Social Security (SSA) — official, always-free service
File claims, replace cards, get benefit letters: no agent, no fee, ever.
Benefits & health coverage
Always free
1-800-772-1213
ssa.gov is the federal Social Security Administration's official site. With a free 'my Social Security' account you can apply for retirement or disability benefits, request a replacement SSN card, download a benefit verification letter, and manage direct deposit yourself — the same work some private 'agents' charge hundreds of dollars for.
Saves you
Saves you from paid middlemen who charge $200–$1,000+ to do what SSA does for free: filing for retirement, Medicare, or disability; replacing a lost card; and printing the benefit letter landlords and agencies ask for. A lawyer is never required just to apply.
What it cannot do
- Cannot guarantee approval — eligibility rules decide, not customer service.
- Cannot speed up complex disability decisions beyond normal processing times.
- Does not give legal advice; a difficult appeal may still be worth discussing with an independent attorney (SSA regulates attorney and non-attorney representative fees).
- Some claims (for example certain survivor cases) still finish by phone or office appointment, not fully online.
Have ready
- Social Security number — and your card, if you have it
- Birth certificate or other proof of date of birth
- Latest W-2, or last year's tax return if self-employed
- Bank routing and account number for direct deposit
- Military records or marriage/divorce papers, if they apply to you
By phone: 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Mon–Fri
Spot the fakes
- Never pay a 'fee' to release Social Security benefits or to unfreeze your number. Calls and texts demanding gift cards, wire transfers, or crypto are fake — hang up. Official: ssa.gov
- Lookalike sites like 'ssa-gov.com', 'socialsecurity-now.com', or 'myssa-refund.net' are impostors. The real site is www.ssa.gov — type it yourself. Official: ssa.gov
Good to know: Free for everyone. Some online services ask you to verify your identity when creating a my Social Security account.
Verified free on 2026-10-26 · recheck by 2026-12-30.
Medicare plan help — Medicare.gov counselors & SHIP
Free, unbiased state counseling before you pick or switch a Medicare plan.
Benefits & health coverage
Always free
1-800-633-4227
Medicare.gov is the official federal Medicare site, and SHIP (State Health Insurance Assistance Program) is a national network of state-funded counselors. Counselors compare plans with you one-on-one, review your drugs against plan formularies, explain bills, and coach you through enrollment — they sell nothing and take no commission.
Saves you
Saves you $150–$500 a year in paid 'Medicare advisor' fees and the bigger cost of enrolling in a plan sold on commission. SHIP counselors are state-funded volunteers and staff who take no commission, so their plan comparison doesn't lean toward anyone's paycheck — including honest reviews of your medications each fall.
What it cannot do
- Cannot enroll you or file forms for you — they coach, you click the button.
- Cannot sell plans or accept any commission (they are required to stay unbiased and unsold).
- Does not provide legal advice for benefit denials or lawsuits.
- Wait times spike during fall open enrollment (Oct 15 – Dec 7); appointments can run weeks behind.
Have ready
- Your Medicare card (number is 11 letters and digits, your MBI)
- Complete list of current medications with doses
- Any plan papers, bills, or denial letters
- Your ZIP code so the locator finds your state SHIP office
By phone: 1-800-633-4227 (1-800-MEDICARE), TTY 1-800-325-0778
Spot the fakes
- Official Medicare never cold-calls to offer gift cards, groceries, or 'free groceries with a new plan'. Robocalls saying 'switch now to keep benefits' are fake. Official: medicare.gov
- Lookalikes like 'medicare-gov.info', 'medicare-plans-us.com', or 'ship-counselor.net' are impostors. Official domains end in .gov — or are shiphelp.org for SHIP. Official: medicare.gov
Good to know: Medicare.gov: everyone. SHIP: people with Medicare and their families — free regardless of income. Open enrollment runs Oct 15 – Dec 7 each year.
Verified free on 2026-10-26 · recheck by 2026-12-30.
211 — free local help line (United Way)
One free call or text maps you to rent, food, utility, and care programs.
Local help & referrals
Always free
Dial or text 2-1-1
211 is a free, 24/7 help line in most U.S. states, powered by local United Way and partner organizations. Tell the specialist what you need — rent or utility help, food, transportation, child care, support for older adults or a disability — and they list the local programs that can help and how to apply.
