We have included all the guides below for your convenience. Select your guide below.
Grants Guide
Every year, thousands of grants are provided to individuals, businesses and collectives all over the country. These sums of money granted by the Government and other organizations have different purposes. They are meant for students who need help paying for their studies, for low-income households struggling to pay for health insurance, food, housing, etc., for small businesses wanting to expand, for veterans, for seniors, etc.
There are several different types of grants, each one with its own set of requirements, application methods, deadlines, etc. If you are interested in applying for a grant, access our Grant Guide below.
Child Tax Credit Guide
In an effort to provide assistance to American families during the pandemic, and as part of the American Rescue Plan, Congress made several changes to the 2021 Child Credit Tax. These include advance payments of the Child Tax Credit, which families would normally receive after filing their taxes.
The amount of money families will receive is also higher, and the requirements to access these advancements much more extensive. Additionally, the amount households get is refundable the moment taxes are file.
Learn how to qualify for the Child Tax Credit, the amount you may receive and more in our comprehensive guide.
Food Stamps Guide
The first – and most crucial – step in the SNAP application process is determining whether your household is actually eligible to receive government food stamp benefits. Utilizing a pre-screening tool is the best way to determine whether or not you should proceed with your SNAP application. In some states, applying for food stamps is looped in with additional government-benefit programs, so that all of your household data can be analyzed and assessed simultaneously. However, state benefit programs are still handled as different entities, and your food stamps eligibility will remain separate from additional support benefits of which your household is eligible to collect.
Medicaid Guide
If you lost your job or your health coverage from your employer and cannot afford your medical expenses, consider applying for Medicaid. Funded by the government but individually regulated by each U.S. state, Medicaid provides partial-to-full coverage of both monthly health plan premiums and your medical costs. The main requirements associated with Medicaid are being within the Federal Poverty Level limits as determined by the Modified Adjusted Gross Income system, and being a U.S. citizen or an immigrant with legal presence in the country. There are certain patients who automatically qualify for Medicaid, including those who are considered “Mandatory Categorically Needy.” Those who are deemed “Medically Needy” can apply for…
Medicare Guide
As one of the biggest and most important health insurance programs in the country, Medicare is an essential part of America’s healthcare system. The program is run by the federal government and has four main parts (Medicare Parts A, B, C and D). Medicare Part A provides coverage for inpatient hospital visits. It also helps pay for care at a skilled nursing facility and certain other places. This part of Medicare typically does not require a monthly premium. Medicare Part B, on the other hand, covers outpatient medical care, including preventive services and regular visits to the doctor. Together, Parts A and B are known as “Original Medicare.” Also known as “Medicare Advantage Plans,” Part C is similar to Original Medicare, except that it is offered by private health insurance companies. Finally, Part D helps pay for prescription drugs and comes with plans that are…
Fannie Mae Guide
While Fannie Mae is not a primary lender, its mission is to provide liquidity, accessibility and stability by investing in the housing market. The program provides funds through the secondary mortgage market to approved lenders who in return provide mortgage loans to buyers. In other words, Fannie Mae purchases and promises home loans created by firms for their unique buyers. These mortgages are called conforming mortgages, meaning they meet underwriting requirements, have low-interest rates and do not exceed the maximum loan limit set for that year. If a lending company grants a homebuyer a mortgage of 100 thousand dollars, the lending company cannot lend any more money until the loan is replenished…
Section 8 Housing Guide
Once you have determined you are eligible to receive Section 8 aid, you can work with Public Housing Agencies (PHAs) in your neighborhood to seek out a suitable property lease. Keep in mind that in some cases, depending on your neighborhood, you may be assisted immediately or there is a possibility that you will be placed on a waiting list. After finding your new home, you are issued a voucher handled by your PHA, which will account for a certain percentage of your monthly home expenses. The PHA will pay your landlord a subsidy on your behalf and you will be responsible for paying the difference in cost.
Unemployment Guide
The benefits you receive from unemployment insurance will depend on your earnings over the past year. In most states, you can collect unemployment benefits for a total of 26 weeks. You may be eligible to apply for an extension of your UI benefits under some circumstances, including during times of high unemployment in a difficult economic climate. Keep in mind that your UI benefits are subject to federal income taxation and must be reported when you file your taxes at the end of the fiscal year. When you enroll, you can elect to have your state withhold taxes from your unemployment checks.
VA Home Loans Guide
Like all Federal services, the VA home loan program is extensive. It has a broad category of applicant who could be eligible for loans and an even broader set of requirements for how to apply and how to use your loans. If you are an active Armed Forces member, a veteran, a Reservist, Nation Guard member or surviving spouse, you may qualify for the benefits of the VA home loan program. Part of what separates the VA loan program from other Federal services is that it offers loan recipients the choice to select their own private, local lender from any of the banks and mortgage companies participating in the VA program.
