Government Help For Debt Relief

Auto Loan Debt Relief

Auto loans are usually not the debt that causes financial hardship. But if youre struggling with other types of debt, you may have trouble keeping up with the payments. In this case, you can use:

The first three of those choices wont hurt your credit, but the last will. Its equivalent to repossession.

What Is Considered Low Income

If youre one of the millions of Americans struggling to get ahead, you probably have months when the term low income falls short of covering the difficult challenges you face. But the many federal debt relief programs available to consumers rely on certain defining standards for low-income households versus poverty-level households.

Understanding the difference is important. Dont confuse the two.

A poverty level household is based on the minimum amount of income a family needs for food, clothing, transportation, shelter and other necessities. It is also known as the federal poverty guideline.

A low-income household is one whose taxable income for the preceding year did not exceed 150% of the poverty level amount.

So, the standards for low-income households are 50% higher than those of a poverty-level household. In real numbers, in 2020 a one-person, low-income household would have income of $19,140, while a one-person, poverty-level household would have income of only $12,760.

The Department of Health and Human Services puts out charts every year that define both low-income and poverty-level limits based on income and size of household. The charts below show what those numbers are for 2020 in the 48 contiguous states with separate charts for Alaska and Hawaii that reflect the higher cost of living in those two states.

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State And Local Recovery Fund

ARP added $350 billion to the CARES Act grant money sent to state, local, territorial and tribal governments. Much of the money has yet to be distributed as state and local governments decide best how to spend it. States have a lot of flexibility in how they use the money, and most are using it to help offset the negative effects of the pandemic, including boosting health care access, more help for small businesses, enhanced unemployment payments, increasing broadband access, supporting education and more. Some states are even providing stimulus checks to residents. Maine, for example, in its 2022 supplemental budget, included $850 stimulus checks to anyone who makes $100,000 or less a year. Most states have a COVID-19 section on their website. Check there to see what benefits your state may have or contact your local representative or local government website.

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The Truth About Debt Relief Grants

If you think, or somebody tells you, that you can simply apply to the state or federal for a grant for failing to pay back a personal loan or a credit card, youre mistaken. In fact, if somebody claims this, its a tip off that they may be a scam artist of some sort. The government is having enough trouble trying to sort out larger economic problems and they will not simply assist you with your unpaid bills. The purpose of government programs is to restimulate business and enterprise, and that being the case, it attempts mainly to assist businesses. And its conditions for doing this are very specific.

The government does indeed attempt to help failing businesses and nonprofit organizations. There may also be locally available grants for much needed services like medical care, housing, job loss, and so on for certain individuals. But an individual seeking ordinary debt relief simply will not get that relief from the government. Usually, the only sorts of grants that are relatively easy for individuals to get from the federal and state governments are college grants such as the Pell grant. The other individual and even business or nonprofit grants are harder to get.

To give you a sense of what youre up against, here are a few of the grant programs available:

Free Canadian Government Grants To Pay Off Debt: Do They Exist

Posted on 26 June 2022

Written by Jeff Adiken

Many Canadians find themselves in a position where they are struggling with unmanageable debt. This is often due to or payday loans, which can easily mount up. In situations like this, it can be difficult to know what to do next or where to turn. Some individuals attempt to solve their debt on their own, while others may require professional expertise from a Licensed Insolvency Trustee. In many cases, this is where people look to first see if there are free Canadian government grants to pay off debt. But do they exist? And if not, how do you go about finding a reduction in your debt? In this article, we walk you through the possibilities when it comes to free Canadian government grants to pay off debt, and other forms of debt relief.

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What Not To Do

Sometimes overwhelming debt comes with devastating swiftness a health crisis, unemployment or a natural disaster. Or maybe it came a little at a time, and now creditors and collection agencies are pressing you to pay, and you just cant.

If youre feeling overwhelmed by debt, here are some things not to do:

• Dont pay a secured debt late in order to pay an unsecured one . You could lose the collateral that secures that debt .

• Dont borrow against the equity in your home. Youre putting your home at risk of foreclosure and you may be turning unsecured debt that could be wiped out in bankruptcy into secured debt that cant.

Can Way Forward Help Me With All My Debt

We will look at all your debt when we assess your situation and determine how much you are able to repay. We currently focus on helping clients with their unsecured debt only.