Saves you
Saves hours of searching for rent aid, food pantries, utility shut-off help, transportation, and home care — one call gives you a local, current list with eligibility rules instead of a maze of dead ends. Cost: free, always.
What it cannot do
- Does not hand out money itself — it refers you to programs; screening is done by each program.
- Coverage and quality vary by county; a few rural areas have limited 2-1-1 service.
- It is not 911 — it cannot send police, an ambulance, or stop an eviction in progress after hours.
Have ready
- Your ZIP code
- A one-sentence description of what you need today
- Any deadline you already know (eviction notice date, shut-off notice date)
By phone: Dial or text 2-1-1 (24/7 in most areas; some areas use a toll-free number)
Spot the fakes
- Real 211 never asks you to pay, give a gift card, or apply for a 'federal grant' — calls and ads promising guaranteed grants for a fee are fake. Official: 211.org
- Scammers spoof short numbers and make sites like '211-benefits-grants.com'. The official site is 211.org (run by United Way Worldwide); verify the number before calling back. Official: 211.org
Good to know: Open to everyone; an automated option and interpreter services are available in many areas.
Verified free on 2026-10-26 · recheck by 2026-12-30.
IRS free tax filing + VITA volunteer preparers
File federal taxes free with guided software or trained volunteers.
Taxes
Always free
1-800-829-1040
IRS Free File offers two no-cost ways to file federal returns: partner-provided guided tax software (free if you meet the year's income limits) and Free File Fillable Forms (free electronic forms with no income limit, but no interview or advice). VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) and TCE add free, in-person returns prepared by IRS-certified volunteers.
Saves you
Saves $150–$600 in paid tax prep for simple returns, plus the delay and penalties that mistakes trigger. Guided Free File software is free if you meet the income limit, VITA volunteers prepare and e-file for free in person, and refunds land faster when the return is accurate the first time.
What it cannot do
- Guided Free File has annual income caps and its deals do not cover every state return — always confirm this year's limit on irs.gov.
- Fillable Forms does no math for you and no state return.
- VITA cannot prepare most complex returns (for example rental income or multi-state income) — check the site for the current list of in-scope forms.
- IRS assistance is not legal advice, and it will not choose your best filing status for you over the phone.
Have ready
- All W-2s and 1099s (wages, bank interest, retirement, unemployment)
- Last year's tax return (and prior-year AGI if it was your first filing)
- Social Security or ITIN cards for everyone listed on the return
- Bank routing and account numbers for a direct-deposit refund
- Any 1095-A health form, 1098-T tuition form, or property tax statement, if they apply
By phone: 1-800-829-1040 (IRS individual line — expect hold time)
Spot the fakes
- Only irs.gov and irs.treasury.gov are official. Sites like 'irs-refunds.com', 'e-file-irs.net', or 'myirs-portal.net' are impostors — and the IRS never emails or texts you about an unexpected refund. Official: irs.gov
- Paid sites clone the name 'Free File'. The real program is only reached from irs.gov/freefile — if a site charges an 'E-file service fee' for guided Free File, leave and start over from irs.gov. Official: irs.gov
Good to know: Guided Free File: free if your income is at or under the year's cap published at irs.gov. Fillable Forms: any income. VITA: generally modest income, persons with disabilities, and limited-English speakers. January marks the start of each filing season.
Verified free on 2026-10-26 · recheck by 2027-01-15.
CFPB complaint tool — banks, credit, debt & credit reports
Make a financial company answer you on the record, in writing — free.
Consumer & money issues
Always free
1-855-411-2372
consumerfinance.gov is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's official site. Its complaint portal accepts complaints about banks, credit cards, collections, credit reporting, mortgages, loans, debt collection, and more — and sends your complaint to the company for a written response. Ask CFPB on the same site answers hundreds of money questions in plain English.
Saves you
Saves you writing a legal letter for the same result: filing a complaint typically puts the company on record to respond in writing (companies are expected to respond in 15 days, and to resolve complaints within 60), and the CFPB tracks repeat offenders you might otherwise fight alone.
What it cannot do
- Cannot force a refund, compensation, or a ruling for you — it is not a court.
- Does not cover every kind of dispute; its scope is financial products and companies.
- Does not give you legal advice or act as your attorney.
- An answer can take weeks; you will still need to keep your own records.
