of TexasResource Library
SilK Foundation may not be able to directly fund every situation, but we can help point you toward credible resources. Search by need and ZIP code to find local, state, and national options — and prepare for the next step.
Disclaimer
SilK Foundation provides this Resource Library for general informational purposes only. The inclusion of a resource does not constitute endorsement, legal advice, medical advice, financial advice, tax advice, benefits advice, or professional recommendation. SilK Foundation is not paid for listing these resources unless expressly disclosed. Families should evaluate resources independently and consult qualified professionals for advice specific to their circumstances. Resource availability, eligibility, and services may vary by location and may change over time.
Find help near you
Enter your ZIP code and pick one or more kinds of support you need. We’ll group credible local, state, and national starting points so you can act fast — and save, print, or email your list.
SilK Foundation does not operate these external directories and does not determine eligibility for listed programs. Resource availability may vary by location.
SilK Foundation does not operate these external portals or coordinate international cases. They are intended as first-stop starting points — local country-level resources are usually available beyond these links.
Before you call or apply
Many assistance programs ask for similar information. Gather what you have — you do not need everything to start. Even partial documentation makes conversations with social workers, navigators, and benefits counselors much faster.
If you are connected to a hospital, clinic, school, or care facility, ask whether a social worker, case manager, patient navigator, or benefits counselor is available. They are often the fastest path to help.
Featured · Legal & Financial Stability
When a family is facing a new disability, serious illness, or major caregiving burden, the financial strain is often immediate — but the legal and planning decisions can shape the next several years.
These resources are intended to help families understand basic next steps around benefits, disability savings, wills, powers of attorney, medical decision-making, debt, budgeting, and affordable professional guidance.
SilK Foundation does not provide legal, tax, benefits, or financial advice. These resources are general starting points only. Families should consult qualified professionals for advice specific to their circumstances.
In the first weeks after a serious diagnosis or disability, families often need to protect income, benefits, decision-making authority, and household stability. Start with these questions:
Do not transfer assets, set up trusts, or make major benefits-related financial decisions without qualified legal, benefits, tax, or financial guidance.
Legal Planning & Legal Aid
Free Texas-specific legal information and self-help guides covering wills, advance directives, powers of attorney, probate, guardianship, and supported decision-making.
Legal information · Texas
Why this matters: A practical first stop for Texas families who need to understand basic legal documents before speaking with an attorney.
Cost: Free
Legal Planning & Legal Aid
Directory for finding legal aid organizations across Texas, searchable by county and legal issue.
Legal aid · Texas · Local referral
Why this matters: Useful when a family needs a real Texas legal-aid provider, not just educational materials.
Cost: Free intake; eligibility varies by provider
Disability & Lifelong Care
Texas's federally designated Protection & Advocacy (P&A) agency for people with disabilities. Provides legal advocacy on benefits, education, housing, employment, voting, and community living.
Nonprofit · Texas
Why this matters: Best first call in Texas when a disability-related right has been denied — IEP fights, SSI/SSDI appeals, ADA access, abuse/neglect in facilities, voting access.
Cost: Free (intake-based)
Legal Planning & Legal Aid
Direct legal representation, advice, and referral for low-income Texans on civil matters — housing, family, benefits, consumer, disaster.
Legal aid · Texas
Why this matters: First call for Houston-area and East Texas families needing help with eviction, family law, public benefits denials, or consumer issues.
Cost: Free
Eligibility and service area apply.
Legal Planning & Legal Aid
Houston-area pro bono civil legal help. Volunteer attorneys take on family, probate, consumer, and other civil cases for eligible low-income clients.
Nonprofit · Houston / Harris County
Why this matters: A local option for Houston-area families needing civil legal guidance or representation but unable to afford a private attorney.
Cost: Free for eligible applicants
Eligibility and case-type intake apply.
Legal Planning & Legal Aid
Free online tools for simple estate planning documents — wills, advance healthcare directives, and financial powers of attorney.
Nonprofit · National · Online
Why this matters: A useful starting point for simple planning needs, especially when cost is a barrier.
