Figuring out benefits can feel overwhelming, but Nevada has benefits programs for Medicaid, SNAP, cash help, energy bills, and child care. Most start at Access Nevada, the state's online benefits portal, and marketplace plans with ACA subsidies are on Nevada Health Link. For SSDI, SSI, or VA disability benefits, start with Social Security or the VA.
Nevada benefits programs at a glance
Program | What it helps with | Where to apply |
|---|---|---|
SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) | Monthly income when a disability stops you from working | Social Security, or with Turnout's help |
SSI (Supplemental Security Income) | Monthly income for people with disabilities or age 65+ with limited income | Social Security, or with Turnout's help |
VA Disability | Tax-free monthly pay for service-connected conditions | U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), with a free Nevada Veterans Service Officer |
Medicaid | Free or low-cost health coverage | Access Nevada |
ACA (Affordable Care Act) Subsidies | Lower monthly premiums on marketplace plans | Nevada Health Link |
Medicare / Healthcare Advocacy | Health coverage at 65 or with a disability, plus help using it | Social Security for Medicare, Turnout for advocacy |
SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) | Monthly money for groceries | Access Nevada |
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) | Healthy food for pregnant people, new parents, and young kids | A local WIC clinic |
LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program) | Help with heating and cooling bills | Nevada Division of Social Services (DSS) energy page |
TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) | Cash help and job support for families with children | Access Nevada |
EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) | A tax credit for people who work and earn low to moderate income | Your federal tax return |
Child Tax Credit | A tax credit for each qualifying child | Your federal tax return |
Child Care Assistance (CCAP) | Help paying for child care while you work or study | Nevada DSS |
IEP (Individualized Education Program) / Education Advocacy | Special education services for students with disabilities | Your child's school, with Turnout's help |
Disability and income
SSDI
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) pays monthly income to people who can't work because of a disability and have paid into Social Security through their jobs. In Nevada, the Social Security Administration (SSA) takes your application. The state's Bureau of Disability Adjudication makes the medical decision. Our guide to the Nevada Social Security Administration explains how those offices fit together. You can apply for SSDI with Turnout and get one-on-one help gathering medical evidence. While some of Turnout's services are free, please note that others may incur service fees.
Official resources: SSA disability benefits, SSA 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) fact sheet, Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) Bureau of Disability Adjudication
SSI
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) pays monthly income to people with limited income and resources who are 65 or older, blind, or disabled, even if they've never worked. SSA runs SSI in Nevada, and Nevada adds a state supplement for some recipients. Where you live, and who helps pay your rent or food, can change your payment. You can apply for SSI with Turnout and get one-on-one help documenting your income and household details.
Official resources: SSA Supplemental Security Income, SSA on how living arrangements affect SSI, SSA 2024 Nevada SSI state supplement data
VA Disability
VA disability compensation is a tax-free monthly payment from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for conditions caused or made worse by military service. The Nevada Department of Veterans Services (NDVS) supports veterans across the state. Nevada also offers property and vehicle tax exemptions for qualifying disabled veterans, and you apply for them through your county assessor. To file a claim, get free claim help from an NDVS Veterans Service Officer. A Veterans Service Officer (VSO) is an accredited helper who can prepare and submit your claim at no cost.
Official resources: VA disability compensation rates, NDVS real property and vehicle tax exemption, Carson City Assessor personal exemptions (an example county, so apply in your own)
Health coverage
Medicaid
Medicaid is free or low-cost health coverage for people with limited income. Nevada Medicaid is part of the Nevada Health Authority. The Division of Social Services (DSS), formerly the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS), handles applications. Nevada is a Medicaid expansion state, so many adults under 65 can qualify based on income, as the Medicaid.gov Nevada overview describes. You can apply through Access Nevada. If you made your account before February 3, 2025, you'll need to register again.
Official resources: Nevada Medicaid, Medicaid.gov Nevada state overview
ACA Subsidies
Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies are tax credits that lower your monthly premium when you buy a health plan through the marketplace. Nevada runs its own marketplace, Nevada Health Link, so Nevadans shop there instead of on HealthCare.gov. Open enrollment happens once a year. A major life change, like losing job-based coverage, can open a special enrollment window. Compare plans and apply at Nevada Health Link, which works out your subsidy during the application.
Official resources: Nevada Health Link's how to enroll page, HealthCare.gov on saving money on health insurance
Medicare / Healthcare Advocacy
Medicare is federal health insurance for people 65 and older and for some younger people with disabilities. You sign up through Social Security. Nevada's Medicare Assistance Program (MAP) offers free counseling to help you compare plans. Once you're covered, a healthcare advocate helps you use that coverage. You can get one-on-one healthcare advocacy from Turnout for denied claims, referrals, and billing questions. It's covered by Medicare, so most members pay nothing out of pocket.
