Low Income: Get Free Money From The Government

Low Income Families: Get Free Money From The Government. One of the purposes of the government is to protect the general welfare of the people.

Because of this, you may be able to receive significant assistance from it in regards to earning money and other benefits if you are in a disadvantaged position. The government helps tons of people get out of debt, start a business, retire, etc. every single day.

Table of Contents

How to Get Free Money From the Government

1. Find Unclaimed Money

You may potentially be owed money from the government in your location without even knowing.

Unclaimed money is money that builds up as people do things, such as giving too much money for a bill or placing money in a savings account and moving without collecting it. When somebody does this, and they are unable to be tracked down, the money is consequently taken and handled by the state government.

Unclaimed.org

A way to automatically find if you have money owed to you, you should go to the website Unclaimed.org. Through this website, you can look use a database to search in every single state you’ve resided in. You’ll be notified if you’re due for any compensation.

All you need to do is enter your first and last name. You should also try any nicknames, maiden names, past names, etc. in order to maximize your results.

2. Find Unclaimed Pension Funds

A pension plan is a retirement plan sponsored by your employer. Through this, money is gradually invested and built up for your future when you’re no longer working. This way, when you retire, you’ll already have plenty of money to live on.

However, you may have forgotten about a pension plan that you had if you switched jobs.

Daily, hundreds of companies are forced to close for various reasons or are sometimes bought by other companies. If this occurs with a company that your employer was holding your pension plan, you are likely owed that money.

However, you may have forgotten about a pension plan that you had if you switched jobs.

Pbgc.gov

You can locate your pension plan money through the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation. This website has a tremendous database that can dig and find any past pension plans that your name was under that may have slipped your mind.

3. Claim Unrecovered United States Savings Bonds

United States savings bonds are sums of money that assist the United States government in compensating for their needs in regards to borrowing money. Bonds are considered the most secure kinds of investments as the US government protects them.

If you happen to lose your savings bonds, or the paperwork gets damaged or stolen, they are not lost. This is a major benefit of protection.

https://www.treasuryhunt.gov/forms/sav1048.pdf

You can recover lost bonds through the US Treasury online.

The only information you’ll have to provide is your bond serial number.

You just need to provide the bond serial number. If you don’t have the number, you’ll have to give other identifying information, such as social security. You will then be administered an online replacement bond.

4. Unclaimed Back Wages

Back pay is the amount of money and or benefits an employee is owed that is the remained of what they should have been paid from an employer. Some reasons that somebody may have back pay are because of a lack of compensation for all hours worked, pay increase, promotions, and bonuses.

Back pay can also be due if an employee was wrongfully fired and they didn’t receive the salary and benefits that they were supposed to win.

http://webapps.dol.gov/wow/

One great way to receive the unclaimed backpay that you may be owed, you can search through the Wage and Hour Division or US Department of Labor platform.

This is full of information in terms of backpay cash waiting to be collected.

5. Unclaimed Veteran Life Insurance Funds

Many disabled veterans are entitled to free coverage and are able to purchase an extra life insurance. If you or a family member fall into this demographic, there may be money owed.

Also, if a veteran family member died, and you are part of the immediate family, you may be able to receive funds.

https://insurance.va.gov/UnclaimedFunds

If somebody in your household has or had a veteran’s life insurance, you should go to the website of the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Through here, you can search for any unclaimed funds.

To locate any lost money, you just need to enter the name of the veteran, and the database will automatically determine if there is any cash to be collected.

6. Get Help With a Down Payment

A down payment is that initial payment that you have to make when purchasing a home. Coming up with this first batch of money can be a bit difficult.

Therefore, you may need to receive assistance from the government, which is thankfully willing to help.

https://www.fha.com/fha-downpayment-grants

Every state in the United States has its own programs that assist you with down payments. However, the requirements and benefits associated with each different program vary.

In order to see what programs are available in your region and their requirements, you can visit the FHA’s down payment grant page. Then, you’ll search up the state you live in, and you will be notified of all the state programs in your area.

7. Apply for Educational Grants

As we all know, college is a major expense. You may have to spend up to tens of thousands in tuition to go to your dream school, which not everybody can afford. This is especially difficult, as you still have to be able to afford tuition, room, board, books, etc.

This is where a potential grant may come into play. While you may not always end up getting a full ride, it may help significantly with the costs. The best part of grants is that you don’t have to return them. They are not loans.

There are a plethora of grants to look for so don’t get discouraged if at first glance you see that you don’t qualify for some. You will be able to find something; for example, there is even a grant for people that are left-handed.

Pell Grant at ed.gov (https://www.collegegrant.net/)

An example of a significant grant is the Federal Pell Grant. With this, you may earn up to $5,920 annually if you qualify.

To qualify, you’ll have to complete a form for FAFSA. FAFSA, or The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is looked at by colleges to decide whether someone is eligible for financial aid.

Based on whatever your FAFSA form determines, you may or may not receive the grant.

