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State assistance programs, checked against official sources

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Maryland assistance programs

Written by Editorial team Checked against 8 Maryland agencies Last reviewed How we review

In Maryland, one department covers two of the six categories. The Department of Human Services (DHS) pays Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) through the local department of social services in each county and Baltimore City. Its Office of Home Energy Programs also runs heating and electric grants through 20 local offices. Homebuyer help and business loans come from the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). Child care belongs to the State Department of Education, and college grants to the Higher Education Commission.

Several of these programs have a gatekeeper you need to know about. The Maryland Mortgage Program pays its down payment help only through more than 100 approved lenders. The Child Care Scholarship takes applications only through an online Family Portal run by a statewide vendor, CCS Central 2. Since May 1, 2025, most approved new families have gone onto a waitlist, though TCA, TANF and SSI families, siblings of enrolled children and, from July 1, 2026, children experiencing homelessness skip it. The Maryland child care guide explains the freeze.

Deadlines matter as much as income. MHEC awards the Guaranteed Access Grant (up to $18,000 for 2026-27) and the Educational Assistance Grant only to students whose FAFSA or MHEC One-App arrives by March 1. Energy help works the other way: you can apply any time during the July-to-June program year, and one application screens you for MEAP, EUSP and both arrearage grants. Business owners should know that Maryland has no general startup grant. Its $198.4 million SSBCI share goes to loans and equity, and the state grants that do exist are narrow; see the Maryland small business guide.

For TCA, SNAP, Medicaid and energy help, one online application at Maryland Benefits covers all of them. You can also apply in person, by mail or by fax at your local department of social services. The DHS call center is 1-800-332-6347. Job-training money is separate: WIOA Individual Training Accounts come from 13 local workforce boards through American Job Centers, as the Maryland student and vocational grants guide explains.

MD

Maryland at a glance

Who runs each kind of help

Cash assistance, Energy assistance
DHS
Homebuyer grants
MMP
Business grants, Energy assistance
DHCD
Childcare help
MSDE
Business grants
TEDCO
Student grants
MHEC
Student grants, Business grants
Maryland Department of Labor
Benefits portal
Maryland Benefits

Six kinds of help in Maryland

Maryland assistance by category, with the main program and our guide
CategoryMain programKey figureReviewed
First-Time Homebuyer Grants MMP 1st Time Advantage Up to 5% of the loan, 6% at 50% AMI (deferred)Maximum assistance
Small Business Grants DHCD Small Business Companion Loans (SSBCI) Loans up to $5M at 4% fixed (SSBCI)Key figure
Energy and Utility Assistance Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) $66,000 a yearIncome limit (household of 4)
Cash Assistance Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) $773 a monthMaximum monthly benefit (family of 3)
Childcare Assistance Child Care Scholarship (CCS) Program $94,026 a yearEntry income limit (family of 3)
Student and Vocational Grants Delegate Howard P. Rawlings Guaranteed Access (GA) Grant $18,000 a year (Guaranteed Access Grant)Maximum state grant

Maryland agencies

Key figures

Up to 5% Down payment help from MMP

1st Time Advantage adds $6,000 or 3% to 5% of the first mortgage as a 0% deferred loan, repaid when you sell, refinance or pay off. HomeStart pays 6% at or below 50% of area median income. Details.

$66,000 Energy help limit, household of 4

For FY 2027, both MEAP and EUSP use 200% of the poverty level. Households getting SNAP, TCA or SSI qualify automatically. Details.

$773 Monthly TCA, parent and two children

This maximum comes from the DHS schedule in effect since Jan. 1, 2026. Maryland has no asset test, but it enforces a 60-month lifetime limit with a hardship review. Details.

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Neighboring states: Pennsylvania, Delaware, Virginia and West Virginia. Programs stop at the state line: you apply in the state where you live (or, for homebuyer help, where you buy).

  • Maryland, this page
  • State guides published
  • Coverage in progress