Official resources: Medicare.gov, SSA Medicare enrollment, Nevada Medicare Assistance Program (MAP)
Food and nutrition
SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) gives you money each month for groceries on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. It works like a debit card at most grocery stores. In Nevada, the Division of Social Services (DSS) runs SNAP. You can apply through Access Nevada, and the same application can cover Medicaid too. After you apply, check the Nevada DSS SNAP page for what comes next, including any interview.
Official resources: Nevada DSS SNAP program, USDA SNAP
WIC
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) provides healthy foods, nutrition advice, and breastfeeding support. It serves pregnant people, new parents, infants, and children under 5. In Nevada, WIC is run by the Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH). Unlike most programs here, you don't apply through Access Nevada. Find a Nevada WIC clinic near you and contact it to set up an appointment.
Official resources: Nevada DPBH WIC program, USDA WIC
Home and cash help
LIHEAP
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps households pay heating and cooling bills. In Nevada, DSS runs this help through its Energy Assistance Program. Cooling costs matter here as much as heating, especially during southern Nevada summers. Energy help has its own application, separate from Access Nevada. Apply for energy assistance through Nevada DSS, and keep a recent utility bill handy.
Official resources: Nevada DSS Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP Clearinghouse Nevada profile
TANF
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) gives cash help to families with children who have very limited income. In Nevada, DSS runs TANF. Adults who get it may be asked to take part in job search or training activities, and the Nevada DSS TANF page explains the current rules. The program is meant as short-term support while you get back on steady ground. You can apply through Access Nevada, the same place you'd apply for SNAP and Medicaid.
Official resources: Nevada DSS TANF program, ACF TANF overview
Tax credits
EITC
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a federal tax credit for people who work and earn low to moderate income. Nevada has no state income tax, so there's no state version, and the federal credit is the one to claim. Some people who qualify miss it because they don't file a return. Check the rules on the IRS Earned Income Tax Credit page, then claim it on your federal return.
Official resources: IRS 2026 tax inflation adjustments, IRS Free File
Child Tax Credit
The Child Tax Credit lowers the federal tax you owe for each qualifying child. Part of it may come back to you as a refund. Because Nevada doesn't tax income, there's no state child credit to add on. You claim it on your federal return. Review who qualifies on the IRS Child Tax Credit page. Our Child Tax Credit articles walk through common questions.
Official resources: IRS Free File
Children and education
Child Care Assistance (CCAP)
Child Care Assistance (CCAP) helps pay for child care so parents can work, look for work, or go to school. In Nevada, DSS runs the child care subsidy program. The Children's Cabinet, Nevada's child care resource and referral partner, helps families find care. You can apply through Access Nevada or apply for child care help through Nevada DSS. Our Child Care Assistance articles cover how subsidies work.
Official resources: Nevada Child Care Resource & Referral at The Children's Cabinet, ACF Office of Child Care
IEP / Education Advocacy
An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a written plan for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Nevada's own special education rules are in Nevada Administrative Code (NAC) Chapter 388. Start by asking your child's school for an evaluation in writing. You can get one-on-one education advocacy from Turnout, starting with a free case review. Our Education Advocacy articles explain IEPs and 504 plans.
Official resources: U.S. Department of Education IDEA site, Nevada Department of Education special education policies, NAC Chapter 388
What this means for you
- Pick one or two programs from the table that fit your situation right now. You don't need to apply for all 14 at once.
- Set up your Access Nevada account if you're applying for Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, or child care. If your account is from before February 3, 2025, register again first.
- Gather your basics: ID, proof of Nevada address, recent pay stubs, and any medical records. Most applications ask for the same few documents.
- Get help where it counts. For disability, Medicare, or school issues, contact Turnout and tell us what you're working through.
FAQ
Why won't my old Access Nevada login work?
Nevada moved Access Nevada to a new system. Accounts made before February 3, 2025 have to be registered again. Create a new account on the Access Nevada site, then continue your application.
Can I apply for more than one program in Nevada at the same time?
Yes, one Access Nevada application can cover Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, and child care. WIC, energy assistance, and Social Security programs each have their own applications.
Does Nevada have a state tax credit for working families?
No, because Nevada has no state income tax, there's no state EITC or child tax credit. The federal credits still apply, and you claim them on your federal return.
Turnout is not a law firm and does not provide legal or tax advice
It's your turn
You don't have to sort through 14 programs on your own. Run Turnout's free Nevada benefits scan to see which programs may fit your situation. It gives you a clear place to start.