On Your Own; Your Legal Right @ Eighteen On Your Own formatted final version | Page 73

municipality or child care providers themselves may also offer assistance.
In Burlington, for example, the Early Learning Initiative provides
scholarships for qualifying families:
(https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/it/earlylearning).
Essential Person Program. Cash assistance may be available for low-income
disabled or elderly persons, to help with the cost of a live-in caretaker.
Apply through DCF (https://dcf.vermont.gov/benefits/essential-person or 1-800-
479-6151).
Emergency/General Assistance. Available to help eligible individuals and
families to meet their emergency basic needs, such as housing, utilities,
and medical costs. Apply through DCF (https://dcf.vermont.gov/benefits/EA-GA
or 1-800-479-6151).
Social Security. If you are disabled and under age 65, you may be
eligible for federal Social Security Disability payments (SSDI) or
Supplemental Security Income payments (SSI). There are also monthly
payments available in some cases for the children, spouse, or divorced
spouse of a worker who has become disabled or otherwise incapacitated.
Apply through the Social Security Administration:
(www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability, or 1-800-772-1213).
Unemployment Compensation. Unemployment compensation is available
to all eligible Vermont workers and provides money to replace part of your
lost wages if you have been separated from employment, or if your work
hours have been reduced. Apply through the Vermont Department of
Labor (http://labor.vermont.gov/unemployment-insurance/, or 1-877-
214-3330).
Veterans’ Benefits. Monthly payments are available to eligible military
veterans and their immediate families. Apply at the U.S. Department of
Veterans’ Affairs (https://www.benefits.va.gov/BENEFITS/Applying.asp,
or 1-844-698-2311).
Tax Credits. Tax credits are available to certain taxpayers at both the state
and federal levels. A tax credit is a tax incentive which allows qualified
taxpayers to reduce their tax liability to the state. Tax credits are available
for both individuals and businesses and provide incentives to support
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