Ways To Get Free Money From The Government
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Whoever said nothing in life comes free didnt take into account government programs that help people pay for things like college, day care and a new home. It certainly doesnt hurt to explore your options.
Tips For Finding State And Local Charities
Before looking for national charities that help with funeral expenses, you can look for resources more local to you. We cant list every available resource in every state, but we can help you track some of them down.
Tip:If you need some additional help navigating the entire complicated process of loss, including planning or attending a service, check out our post-loss checklist.
Look for local memorial societies
Thirty-eight different states have memorial societies. A memorial society is an organization you can join that offers low-cost funeral options. There is usually a nominal fee to join and you get access to a greatly reduced funeral.
The aforementioned Funeral Consumers Alliance can help direct you to a reputable memorial society. You can also check to see if the memorial society youre interested in is a nonprofit entity.
Nonprofit memorial societies tend to have lower fees and are not motivated by profit the way much of the mainstream funeral industry is.
Reach out to churches and religious organizations
Many churches are able to offer reduced burial fees for church members. They are also plugged in with other local organizations that can defray or even fully cover funeral costs.
In many states, 211 acts as a helpline for information about essential community services. Youll be connected with an operator who can provide information about local organizations that can help with funeral costs.
Popular Federal Pell Grants
The Federal Pell Grant program is the largest provider of student grants. Pell Grants provide tuition assistance to undergraduates demonstrating financial need. A blended federal financial aid package often includes Pell Grants-alongside Federal Direct Loans. Eligibility is determined annually based on FAFSA disclosures, and reflects four areas of consideration.
Criteria used to determine the amount of your Pell Grant award:
- Financial need beyond Expected Family Contribution
- Full-time or part-time enrollment status
- Actual cost of attending your school
- Yearlong enrollment as a student
Maximum Pell Grant awards change annually based on funding. Current undergraduates are eligible for Pell Grants worth up to $5,500 each academic year.
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Get Help With Utility Bills
Need help paying your heating or phone bill? These programs may be able to help:
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The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program helps low-income households cover heating and cooling costs. Grants are issued via states, which receive funding from the Department of Health and Human Services. Each state sets its own eligibility requirements, including income levels.
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The Lifeline program offers discounted phone or internet service. You must meet certain eligibility requirements.
Tips On Applying For Student Grants
1. Consider your characteristics. Each year grants are awarded to thousands of individuals on a virtually unlimited number of traits. Some common grant categories include:
2. Match yourself to the eligibility requirements. Review all of the details and make sure you fit the grant profile. Do you have the required grade point average? Do you fit within the income requirements? Does your school participate in this particular grant program? Do not waste your time applying for grants unless the minimum standards are met.
3. At the same time, do not limit yourself unnecessarily. By widening your grant search, you may find lucrative grants that are indirectly connected to your selected field of study. Applicants may also gain significant advantages by attending a college in a nearby state. Obscure grants that no one has ever heard of can work to your advantage by applying, you will face less competition. Remember to search for synonyms. For example, English majors could search for grants related to English, writing, editing, publishing, poetry, authors, novels, essays, and other relevant topics.
5. Apply for need-based, merit-based, talent-based, and project-based grants, if applicable. Submit the FAFSA, but do not overlook other local and national grant sources. Apply to as many funding sources as possible.
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Do You Really Have To Pay To Stay
Tuition is not the only extraordinary expense associated with college. Room and board taxes student budgets, even with efforts underway to make college housing affordable. At the University of Virginia on-campus room and board exceeds $8,000 per academic year, which is up from $4000 in 1995.
As compared to renting an apartment, dorm life is a relative bargain. But for college students, its an expense they didnt have when they were living back home with their parents. At some schools, off-campus housing is a good bet, but utilities, parking, laundry and other real-life expenses stack up quickly.
To manage college expenses, students pursue blended financial aid packages that include scholarships, loans and grants. Most student aid can be applied to a range of college costs, including tuition and living expenses.
Grants, like scholarships, do not require repayment, making them ideal for needy college students. And because most college grants do not carry restrictions, they can be used to pay for room and board. In fact, a majority of the grants you receive are administered by your schools financial aid office, so the money is automatically applied to your on-campus housing bill.