8. Get Assistance with Childcare Expenses

If you’re a parent, you’ve probably noticed how challenging it can be to raise on or multiple kids. Childcare can break the bank, taking tens of thousands of dollars from your income. Therefore, you may be able to get assistance from the government.

Each state has programs for financial assistance that are based on the amount of money made. The amount you earn is then compared in relation to the number of members residing in the household.

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/occ/resource/ccdf-grantee-state-and-territory-contacts

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provides the option of getting help with childcare through the Child Care and Development Fund.

These funds are generally given for the care of children that are 13 years old or under.

You can visit the website to see what programs are available in your area.

9. Accept Healthcare Credits

Healthcare costs are consistently rising, and not everybody is able to keep up with those costs. Something that is almost a necessity is becoming inaccessible for thousands of people.

Because of this, many people look to the government for assistance with the costs.

Healthcare Marketplace

If you become insured through the Healthcare Marketplace, then you’ll possibly be able to receive government assistance through tax credit.

You can then take this credit out in various allocations. WIth this, you can easily pay or take some of the heftiness out of your monthly payments. Another option is waiting until the final stretch of the year in the form of a tax return.

However, you have to be eligible based on their requirements.

10. Get Free or Reduced Healthcare for Your Kids

As mentioned before, health care costs continue to rise. Consequently, it might be relatively hard to purchase health care for both you and your child or children.

In this case, there are programs available for discounted child healthcare services.

https://www.insurekidsnow.gov/

The goal of Insure Kids Now is to provide financially disadvantaged families for child health care services for free or discounted. To use the service, you have to meet the requirements (low-income).

If you’re in the predicament of needing help with paying child health care, it would be a good idea to visit the website. On the database, you can learn about different available programs, such as CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) and Medicaid programs.

The available programs are specific to your state of residence.

11. Get Free Cash for Food

Food is one of the most significant necessities of life. However, many people are unfortunately unable to afford it, especially if they are raising a family.

If you are one of these people, you should look to the following government programs:

Summer Food Service Program: Through this program, disadvantaged children are able to get free meals in the summer.
The National School Lunch Program: The National School Lunch Program allows children to get lunch for free or at a reduced rate. It functions at school (both public and private) and other childcare facilities.
Women, Infants, and Children: There are various pros to participating in this program, such as receiving healthy food, getting educated on healthy foods, welfare/social services, and health evaluations.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: With this program, you will be able to receive a credit card that is specifically for purchasing food.

12. Get a Government Loan to Start a Business

Starting up a business requires a decently sized investment. However, a lot of entrepreneurs don’t have thousands of dollars on standby.

Because of this, they often opt to get a government loan to start a business. Of course, as it is a loan, you’ll have to pay it back once your business gets started up and running.

http://www.sba.gov/category/navigation-structure/loans-grants

Through the US Small Business Administration, you’re able to start a business with guaranteed loans. Additionally, you’ll receive access to investors that will assist in the process of starting and maintaining your business.

Because of the chance of your business ranking, there are also disaster assistance loans. Money is allocated in the case that your business fails.

You can also potentially win a grant if your business is science and research-oriented.

13. Get Assistance With Utilities

Americans lose hundreds of dollars to utility bills every single month. As the expenses pile up on top of other financial losses, it may be a bit too much to handle.

If you happen to become overwhelmed with these expenses, you always have the option to turn to your government for assistance.

https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/liheap-state-and-territory-contact-listing

The government has a program that belongs to the US Department of Health and Human Services called the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The purpose of this program is to give money to people in need all over the United States.

The grants given through this program are designed to give assistance in regards to air conditioning expenses. To find information on the way the program functions in your area, you should visit the website.

14. Winterize Your Home

Cold weather can take a major toll on your household by doing things like affecting the exterior paint, causing moisture absorption, provoking roofing damage, etc. Winterizing your home is preparing it for the effects that cold weather can have on it.

Therefore, it is essential to winterize your home. If you’re unable to do it because of funds, the safe bet is to ask for assistance from the government rather than just not getting it done at all.

The Weatherization Assistance Program Technical Assistance Center (WAPTAC)

If you need assistance with winterizing your home, you can turn to the US Department of Energy, through which you could potentially earn a grant.

The program is called The Weatherization Assistance Program Technical Assistance Center (WAPTAC). The point of it is to get you linked to various grant programs that are all based on improving your home.

15. Low-Cost or Free Phone Service

Phones are a vital tool for communication and other necessary actions. However, phone service bills can easily extend past your budget, making it difficult for you to keep up.

The government has programs that are set up to make it easier for you to pay those bills.

FCC’s Free and Reduced-Cost Cell Phone Grant.

Lifeline is a program under the FCC. Its goal is to reduce the amount that you have to pay for communication-oriented expenses. You get a $9.95 discount every month on telephone service and other related services, like broadband.

You need to check if you’re eligible for the program, however. The eligibility information is available on their site.