Have ready
- Company name and your account or loan number
- A short timeline with dates of what happened
- Bills, letters, screenshots, and notes from calls
- One clear ask: refund, correct the credit report, stop the calls, or cancel the account
By phone: 1-855-411-2372 (TTY/TDD: 1-855-729-2372)
Spot the fakes
- The real tool is consumerfinance.gov and it is free. Sites like 'cfpb-refund-now.com', 'consumer-finance-help.net', or 'cfpb-complaints.com' that charge to 'process your complaint' are fake. Official: consumerfinance.gov
- Watch out for callers claiming 'we found CFPB money owed to you' or asking a fee to fill this form. CFPB does not award individual payouts through private agents. Official: consumerfinance.gov
Good to know: Free for everyone; complaints can be filed online or by phone, with interpreter support.
Verified free on 2026-10-26 · recheck by 2027-01-15.
FTC fraud reporting + identity-theft recovery
Free federal reporting — plus an auto-built identity-theft recovery plan.
Scams & identity theft
Always free
1-877-382-4357
reportfraud.ftc.gov is the Federal Trade Commission's official reporting site for scams and fraud; identitytheft.gov builds a personal, step-by-step recovery plan with ready-to-send letters and an official Identity Theft Report; donotcall.gov registers your number and reports unwanted telemarketing. All free, all .gov.
Saves you
Saves you the worst part of getting scammed: not knowing what to do next. Your reports feed real FTC enforcement cases, and identitytheft.gov instantly writes a personal recovery plan with fillable letters to close fraudulent accounts, dispute charges, and reset credit — paperwork lenders and credit bureaus accept without argument.
What it cannot do
- Will not recover your lost money directly and will not investigate your single case as a personal detective.
- Does not make the scammer stop calling or erase a scam after it happened — pair it with your state AG (see that card).
- The affidavit is not legal advice for unusual cases; complicated losses may still need a lawyer.
Have ready
- Everything the scammer saw or sent: phone numbers, emails, texts, screenshots
- Receipts, card and app charges, and transfer records
- Rough amounts lost or exposed (money, SSN, bank logins)
- For IdentityTheft.gov: your identity details for the official affidavit
By phone: 1-877-382-4357 (FTC consumer line); 1-877-438-4338 (ID theft line)
Spot the fakes
- The double scam: paid 'recovery agents' who say the FTC hired them to get your money back. The FTC never hires private agents, never promises returns, and never asks payment to file a report. Official: ftc.gov
- Lookalikes like 'ftc-recovery.com', 'report-fraud-ftc.com', or 'identity-theft-gov.org' are fake. Official sites end in .gov. Official: identitytheft.gov
Good to know: Open to everyone, including reports about businesses in other states; anonymous reports are accepted, but a named report strengthens enforcement.
Verified free on 2026-10-26 · recheck by 2027-01-15.
Your state Attorney General — free consumer help
State-level complaint, mediation, and restitution help for local scams.
Consumer & money issues
Always free
Find your state's number via the USA.gov page — never trust a number from a cold email
Each state's Attorney General office takes free consumer complaints and many mediate them, especially for locally licensed businesses: car lots, movers, contractors, home repairs, landlord-tenant issues, charities, and telemarketers. Some states run restitution funds and publish, as court papers, the local list of sellers already sued. USA.gov's official page points you to your real state contact.
Saves you
Saves state-law fights from going silent: local contractors, car dealers, movers, and telemarketers answer state AG letters far more than small-claims threats, and some states have restitution funds that can return money otherwise unclaimed. Filing a complaint is always free.
What it cannot do
- Services and legal powers differ state to state — some offices only log complaints.
- The AG office is not your lawyer and cannot represent you in court.
- No guarantee of a refund, restitution, or an investigation of your case alone.
Have ready
- Business name, address, and any contract or receipt
- A short timeline with dates
- Copies — never your originals — of letters and screenshots
- One clear ask: refund, cancel, repair, or stop contact
By phone: Find your state's number via the USA.gov page — never trust a number from a cold email
Spot the fakes
- Find your AG only through USA.gov. Pay-to-file services like 'state-ag-consumer-help.com' or 'ag-consumer-complaint.net' are fake — filing with your AG is free. Official: usa.gov
Good to know: Open to everyone; offices prioritize new complaints and illegal patterns, so response time varies.
Verified free on 2026-10-26 · recheck by 2027-01-15.