If you need extra money this month, you’re in the right place. September is packed with cash settlement deadlines, utility assistance, school meal help, and a handful of genuinely fun freebies.
Some of these close in just a few days. Others run through the end of the month. We’ve sorted everything by what you’re actually trying to do, so you can skip straight to what matters to you.
Cash Settlements Closing This Week
A few settlements have deadlines so close that we wanted to put them first.
- If you paid for YouTube TV or DirecTV streaming live TV service — including DirecTV Stream, DirecTV Now, or AT&T TV Now — between April 1, 2019, and March 31, 2026, you may qualify for Disney’s Streaming Antitrust Settlement. No proof is required, and payout amounts vary. The claim deadline is September 8, 2026, so file today if you can.
- If you received two or more telemarketing calls from certain Farmers Insurance agents between April 19, 2020, and June 15, 2026, you could be eligible for up to $160 through the Farmers Insurance Unwanted Calls Settlement. No proof is required, and the deadline is September 14, 2026.
- If your personal information was part of Comcast’s October 2023 data breach, you may already know you’re covered. The Comcast Data Breach Settlement pays between $50 and $10,000 depending on your documented losses, and the no-proof basic payment is estimated at $50. File by September 14, 2026.
- If you downloaded or used an app on Google Play while under age 13 anytime between April 1, 2015, and today, your child (or you, if that was you) may qualify for the Google Play Data Privacy Settlement. Payouts vary and no proof is required. The deadline is also September 14, 2026.
- Anyone whose information was exposed in American Consumer Credit Counseling’s January 2025 data breach can enroll in three years of credit monitoring worth up to $1 million in fraud insurance. You can also choose either a $45 no-proof cash payment, or file for documented losses of up to $3,500 plus up to $80 for your time — a possible maximum of $3,580. Submit your claim to the ACCC Data Breach Settlement by September 16, 2026.
- If you’re on the National Do-Not-Call Registry and received two or more texts from O’Reilly Automotive, you can file for a $22 payment through the O’Reilly Unwanted Texts Settlement by September 28, 2026.
- If Credit Plus sent a consumer report about you to a third party between November 16, 2021, and June 18, 2026, you may be one of roughly 28,000 people entitled to an estimated $500 through the Xactus/Credit Plus Consumer Reports Settlement. Keep an eye on your mailbox for a notice, and file by September 29, 2026.
- Veterans who were charged a fee by Just4Veterans in connection with a VA disability claim on or after September 20, 2020, can file for a pro-rated cash payment through the Just4Veterans Disability Claim Fees Settlement by October 5, 2026. If you were charged a fee but never paid it, that obligation is automatically discharged — no claim needed.
A word about mass tort claims. Class action settlements pay out a fixed amount per person, but some situations — like being harmed by a defective product or a dangerous platform — can qualify for a separate, individual claim instead. Our sponsor, Injury Claims, helps people figure out whether they may have that kind of case.
Right now, families across the country are looking into whether social media companies designed their platforms to keep kids scrolling. If you or your child spent hours a day on social media and you believe it seriously affected your life or wellbeing, you may be eligible to pursue a claim. The recent Meta settlement, reported at up to $18 billion, is a sign these cases are being taken seriously — though it doesn’t mean everyone qualifies or that any payout is guaranteed.
Take the quick five-question quiz to see if you may qualify to speak with an attorney. It only takes a few minutes, and there’s no cost or obligation to check.
We track new class actions all month long. If you want the full, constantly updated list, check our class action settlements page.
Help With Rent and Utility Bills
If you’re behind on bills, a few programs are wrapping up their current funding cycle soon.
LIHEAP funding for the current fiscal year is closing out in many areas by mid-to-late September. The new funding year is expected to start after October 1, but delays are possible, so call your local Community Action Council now if you need help before your area’s cutoff.
Arizona households can get up to $640 in utility bill assistance through Power AZ, a program that reaches many families who earn too much for standard LIHEAP. Applications are accepted through September 30, 2026, or until funding runs out, so apply as soon as you can.
Connecticut renters who are elderly or disabled can get up to $900 back through the state’s Renters’ Rebate program. You may qualify if you meet one of these:
- You or your spouse turned 65 or older by the end of 2025; OR
- You’re 18 or older and receiving Social Security Disability benefits; OR
- You’re 50 or older and the surviving spouse of a renter who had already qualified for the rebate
Applications are accepted through your town’s assessor’s office through September 30, 2026. You can find full details and income limits through the State of Connecticut’s Renters’ Rebate program page.
Housing Waitlists Opening This Month
Section 8 waitlists don’t open often, so it’s worth checking these if you’re in the area.