Look to federal and state education agencies, as well as individual schools, for the greatest numbers of college grants. File your standardized FAFSA student aid request on time, and consult with your financial aid advisers for campus-specific housing grants.
Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits
Social Security Disability Insurance benefits are paid to people who cannot work for at least one year due to a medical condition or who are expected to die from that condition.
To be eligible, you must:
- Have worked in a job or jobs covered by Social Security
- Meet Social Securitys definition of disability
- Have worked long enough and recently enough to qualify for disability benefits
Additional information about SSDI can be found in the Social Security Disability Benefits brochure. The Social Security Disability Planner helps you determine if you are eligible. If you believe you qualify, you can apply online.
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Federal Grants Pay For College Housing
The U.S. Department of Education is the largest provider of grants for college students. The application process starts with filing a FAFSA, which furnishes colleges with a snapshot of your financial needs during school.
Universities consider your needs, before compiling a student aid offer letter detailing the types and quantities of financial aid youve qualified for. Federal grants provide college cash that can be used for tuition, room and board, and other living expenses.
The Federal Pell Grant program is the largest grant resources for needy students. Pell Grants provide financially disadvantaged students with college assistance earmarked for tuition and housing expenses.
Eligibility is determined annually based on four specific criteria:
Pell Grant maximums vary based on available funding, but todays students are eligible for up to $5,500 annually.
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants are government grants awarded to students experiencing exceptional financial hardship. Students that have an EFC of zero, as determined by FAFSA data, are considered first for FSEOG funds. Remaining funds are distributed to the next neediest groups until program funding is exhausted.
Free Government Grant Money For Bills And Personal Use
Outside of family, the government is the best place to turn if you need money now that you dont have to pay back.
However, the federal government tells us that they do not award individuals grants or free money for bills or personal use.
So, how could both of these statements be true?
First, federal grants go to state government agencies that distribute the free money as benefits for low-income families. Second, several federal departments provide free money directly to individuals via programs with different names you must decode.
Learn how to qualify and where to apply by attacking the problem from three distinct angles.
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Government Grants For Sober Living Homes
A sober living home, also known as a halfway house, provides safe housing for recovering alcoholics and drug addicts. Some private foundations provide grants for homes to help cover running costs and living expenses, but there are some government grants for sober living homes.
It can be quite challenging to build a sober-living home. Occasionally, some residents in the neighborhood will not accept sober-living homes, and the extra expenses can be quite high. Sober living homes can be easier to fund than other transitional housing because they are less expensive. However, government grants for sober living homes will help reduce the cost of living for residents or even assist them with their living expenses. Here are some options available to you.
Cons Of Student Financial Aid
- Loan repayment required
- Lifetime limits on Pell Grants
- Private loans are more expensive and restrictive
- Defaulting on loans hurts credit
Student loan payments, including principal and interest, on federally held student loans, have been suspended through Dec. 31, 2022 however, the suspension only applies to federal student loans held by the Department of Education.
The Department of Education also created an initiative called “Fresh Start” to help borrowers in default. Defaulted loans will return to repayment status and the record of default will be removed from credit reports.
The American Rescue Plan passed by Congress and signed by President Biden in March 2021 includes a provision that makes all student loan forgiveness from Jan. 1, 2021, to Dec. 31, 2025, tax-free.
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Good Neighbor Next Door Grant
There are very interesting grants for moving expenses. One of them come from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. In order to spread and encourage various essential professionals in the community, they provide a program called the Good Neighbor Next Door Grant. This grant is the award to people serving their communities such as teachers, emergency medical technicians, law enforcement officers and firefighters. These people should have a commitment to stay in special areas or regions that demand their service. This program even can cover Up to 50% of the house list price.
There are also some programs from the state government office that may be able to provide help for relocation. However, as we have mentioned earlier, the programs are available to help low-income families, preventing homelessness. To learn about this option, it is advisable to contact your states Social Services Agency. Explain your condition and bring along some necessary documents that can prove that you need financial help for moving expenses.
Defray Funeral Costs With State National And Local Aid
You may be wary about crowdfunding to cover funeral costs. You might worry about putting undue pressure on your friends to contribute or even feel embarrassed that you cant afford a funeral on your own. If youre in that boat, learn more about what charities and nonprofit organizations can offer.