If you have secured debt , we will outline some options for where and how you could get support. We are also happy to connect you to other organisations better placed to help you.

Our service is 100% free so get in touch today to see if we can help you towards financial freedom.

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Good Ways To Find Relief Versus Bad Ways

The right debt relief solution will help you reach zero without creating new financial risks or damaging your credit. When it comes to bad ways to seek debt relief, there may be some circumstances where using one of these solutions would be the best option. However, you should exhaust every other option first before you consider these last resorts.

On the other hand, if you still want to try paying off the debt with regular payments, follow the steps below. They will increase your chances for success.

Tips And Advice To Find Government Debt Relief And Grants

Are you drowning in Debt? Not sure how to get out of debt?

Do you think that the government is the best place to turn to get out of debt? Did you know that the US government has racked up more than $28 Trillion in debtthat is serious debt. While it is true that there are some limited government debt relief programs, dont count on the government to bail you out.

Does government debt relief exist? If so, what exactly are your options? There are some misconceptions about what the government can do to provide debt relief. In short, the federal government does have assistance programs and grants, but there is no such thing as a straight-forward debt relief program issued by the government where your debts disappear magically.

It is vital to get a grip on your debt situation. In general, any government program will aid those in hardship, although not everyone in financial hardship will qualify for a government debt relief program. It is good to keep in mind that government debt relief is not a solution for many debt problems, especially with unsecured debt, such as credit card debt. However, it is also a good idea to know your rights and what type of help is available.

To understand how the government can help you find the best debt relief solution for your personal situation, learn about:

• Handling debt and tips from the government
• Government debt relief for different types of debt
• Government debt relief and protection against debt collectors and lawsuits

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Financial Aid For Education

Programs that can help include:

• Federal Student Aid Details the types of grants and scholarships available.
• QuestBridge Provides information on resources for high-achieving, low-income students, plus resources for educators.
• The Education Trust Advocates for students with high academic achievement, especially those in low-income situations, and offers a number of tools. Those include help in choosing a college based on performance.
• Bloomberg Philanthropies Helps high-achieving students who are low- and moderate-income.
• FinAid Provides information on educational loans, scholarships and military aid, as well as several dozen financial calculators. Gives tips on choosing a college, options for online degrees, jobs and internships and more.
• JKCF The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation site has scholarship, grant and other info intended for exceptionally promising students from low-income families.

Our Supporters And Partners

Way Forward is the combined initiative of corporate and community organisations that are committed to helping people all across Australia find out how to get out of debt with free, simple and accessible debt advice and debt management services. We are proudly supported by the following organisations:

Way Forward is a not for-profit-organisation helping hundreds of Australians in financial difficulty become debt free.

We have a dedicated team that provides free debt advice and free financial support to help you deal with your debt and set up a solution. Our hardship advocates have extensive experience handling creditors, negotiating better outcomes and providing debt relief for our clients. Our service has no ongoing fees or charges.

At Way Forward, we are a debt relief charity with a vision to create a society free from problem debt. We help those in debt get back on their feet.

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How Does Debt Relief Affect Your Credit

The effect of debt relief on your credit score depends on which option you use. Any solution that pays back everything you borrowed should have a neutral or positive impact on your credit. Reducing interest charges or eliminating fees does not result in credit damage. On the other hand, any solution that gets you out of debt for less than the full amount owed damages your credit score.

Refinancing will not damage your credit as long as you make all the payments as scheduled. The same is true of a consolidation or a modified loan. Negotiating a lower rate on a credit card will also not have any negative effect on your credit. Deferment and forbearance also do not hurt your credit, because the creditor agrees to change your payment schedule.

The impact of workout arrangements and credit card debt management programs is usually neutral or positive. These solutions help you avoid missed payments and build a positive credit history. Most credit users dont see any damage to their credit using these solutions. However, these methods will close the accounts. This can have a slightly negative effect on your credit, but the damage is usually nominal.

Solutions like debt settlement, short sales, and voluntary surrender all damage your credit. You incur a seven-year negative remark on your credit report for each of these. Foreclosure and Chapter 13 bankruptcy also result in a seven-year credit penalty. Chapter 7 bankruptcy has a 10-year penalty. Back to top

How We Chose The Best Debt Relief Companies

We started the process by creating a debt relief methodology and then looked for debt relief companies that have been in business for more than five years. From there, we gave precedence to firms that offer a free, no-obligation consultation with a debt consultant. While debt relief companies dont advertise or charge flat-rate fees you can commit to ahead of time, we also gave extra points to companies that advertise a range of potential fees on their websites. Finally, we compared companies based on their proven success in helping clients settle debts for less than what they owe.

