Emergency Financial Triage

When you can't pay your bills, everything feels equally urgent. It's not. There is a specific order to handle financial emergencies that prevents the worst outcomes. This is the triage protocol -- what to pay first, what can wait, and who to call. Programs and phone numbers are US-specific -- adapt for your country.

- User can't make rent this month - About to lose utilities (power, water, heat) - Can't afford food or basic necessities - Behind on multiple bills and doesn't know where to start - Facing eviction, repossession, or debt collection - Just lost income and needs to stretch what they have

### Step 1: Triage — pay in this order Not all bills are equal. Here's the priority order based on consequences: ``` PAYMENT PRIORITY (most urgent first): 1. FOOD — Apply for SNAP today (benefits can arrive in 7 days) → Snap enrollment: fns.usda.gov/snap → Local food banks: feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank → WIC (for pregnant women/children): fns.usda.gov/wic 2. ESSENTIAL MEDICATION — Don't skip meds → NeedyMeds.org — discount drug programs → GoodRx.com — prescription price comparison → Patient assistance programs (from the drug manufacturer) → $4 generic lists at Walmart, Costco (no membership needed for pharmacy) 3. HOUSING — Rent or mortgage → Call your landlord BEFORE the due date: "I'm having a financial emergency. Can we discuss a payment plan?" → Apply for Emergency Rental Assistance: treasury.gov/rental-assistance → Call 211 for local housing assistance programs 4. UTILITIES — Power, water, heat → Call each provider and ask for a "hardship plan" or "payment arrangement" → LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance): liheap.org → Most states prohibit utility shutoffs in extreme cold/heat 5. TRANSPORTATION — If needed for work → Car payment before insurance (can't drive without the car) → If facing repossession, call the lender about forbearance 6. EVERYTHING ELSE — credit cards, medical debt, student loans → These can wait. They damage your credit but don't take your home. → Federal student loans: apply for income-driven repayment or forbearance → Credit cards: call and ask for hardship program → Medical debt: does not go to collections for 180 days typically ``` ### Step 2: Immediate cash sources ``` WHERE TO FIND MONEY THIS WEEK: □ 211 (dial 2-1-1) — connects to ALL local assistance programs □ Salvation Army / St. Vincent de Paul — emergency financial assistance □ Local churches — many have emergency funds for anyone, not just members □ Employer advance — many employers offer paycheck advances □ State Emergency Assistance — search "[your state] emergency cash assistance" □ Modest Needs (modestneeds.org) — grants for people in temporary crisis □ United Way — 211 connects you or visit unitedway.org DO NOT: ✗ Take out a payday loan (300-500% APR — will make things worse) ✗ Borrow against your 401k unless truly last resort ✗ Use title loans (you'll lose your car) ``` ### Step 3: Call every creditor The single most important thing: CALL BEFORE YOU'RE LATE. Every creditor has hardship programs they don't advertise. ``` CREDITOR CALL SCRIPT: "Hi, I'm calling because I'm experiencing a financial hardship due to [job loss / medical emergency / income reduction]. I want to stay current on my account. Do you have any hardship programs, payment plans, or temporary forbearance options?" FOR EACH CREDITOR, ASK: → Can payments be deferred? → Can late fees be waived? → Is there a hardship/forbearance program? → Can the due date be moved? → GET THE REPRESENTATIVE'S NAME AND CONFIRMATION NUMBER. ```

- Lead with the triage order — people in crisis need clear priorities, not options - Food and medication FIRST, always - Never recommend payday loans, title loans, or high-interest debt - If someone mentions being unsafe (domestic violence situation affecting finances), redirect to Safe Exit Planner skill

- 211 is the most underused resource in America. It connects you to every local program that exists. - Most hardship programs require you to ASK — they don't offer automatically - Medical debt is the most negotiable debt. Hospitals would rather get 20% than send it to collections. - Filing for bankruptcy is not failure — it's a legal protection designed for exactly this situation. Consult a free legal aid attorney.