You can also see if youre eligible for state, local, or federal aid. Even if you cant get the funeral completely covered, you can often get discounts or receive small portions of money to offset costs. Hopefully, help like this can send your loved one off the way he or she deserves.
If you’re looking for more ideas on how to pay for a funeral, read our guides on how to pay for a funeral with no money and how to ask for donations for funeral expenses.
Post-planning tip: If you are the executor for a deceased loved one, you have more than just the funeral to think about. Handling their unfinished business can be overwhelming without a way to organize your process. We have a post-loss checklist that will help you ensure that your loved one’s family, estate, and other affairs are taken care of.
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Housing Needs During Retirement
Your housing needs may change over the course of your retirement. For example, you may need more help doing jobs around the house or you may need nursing care as you age.
There are many types of housing options available to you. You can stay in your own home and have in-home assistance, or you may live in a retirement home with meals and care provided.
The cost of housing depends on what level of service and care you need. The more services and care, the more expensive it will be.
Changes To The Program
Ontario is implementing an autism program that is comprehensive, needs-based and family-centred. During this transition, we continue to offer services and supports to improve outcomes for children and youth on the autism spectrum, promote quality care from autism providers and help as many families as possible.
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Grants For Women Going Back To School
There are excellent grants and scholarships for women who wish to return to school. Apart from the federal government, several private organizations can help adults make a college career. If youre a woman attending a full-time program, these are the programs you can benefit from:
The American Association of University Women Scholarship: You can apply for these student grants through their state and local branch offices. The amount that returning students get also varies depending on your region.
The Philanthropic Educational Organization: The organization offers need-based and merit-based scholarships, grants, and student loans to women. Their financial assistance program is well-suited for women who are about to finish high school.
The local chapters of the organization decide the money a student would receive depending upon the region and the program they enroll for.
The Talbot Scholarship Foundation: Women who wish to go to college in the US or Canada and need help to pay for college can apply for this scholarship. You must complete at least two semesters in an undergraduate program to apply for this program.
The Emerge Scholarship Fund: This fund provides grants and scholarships to women who terminated their education due to financial reasons and wish to return to schools to complete their higher education.
These are merit-based awards, especially for women who have given back to their communities.
Lost Wages Assistance Program
The Lost Wages Assistance Program, created on Aug. 1, 2020, was a federal-state unemployment benefit that provided $300 to $400 in weekly compensation to eligible claimants. The federal government provided $300 per claimant from the Disaster Relief Fund , and states were asked to provide the remaining $100.
LWA was established in response to the expiration of the FPUC program on July 31, 2020, and was designed to offer compensation through Dec. 27, 2020.
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Vita And Tce Tax Filing Assistance Programs
The IRS has two in-person tax assistance programs: the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly . Both offer free tax-preparation assistance to qualified individuals. VITA generally applies to you if your income is $60,000 or less, you are disabled, or you have limited English-speaking skills. TCE is for citizens aged 60 or older.
You can find VITA and TCE program sites using either the IRS TCE/VITA locator tool or the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide site locator tool.
Charities And Nonprofits That Help With Funeral Costs
Several charities and nonprofit organizations have stepped up to fill in the gaps for funeral funding. You can reach out to them directly if you need assistance paying for a funeral. Here are a few.
Eirene: a modern approach to cremation
Eirene offers direct cremation packages. Your loved one is transferred into their care, they file the necessary paperwork, and the remains are returned to you.
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How To Get Grants For Living Expenses During College
- How to Get Grants for Living Expenses During College
With the average cost of college rising, ranging from $20,000 to more than $50,000 per year, it can be hard to pay for it all out of pocket or even obtain a student loan. Tuition, school fees, books, and supplies are only part of the costs of attending school. Room and board expenses often make up half of the total cost of attendance .
Grants are a form of gift money that students dont have to pay back. Grants can be used to pay for living expenses, as well as college tuition. Many grants take into account all possible college expenses and will pay out a flat rate, often directly to the student, to support them while attending college. Some grants will pay money directly to the school for tuition and fees and then provide the student with a housing allowance and money for supplies and books.
Grants are offered through federal and state governments, as well as schools. They are also offered by private institutions, nonprofit organizations, and individuals. Each grant will have its own set of particular criteria on how it is to be paid out and what the money is able to go toward.
