus.
| Division | What it funds |
|---|---|
| NIH | Medical research |
| CDC | Public health and disease prevention |
| HRSA | Community health centres, health workforce, maternal health |
| SAMHSA | Mental health and substance use treatment |
| ACF | Families and children, including Head Start, LIHEAP, and TANF |
| CMS | Medicare and Medicaid |
| IHS | Care for American Indians and Alaska Natives |
Organisations that want to apply do so through Grants.gov, the single federal portal, and must be an eligible entity registered in SAM.gov with a unique entity identifier. This is the route for a clinic, nonprofit, or research institution, not for a member of the public.
The HHS-Funded Programs That Do Help Individuals
This is the useful part. Each of these is funded by HHS grants and accessed through the funded organisation or your state, not by applying to HHS.
Community health centres. HRSA funds health centres that provide primary, dental, and behavioural care regardless of insurance, on an income-based sliding scale. This is often the single most useful option for someone without coverage. Find one at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov.
Head Start. Free early childhood education for children up to age five in low-income families. Enrol through a local programme.
LIHEAP. Help paying heating and cooling bills, applied for through your state or tribal energy assistance agency or a local Community Action Agency.
TANF. Monthly cash assistance for low-income families, applied for at your county or state welfare office.
The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. Care, medication, and support for low-income people living with HIV.
SAMHSA-funded treatment. Mental health and substance use treatment delivered through state agencies. Find services at findtreatment.gov, or call or text 988 for crisis support.
Medicaid, CHIP, and the marketplace. Health coverage for those who qualify. A single application at healthcare.gov screens for both marketplace subsidies and Medicaid. Note that the enhanced marketplace subsidies from recent years expired at the end of 2025, so 2026 premiums may be higher for some households.
Childcare assistance. Subsidies for low-income working or studying parents, accessed through your stateās childcare agency.
A Note on Recent Changes
HHS underwent significant restructuring during 2025 and 2026, including a consolidation of divisions, workforce reductions, and the announced creation of a new Administration for a Healthy America intended to combine several agencies. Some grant funding was also terminated, and several of these actions were challenged in court and remain unresolved.
The practical takeaway is neutral and simple: this area is in flux, so if you are relying on a specific HHS-funded program, verify its current status directly with the program or your state agency rather than assuming it operates as it did a year ago.
Avoiding Grant Scams
Because people searching for government grants are often in financial difficulty, they are heavily targeted by scammers. A few rules protect you.
Free government grant offers are scams. The Federal Trade Commission states this directly. Real agencies do not contact you out of the blue to offer a grant.
The government never charges a fee to release a grant. No genuine agency will ask you to pay, or ask for gift cards, a wire transfer, or cryptocurrency, to receive money.
Grants are never awarded to people who did not apply to a specific opportunity. If you did not apply for something, there is no grant waiting for you.
The legitimate federal sites are Grants.gov, where organisations apply for grants, and Benefits.gov, where individuals can find benefit programs they may qualify for. If you want to know what help you are eligible for, Benefits.gov is the right starting point.
What to Do Instead of Chasing a Grant
If you need help with a medical bill or healthcare costs, the effective steps are not grant applications. Check your eligibility for Medicaid, which enrolls year-round. Ask a nonprofit hospital for its financial assistance policy, which it is legally required to provide. Use a community health centreās sliding scale. And ask to speak to a hospital social worker or financial navigator, whose job is to connect you with assistance. Our guide to help paying for medical treatment covers these in detail.
DHHS Grant Program FAQs
Can I get an HHS grant to pay my medical bills?
No. HHS grants go to organisations, states, and researchers, not individuals, and none provide personal financial assistance. Help reaches people through HHS-funded programs delivered by clinics, states, and community organisations.
What does HHS actually fund?
Research through NIH, public health through CDC, community health centres and workforce through HRSA, mental health and addiction treatment through SAMHSA, and family programs like Head Start, LIHEAP, and TANF through ACF, among others.
How do I access HHS-funded help as an individual?
Through the funded organisation or your state, not HHS. Use a community health centre, apply for Medicaid or marketplace coverage, contact your state agency for LIHEAP or TANF, or use findtreatment.gov for mental health and substance use care.
How do organisations apply for HHS grants?
Through Grants.gov, the central federal portal. Applicants must be eligible entities registered in SAM.gov with a unique entity identifier. This route is for clinics, nonprofits, and research institutions.
Are āfree government grantā offers real?
No. The FTC states that free government grant offers are scams. The government never contacts you out of the blue to offer a grant, never charges a fee to release one, and never awards grants to people who did not apply.
Where should I look for help I qualify for?
Benefits.gov lets individuals find benefit programs they may be eligible for. For medical costs specifically, check Medicaid eligibility, ask a nonprofit hospital for its financial assistance policy, and speak to a hospital social worker.