16. Student Loan Forgiveness

Every time a college student graduates, they are likely to have graduated with around $20,000 worth of student debt. This is a large sum of money that many students ultimately find extremely hard to pay off.

Looking to the government is a way to get your loans forgiven, or taken away.

https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service

With the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, you’ll be able to get a portion of your debt forgiven. However, you’ll have to qualify.

In order to meet the qualifications, you have to have employment under a government or non-profit organization, and the loan must be through the federal government. You’ll also have to make 120 monthly payments for a repayment plan. Then, the remainder will be forgiven.

If you do the math in regards to this process, it will take about ten years for your loan to be forgiven.

17. Avoid Foreclosure

Foreclosure is the taking of property due to somebody’s inability to pay their mortgage payments. This has, unfortunately, been becoming more and more common.

If it’s becoming increasingly difficult for you to pay your mortgage and you may have to deal with foreclosure, you should begin looking for help immediately.

995hope.org

HOPE, which is sponsored by the Home Ownership Preservation Foundation, assists homeowners in the process of fighting to be able to keep their homes. They do this through strategic planning. They also serve as advisors in regards to potential mortgage scams or modifications.

If you’d like to contact them, you can call the number 888-995-HOPE or visit their website.

18. Get Free Tax Preparation

Knowing how to do taxes is an important skill. However, if you aren’t proficient in preparing them yet, you can always receive help doing so.

Unfortunately, this service is often pretty expensive. Therefore, if you can’t afford it, you should look for programs that will allow you to receive the service for free.

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-you-by-volunteers

If you are somebody of low income, you can possibly be eligible to receive free tax preparation through the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. To be considered, you should have a salary of less than $54,000 annually, be a person with disabilities, or be someone with limited English.

If you are 60+ years of age, there is also the TCE (Tax Counseling for the Elderly) program through which older citizens can receive free assistance. They will receive advising in regards to pensions, retirement, income, taxes, etc.

19. Replace Damaged Currency

Mistakes happen. Money could potentially become damaged, whether it’s from water, tear, etc.

You may think that you lost that money. I mean, what store is going to take virtually destroyed money? However, the government may actually take that money and trade it for fresh money.

http://www.bep.gov/submitaclaim.html

20. Bank Failures

Sometimes a bank is forced to close for whatever reason, such as lack of funding due to large amounts of withdrawals. You may wonder whether your bank closing means you lost your money.

No, it doesn’t. The government has you covered!

https://closedbanks.fdic.gov/funds/

You can claim your money from failed banks. This is because whenever you open an account and begin depositing money, you are covered for up to $250,000 under the FDIC.

To get information about how to retrieve your money from a failed bank, just visit the FDIC website.

21. Apply for Unemployment

3.7% of United States citizens are unemployed. Not having a job can be not only frustrating but harmful for your wellbeing as you won’t be able to support yourself.

Therefore, you’ll be able to apply for unemployment until you have a new job. Filing for unemployment means you are seeking cash and benefits until you get a new position.

https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/unemployment-insurance

The Department of Labor has a program that allows people that were fired without any fault money until they are back on their feet.

In order to determine whether you’re eligible or not, you’ll need to visit the website.

22. Credit Union Failures

Just like when a bank fails, you’re also able to retrieve the money that you deposited in a credit union that ultimately failed.

https://www.ncua.gov/services/Pages/asset-management/unclaimed-deposits.aspx

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) will provide compensation for the money that was lost. You can search for your unclaimed money on the website.

23. Pay for Necessary Home Repairs in Urban Areas

Your house may require some renovating. However, you may not have the financial freedom associated with being able to fix up your home.

However, if your residence is in an urban area, you are at least 62, and your income is low, you could possibly earn a government grant. With this money, you’ll be able to renovate your home.

https://www.benefits.gov/benefits/benefit-details/402

The Rural Housing Repair Loans and Grants program serves as a supplier of both loans and grants. (Remember that loans need to be repaid while grants don’t.)

The maximum amount you can get is $7,500. This money can then be allocated for different projects, such as painting, repairing health/safety hazards, collapsing structures, etc.

For more information, visit the website.

24. Refunds for Past FHA Mortgages

https://entp.hud.gov/dsrs/refunds/

If at one point you had a FHA-insured mortgage you may be able to receive a refund from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD).

In order to determine your refund eligibility, you can visit the HUD database. All you need to input is your last name or your FHA case number.

25. SSI for Elderly or Disabled Individuals

https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/ssi/

If you are elderly (65+), are, or have a child who is disabled, then you may be entiled to supplemental security income (SSI) benefits. To receive the cash, you need to be of a certain income.

A major plus is that if you’ve had a job long enough to qualify for Social Security benefits than you’ll simultaneously have Social Security retirement benefits and SSI benefits.

Get Free Money From the Government Conclusion

If you are somebody who needs assistance financially, you should always check and see if you can get any help from the government rather than just giving up and allowing your ability to support yourself to crumble.

No matter who you are, you can potentially receive financial aid. You just need to look and understand what programs would work for you.