Empowering Our Members with Financial Support

At 1st University Credit Union, we understand the financial hurdles many families face. That’s why we've partnered with Starlight to provide our members with Benefits Navigator, an entirely online, private and free tool to help you access essential support during challenging times.

Complete Privacy and Convenience

With Benefits Navigator, you can explore and apply for government assistance programs on your own, without any interaction or assistance from credit union personnel. The platform offers a personalized experience, helping you find and access programs that can save you money on vital expenses such as childcare, groceries, healthcare costs, utilities, and more—all from the privacy of your home.

DISCOVER Hidden Government Assistance

Through our partnership with Starlight, members can access billions of dollars in unclaimed government aid. Benefits Navigator makes it easy to unlock potential savings by identifying local, state, and federal benefits you may qualify for, including:

  • Childcare Assistance

  • Food Expenses

  • Medical Insurance and Costs

  • Tax Credits

  • Unemployment Benefits

  • Utility Bills

  • Down Payment Assistance

With Benefits Navigator, you have a secure, private, and free resource to independently discover and apply for the financial support you deserve.

Private, yes—but not alone.

Benefits Navigator offers step-by-step support to help you apply for various programs, complete with follow-up texts and reminders to ensure you stay on track. And should you ever need extra help, the Starlight team is available, ensuring that you’re fully supported, while respecting your privacy.

Discover Eligible Programs

Explore government programs you may qualify for. Click on the program names below to learn more and see how they can benefit you.

  • SNAP provides crucial food assistance to eligible individuals and families. By using an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, similar to a debit card, recipients can purchase food at participating stores. We will help you determine your eligibility and guide you through the application process, simply go to https://culink.app.get-starlight.com/

  • Medicaid provides comprehensive health insurance to eligible individuals and families, offering relief from the high costs of medical care. Check your Medicaid eligibility and see how you can apply at https://culink.app.get-starlight.com/

  • Struggling with utility bills? LIHEAP provides financial assistance to individuals and households with utilities, including electric bills, light bills, and power bills. See how you can apply for utilities assistance with LIHEAP at https://culink.app.get-starlight.com/

  • Are you struggling with childcare bills? Childcare assistance programs may offer financial relief by subsidizing the cost of childcare for eligible families. This allows parents to continue working or pursuing education while ensuring their children are cared for in a safe environment. Discover if you qualify for reduced childcare expenses and make parenting a bit easier on your wallet at https://culink.app.get-starlight.com/

  • WIC supports the health of pregnant women, new mothers, and young children with nutrition education, healthcare referrals, and assistance for food. If you're a mother or expecting, see how WIC can help you and your child thrive. Check local requirements and apply to see what benefits you qualify for at https://culink.app.get-starlight.com/

  • The Earned Income Tax Credit is designed to help working individuals and families receive financial relief. By reducing the amount of tax owed and potentially increasing your refund, EITC helps around 25 million people each year keep more of their hard-earned money. See what benefits you qualify for and whether you can claim this credit on your tax return at https://culink.app.get-starlight.com/.

  • The Child Tax Credit offers assistance to families by providing direct financial help to support the cost of raising children. This tax credit is available to qualifying families and can dramatically reduce the financial burden of parenting. Learn how you can save with the CTC by checking your eligibility at https://culink.app.get-starlight.com/

  • For those who have lost their job through no fault of their own, unemployment benefits offer short-term financial assistance to ease the burden. These benefits support your financial needs while you seek new employment. Explore how to apply for unemployment benefits and understand your eligibility at https://culink.app.get-starlight.com/

  • Down payment assistance programs are a financial program that provides homebuyers with grants or loans to help cover the upfront down payment cost when purchasing a house. Often aimed at first-time homebuyers or individuals with lower to moderate incomes, and usually administered by government agencies, non-profits, or mortgage lenders. It helps people afford a home by providing a portion of the down payment needed to secure a mortgage. A lot of the loans become forgivable after living in the residence for the set period of time. Explore how to apply for down payment assistance and understand your eligibility at https://culink.app.get-starlight.com/

1: The 1st University Credit Union Benefits Navigator is currently available exclusively for residents of Texas. If you reside outside of Texas, this tool may not accurately reflect the benefits available to you in your state.
Terms and Conditions apply. Benefits Navigator is powered by Starlight. See Starlight Terms of Service and Starlight Privacy Policy posted publicly on the Starlight Platform for more information.