Caritas of Waco serves as the largest provider in McLennan County of personalized enrollment assistance for state/federal programs. Clients are guided through the application process with one-on-one assistance with a Federal Benefits Specialist who can set up the applicants with an online account of help apply with a paper application.

Federal Benefits Specialist available: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

To make an appointment, contact Benita Tovar at 254-753-4593, ext., 228, or btovar@caritas-waco.org.

Clients can apply for:

• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
  • Provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency.
  • To get SNAP benefits, you must apply in the state in which you currently live and you must meet certain requirements, including resource and income limits.
• TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
  • Assists families with children when the parents or other responsible relatives cannot provide for the family’s basic needs.
  • To be eligible for this benefit program, applicants must be a resident of the state in which they apply, and a U.S. citizen, legal alien or qualified alien. You must be unemployed or underemployed and have low or very low income. You must also be one of the following: Have a child 18 years of age or younger, or be pregnant, or be 18 years of age or younger and the head of your household.
• Medicare & Medicaid for Seniors 
  • Medicare provides health care coverage for Americans age 65 and older, as well as those who live with a disability. Medicaid, however, covers Americans with limited income. Seniors who are 65 and older and meet the limited income requirements may be dually covered by both programs.
• Medicaid for Children 
  • Health coverage for low-income children.
  • Child must be age 18 and younger (in some cases children with disabilities age 19 and 20 can get Medicaid). Child must also be a Texas resident and a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen.
• Medicaid for Parents and Caretakers
  • Health coverage for low-income parents and caretakers.
  • You must be a related caretaker for a child who has Medicaid. The child must live with you and be age 17 or younger or age 18 and attending school full time. You must also meet the income guidelines.
• CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program)
  • Low-cost health coverage for children from birth through age 18. CHIP is designed for families who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford to buy private health coverage.
  • The number of children you have and the amount you earn determines if your children can get CHIP.