Cost: Free
FreeWill is not a law firm and is not a substitute for attorney advice. Families with complex assets, blended families, disability-benefits concerns, special needs trusts, guardianship questions, or contested family situations should consult an attorney.
Financial Navigation
Texas ABLE helps eligible Texans with disabilities save for qualified disability-related expenses while preserving access to SSI, Medicaid, and other public benefits.
Government · Texas
Why this matters: A key resource for families trying to save for disability-related needs without unintentionally disrupting SSI, Medicaid, or other benefits.
Cost: Free to learn; account fees apply
Planning choices can affect SSI, Medicaid, taxes, and benefits eligibility. Consult qualified professionals before opening or contributing.
Disability & Lifelong Care
Education and state-by-state comparison of ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) savings accounts.
Nonprofit · National
Why this matters: ABLE accounts let people with disabilities save above the $2,000 SSI/Medicaid resource limit. Many families don't know these exist.
Cost: Free
Benefits & Government Support
Social Security's plain-language explanation of ABLE accounts and how they interact with SSI eligibility and resources.
Government · National
Why this matters: Essential for families worried that saving money could affect SSI or Medicaid eligibility.
Cost: Free
Benefits & Government Support
Official IRS guidance on ABLE accounts, qualified disability expenses, tax treatment, and limited 529-to-ABLE rollovers.
Government · National
Why this matters: Use this when families need the official tax source rather than a summary article.
Cost: Free
Tax information only — not personalized advice. Consult a CPA or tax professional for your situation.
Financial Navigation
Texas's official 529 college savings plan for qualified education expenses.
Government · Texas
Why this matters: Useful for education planning. NOTE: this is for college savings, not disability savings — for disability savings see Texas ABLE.
Cost: Free to enroll; account fees apply
529 college plans are NOT the same as 529A / ABLE disability savings. For disability savings, use Texas ABLE.
Financial Navigation
Nonprofit network providing credit, debt, housing, student-loan, and household-budgeting counseling through certified counselors.
Nonprofit · National
Why this matters: Helpful when a family's first problem is cash flow — credit-card debt, medical bills, collections, or household budget triage.
Cost: Sliding-scale or free counseling; debt-management plans may have fees
Financial Navigation
Expands access to pro bono financial planning for people in need through nonprofit partnerships and volunteer Certified Financial Planner™ professionals.
Nonprofit · National
Why this matters: Good referral for families facing serious illness, caregiving, income disruption, or financial crisis who need planning support but cannot afford a private advisor.
Cost: Free for eligible applicants through partner programs
Financial Navigation
Directory of Accredited Financial Counselors who help with budgeting, debt, credit, benefits navigation, and practical financial counseling.
Nonprofit · National
Why this matters: AFC professionals may be a better fit than wealth advisors for families in crisis who need practical household financial stabilization.
Cost: Varies by counselor; some pro bono programs available
Planning choices can affect SSI, Medicaid, taxes, estate plans, and eligibility for public benefits. SilK Foundation does not provide legal, tax, benefits, or financial advice. Families should consult qualified professionals before making major decisions.
Check out our full resource library
We’ve made a diligent effort to put vetted resources here for all types of circumstances — caregiving, disability, medical crisis, benefits, legal help, food, housing, utilities, mental-health crisis, and more. Search and filter the full library on its own page.
Is there a resource you know about that we should add? Tell us.
Can’t find what you need?
SilK Foundation cannot provide legal, medical, financial, tax, benefits, or case-management advice, but we may be able to point you toward general categories of resources or local starting points.
Disclaimer
SilK Foundation provides this Resource Library for general informational purposes only. The inclusion of a resource does not constitute endorsement, legal advice, medical advice, financial advice, tax advice, benefits advice, or professional recommendation. SilK Foundation is not paid for listing these resources unless expressly disclosed. Families should evaluate resources independently and consult qualified professionals for advice specific to their circumstances. Resource availability, eligibility, and services may vary by location and may change over time.
