Stimulus checks may be a thing of the past, but you can still get financial assistance from the government if you really need it. But then, you have to know the 10 Ways to Get Free Grant Money from the Government. Money You Never Pay Back is known as Free Governments Grants. As a citizen, you can apply for the grants when government invites applications for free money for business startups, expansion or scholarship. All you have to do is to continually check the federal register that is published every weekend. Who knows, you might be lucky to get free grant money to finance your project.
Free Government Money – Grant to Finance your Life
Inflation is present and accounts are being made for it and looks to be for the foreseeable future. Stimulus checks done during the COVID-19 pandemic, somewhat, appear to be a thing of the past. But with stretches on pay checks, budgets strains and high interest rates, there is still government help available if you seek financial assistance. Read on for more information on programs that essentially amount to free grant money from the government for things like paying for college, child care, rent and many more. See similar articles below;
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10 Ways to get Free Grant Money from the Government:
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
- Emergency Rental Assistance.
- Low-Income Home Energy Assistance.
- The Lifeline Program.
- Child Care and Development Fund.
- Down Payment Assistance.
- Pell Grant.
- Supplemental Security Income.
- Unclaimed.org.
1. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families is a public assistance program that is federally funded and run by the states majorly. It is also known as welfare. TANF to some people may have a negative connotation, but the cash assistance it provides is definitely a life saver for many people and their children.
How much you get to receive depends solely on the state. In Oklahoma for example, and according to Benefits.gov, the maximum amount an adult and two children can receive through this cash assistance initiative is $292 per month. A family of three in Washington state, that have no other source of income, would receive $654 a month. They usually appreciate it because its free grant money.
Applying for TANF through your state’s administering agency is easy, and to be eligible, you must have a low income. Note that states define that differently, but generally you must really be struggling financially to have access to this money.
2. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is meant to be a safety net for low-income households. Eligibility for SNAP benefits, previously known as food stamps, means your state will issue you an electronic benefits transfer card, which works just like regular debit cards. You can use this card at various authorized stores to buy food for your household
However, to be eligible for SNAP, your household must meet the net and gross income limits based on a household’s size. According to the USDA, the average SNAP benefit per household in 2021 was kept at $210.07 a month.
3. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance (ERA)
Inability to pay your rent or utilities and believe you are in danger of possible eviction, the U.S. Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance program can be able to help to you. This program began early in the pandemic but is still in operation in many states.
You may be able to get help with rent for multiple months rather than just receiving enough to cover for one month’s rent as the case may be. To find emergency rental assistance options in your area, please go to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s website or the U.S. Treasury website.
4. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
Assuming you struggle to pay your heating or cooling costs, this program could help and it does not matter whether you are a homeowner or a renter. The Department of Health and Human Services oversees this programme, or LIHEAP, although each state decides whether a household is eligible for a cash grant or not. Similarly, anyone who is already on a program like SNAP has a greater chance of being automatically eligible, according to Benefits.gov.
Grants are most times given on income basis and how many people live in the home. It also involves the type of fuel in use to heat or cool the home. The amount generally ranges from $500 to $1,500 and the government transfers it directly to the utility companies.
5. The Lifeline Program
This program makes provision for discount on phone or internet service for eligible low-income consumers. The programme is available in every state, territory and commonwealth and on tribal lands, and it covers home or mobile phone services or high-speed broadband. To qualify for this, consumers must have a gross household income at or below 135% of the federal poverty guidelines or be active participants in SNAP, Medicaid or other federal programmes or initiatives.
If eligible, you can get up to $9.25 per month toward phone or internet services. This is likely to not cover your entire phone or internet bill, but it could help you offset the high cost.
6. Child Care and Development Fund
The Child Care and Development Funds is a programme made for low-income families who require assistance in paying for child care due to work, school or training.
How low must your income be to qualify?
It is almost impossible to say, because every state makes that determination according to its peculiarities. However, if you consider yourself to be a low-income earner, you are free to apply for the funds available to those in this category. See the eligibility checker on Benefits.gov to find out if you are a legible candidate for this benefit.
According to the National Association of Counties, in 2021, the last year data made available to the public, shows that only 14% of eligible children participated in the CCDF programme.
7. Down Payment Assistance Programs
If homeownership seems almost financially in reach if only you had a helping hand, look into first-time homebuyer programs that offer down-payment assistance. You may find a program that offers a grant for a down payment (free grant money) or a zero-interest loan (also free money) or a low-interest loan (cheap money). There are also other programmes that offer help with closing costs.
However, ensure you check with your city or county’s government office to find out about programmes offering the down-payment assistance. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s website has lots of information on state and local government first-time home buying and down-payment assistance programmes.
8. Pell Grant
If your child is going to college soon, ensure that you have your child apply for the Pell Grant, which they can do by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, on its approved website. It can be a little overwhelming, but the financial aid virtual assistant can be of immense help. So can the Federal Student Aid Information Centre, which consists of people who have answers to your questions. Apparently, if you qualify for the federal Pell Grant, your children could get as much as $6,495 for the 2022-23 school year, money that does not have to be paid back.
9. Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
This federal program helps adults and kids living with disabilities and have low income and few resources. The Social Security Administration runs this programme, but the money beneficiaries receive is not funded with Social Security taxes. According to the SSA, the monthly maximum an eligible individual could receive in 2022 is $841. An eligible individual with an eligible spouse could receive $1,261. An essential person, someone who lives in the home and takes care of the eligible individual could receive $421 or more. More importantly, you can research more for updates.
10. Unclaimed.org
In this case, the government is helping you free of charge to get your own money back. Unclaimed.org is run by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, or NAUPA, which is a network within the National Association of State Treasurers. If you have ever lost or unclaimed your money, be it in tens of thousands of dollars in unclaimed life insurance benefits or $11.50 that you didn’t realize was in an old checking account you may find it on the official site.
It may seem too good to be true, but this is another legitimate way to put some money back in your bank account. MissingMoney.com, endorsed by NAUPA, is also worth checking out. According to NAUPA, states are holding onto unclaimed money and assets of 1 out of every 10 Americans and they make returns of over $3 billion every year.
Conclusion
Now comes the question; how do you ask for money from the government of America as a citizen or not? Find and discover official grant websites. That is to say; for you to search or apply for grants, you must have to use the free, official website, Grants.gov. However, there are other commercial sites, but they may charge a fee for grant information or access to application forms. Bear in mind that www.Grants.gov centralizes information from more than 1,000 government grant programs online. The site is available to assist individuals, business corporations, states as well as organizations to see and apply for grants.
Free Money from the Government. In a nutshell, the federal government does not offer grants or “free money” to individuals to start a business or cover expenses. Lastly, there must be a good reason for asking the government for money. It could be be business expansion, scholarship etc. Find Scholarship Here.
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