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There Are No Government Debt Consolidation Programs For Credit Cards

One type of debt that the government doesnt offer relief for is credit card debt. There is no government program that forgives or even minimizes the burden of paying off your credit card balances. There are, however, 5013 nonprofit consumer services that work with you to provide debt relief. These agencies are funded through grants from credit card companies. They provide funds to these agencies in order to help rehabilitate customers that have gotten overextended with credit.

Finding the right debt relief programs for your needs

Depending on the type or types of debt you have, there may be a government debt consolidation or relief program that you can use. And even if you cant use a government program, there are plenty of programs out there that can help you get out of debt. Identifying programs that you can qualify for is usually the first step to making a real plan to eliminate your debt. A can help you with this.

Get a free debt evaluation to learn which debt relief programs you can use to get out of debt in the way that best to fit your budget and goals.

Telephone Cellphone And Internet

• Many communications companies are suspending cancelling services, waiving fees and arranging payment plans. See the Keep America Connected Campaign to learn about services available.
• The federal Lifeline Support for Affordable Communications Program might be a good option if you need only basic telephone service. You can see if you are eligible by reviewing the information available at lifelinesupport.org

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What You Need To Know

While you have a DRO you still have to pay:

• your rent and bills
• certain debts, for example student loans, court fines

DROs can be cancelled if:

• your finances improve
• you do not co-operate with the official receiver – for example you do not give them the information they ask for

If you get new debt after your DRO is approved you could:

• get a bankruptcy order
• be prosecuted if you do not tell new creditors about your DRO

Your DRO is added to the Individual Insolvency Register – its removed 3 months after the DRO ends.

Your DRO will stay on your credit record for 6 years.

What Are The Benefits

These plans are designed to consolidate all qualifying accounts into one lower monthly payment so you can resolve financial burdens faster without declaring bankruptcy. This could immediately provide much-needed breathing room for you each month.

We’re here to help you. We’ve served over 2million California residents since 2009.

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How Can Way Forward Help Me

Way Forward has close relationships with creditors and a process to renegotiate debt to develop fair and reasonable repayment plans. We speak to your creditors on your behalf, saving you time to focus on the important matters in your life.

We ensure you get a reasonable arrangement where you pay what you can afford and leave enough for living expenses. We make things easy for you, by allowing you to make a single regular payment to us, which we then distribute to your creditors.

Consumer Credit And Other Loans And Debt

• If you have trouble keeping up with your bills, be sure to ask for help. You may be able to pay some by the due date and the rest when you have adequate resources. You may be able to renegotiate your payment due dates or the monthly minimum amounts due.

• Tips and suggestions if you are struggling with paying or your auto loans

• Tips for Getting out of Debt

• Reputable are generally non-profit organizations that can advise you on your money and debts, and help you with a budget. Some may also help you negotiate with creditors. There are specific questions you can use when looking for a credit counseling organization to work with you.

• Review your credit report to ensure the credit bureaus have correct and complete information about your use of credit. The three national credit bureaus Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — are offering consumers free online credit reports weekly through April 2021.

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How Is Cerb Different From Ei

The CERB is specifically designed to fill in the gaps that surround the current EI system. It will be easier to apply for, benefits will arrive sooner and more people will qualify. If you are already receiving EI or sickness benefits, then do not apply for the CERB.

If you have already applied for EI and your application is still being processed, you do not have to reapply. If you are still unemployed after the four-month period, people who qualify for EI can still access the standard EI benefits.

A Few Debt Relief Options You Want To Avoid

The three options outlined above are not the only options that consumers can use. There are other ways to find debt relief we just dont recommend them. At Consolidated Credit, we promote a do no harm strategy when it comes to debt relief. In other words, your debt solution should not put you in a worse position than when you started.

Each of the solutions above when used correctly can eliminate your debt without causing credit damage or making your financial situation worse. Other solutions can decrease your credit score or negatively impact your long-term financial plan.

For instance, you can:

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