In Hawaii, the County of Kauaʻi Housing Agency is now accepting online applications for its Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. You can apply through the county’s official application portal.
In North Carolina, the Sandhills Community Action Program accepted Section 8 applications on September 8 at locations in Troy, Hamlet, and Southern Pines, serving Anson, Montgomery, Moore, and Richmond counties. Future application dates are posted on SCAP’s Section 8 page, so bookmark it if you missed this round.
Free and Reduced-Price School Meals
If your family’s situation has changed since the school year started, you don’t have to wait for a new enrollment period to ask for help. You can request a school meals application at any time — not just at the start of the school year.
Households may qualify based on income, or automatically if anyone in the household receives SNAP, TANF, WIC, foster care support, Head Start, or similar assistance. Ask your child’s school for an application, or start with USA.gov’s school meals guide to see what to expect.
Sweepstakes and Giveaways Worth Entering
None of these require a purchase, and a few take less than a minute to enter.
- Mountain Dew is giving away a year of free gas to six winners, worth $2,000 each in gas gift cards. It’s open to residents of AL, AR, DE, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV, and DC. You can enter daily by mail, and mailed entries must arrive by September 15, 2026.
- Walmart’s 2026 Q3 Sweepstakes is giving away 755 prizes — five grand prizes of $1,000 gift cards and 750 first prizes of $100 gift cards. No purchase is necessary, and there’s a legitimate mail-in entry option. You can find the full rules, including the mail-in address, on Walmart’s official sweepstakes rules page. Entries must be postmarked by October 30, 2026.
- The Go Beyond Giveaway is offering a $200 grocery gift card plus a prize pack worth $250 total. No purchase is necessary, and entries close September 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM Pacific. Fifteen winners will receive a $250 Home Depot gift card through Fetch’s September giveaway. U.S. adults can enter for free by mail instead of using Fetch points — see the official rules for how. Entries close September 30, 2026.
- California residents can enter for a chance at a $100 Randy’s Donuts eGift Card. You’ll need to be 18 or older, follow the brand on Instagram, and tag a friend — check Randy’s Donuts’ official rules page for current details.
- One U.S. winner will receive $500 in pet products, plus a vet consultation and gear, through Summit Animal Health’s September Giveaway. The company is based in Florida, so it’s worth confirming whether the consultation is available in your state before entering. This one closes September 9, 2026.
Scholarships With Deadlines This Month
If you or someone in your family is heading to college, these are worth a look.
- The Dr Pepper Tuition Giveaway is open to anyone ages 18 to 24, with up to $100,000 available. There’s no GPA or major requirement — just a 60-second video about your goals. Applications close September 30, 2026.
- High school seniors graduating in 2026-27 with at least a 3.0 GPA can apply for the Coca-Cola Scholars Program, which awards $20,000 to 150 students. The deadline is September 30, 2026, at 5 PM Eastern.
- The Gates Scholarship covers the full remaining cost of attendance for Pell-eligible, low income high school seniors headed to a four-year nonprofit college, with at least a 3.3 weighted GPA. This one closes soon — September 15, 2026.
Free Stuff Just for Showing Up
A few free days are worth marking on your calendar.
- September 15 is National Bring the Joy Day. The first 300 guests at every Nothing Bundt Cakes location — over 840 locations in more than 40 states — get a free Confetti Bundtlet.
- September 17 is Constitution Day, which means free entry at National Parks.
- September 29 is National Coffee Day. Dunkin’ typically gives away a free medium hot or iced coffee, and other chains like Circle K, Whataburger, and Klatch Coffee often join in too.
Quick Answers From Our Community
A couple of things came up recently that are worth clearing up.
Is Ohio limiting the SNAP medical expense deduction to just prescriptions? No. Ohio’s current rule, effective April 1, 2026, still lists far more than prescriptions as countable medical expenses — including medical and dental care, insurance and Medicare costs, approved over-the-counter medication and supplies, eyeglasses, hearing aids, attendant care, and reasonable transportation or lodging to get treatment. This deduction is available to household members who are 60 or older or disabled, for unreimbursed medical expenses above $35 a month.
Has Medicaid stopped covering non-emergency medical transportation? Not federally. Current federal guidance still requires states to ensure necessary emergency and non-emergency transportation to Medicaid-covered services. States can change how that’s administered — like switching brokers or using managed care — but they can’t eliminate the assurance altogether. If your state isn’t offering this benefit, let us know so we can look into it.
Relief Recap
Deadlines move fast in September, and a lot of these opportunities close before the month is out. We wanted to get them all in front of you at once so you’re not scrambling later. For a running list of what’s closing next, check our deadlines page.