Tricare Guide
Tricare insurance is sponsored by the United States Department of Defense and is available to all uniformed American military members, their families, National Guard or Reserve members, military retirees, Medal of Honor recipients, survivors and many former spouses. Formerly referred to as the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS), Tricare offers an open enrollment each calendar year wherein new Prime and Select plans can be purchased or updated by eligible sponsors while Retired Reserve, Reserve Select, Continued Health Care Benefit and Young Adult plans offer continuous enrollment availability all year long.
CHIP Guide
Eligibility for CHIP is based on factors such as household income and size, as well as the age of the child in need of benefits. Income limits are determined by each state, using the federal poverty level (FPL). However, the federal government does not have a standard income limit for CHIP coverage, so these limits vary on a state basis. However, the federal government incentivizes the states to increase coverage by agreeing to match funds up to a certain level. Applicants can apply through their state provider or the Health Insurance Marketplace. Those who are approved receive an enrollment card to access their benefits.
SSI Guide
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program is a welfare program that provides financial assistance to low income senior citizens and disabled adults and children who qualify. Despite their similar-sounding names, the SSI program is not directly related to Social Security retirement. In fact, there are numerous differences between the two programs, including how the programs work, who is eligible for benefits, how benefit amounts are determined and how applications can be submitted. However, an applicant could potentially be eligible for both SSI and Social Security if he or she met the requirements for both programs. SSI benefits, for example, are not determined by…
SSDI Guide
SSDI draws funds from the contributions made by all workers across the country in order to support those qualifying workers with disabilities. In order to qualify for SSDI, a worker must be so severely disabled as to no longer be able to work. The definition of disability used by the SSA is very strict, much more so than that used by the Department of Veterans Affairs or other state-level organizations. The potential for fraud is, therefore, reduced, and the SSA reviews cases very carefully to further limit those incidents. In addition to that strict definition of a qualifying disability, the SSA requires…
TANF Guide
In order to receive TANF benefits, there are certain standards you must meet, such as net income requirements. If your family has a greater income than the criteria your state has, then you are not able to receive cash assistance from the government. Additionally, your child has to be a certain age in order for your family to receive cash assistance. If he or she is older than what is required, then you are not eligible to receive benefits from the TANF program. Also, there are work requirements you must follow to continue to stay eligible.
FAFSA Guide
One of the biggest mistakes that people make during the FSI ID process and while applying for FAFSA in general is failing to look back over their information before submitting it. Missing or incomplete answers can cause the application to be sent back or denied due to not having enough information to process it. Always check back over your answers for completeness. Once your application is sent in, you will receive an email with a secure code inside it. Complete the email verification process by entering the secure code into the relevant field. Once you have entered the code and verified your email address…
GI Bill Guide
The GI Bill is an important resource for military members to keep in mind during their service. With the help of this program, applicants can fund their educational goals after they are discharged. Eligibility and benefit amounts are determined by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). To qualify, applicants must complete a certain amount of service, receive an honorable discharge and fulfill several other qualifications. In order to determine exact program requirements, applicants must pick a specific GI Bill option. Veteran education benefits are offered through multiple versions of the GI Bill, as well as other programs. The two most well-known options are…
LIHEAP Guide
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) offers financial help to low-income families who struggle to make utility bill payments. This is a federal program that goes by different names in each state and has variations in the services that it offers. Benefits sometimes differ based on climate, region, fuel and home type. For example, Florida residents will require more cooling benefits while residents in Alaska will need heating. Regardless of state or region, residents must apply for LIHEAP in their states. They can do this online, in person, by mail and sometimes by phone. Program eligibility is based primarily on…
WIC Guide
The WIC program was created with a specific goal in mind – to bolster the health of low-income women, infants and children. Since the program was created in 1974, studies show that it has been made progress in its goal. Pregnant women enrolled in the program have longer pregnancies and are less likely to have premature births. For infants, the WIC program reduced infant death rate among its participants and yielded higher birth weights. For children, the WIC program shows reduced iron deficiency, healthier growth and improved school performance. As a supplemental nutrition program, WIC helps families by providing food benefits. These benefits may come…
FHA Loans Guide
Thousands of U.S. residents become homeowners with the help of an FHA loan. This type of mortgage is insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and is provided by lenders throughout the country. A home is one of the most expensive purchases a person will make in his or her lifetime. Most do not have the means of purchasing a home outright. A mortgage makes it possible to finance the entire cost of a home through monthly installments. In return for providing the necessary funds, FHA lenders charge interest and require borrowers to pay mortgage insurance. Compared to conventional mortgages…
Rent to Own Guide
The idea of renting to own your own home is appealing for many reasons. It is an ideal option for low-income Americans or anyone who has poor credit or is working to build up a credit history. These are some of the benefits of renting to own your home. Unlike renting, where you are paying to live in a home or apartment without any return on investment, renting to own a home allows you to reap the benefits someday. Instead of writing a check to your landlord to never be seen again, you are actually making small monthly payments toward owning the home. This money can be put toward…
Social Security Retirement Benefits Guide
If you have earned income and paid Social Security taxes on that income in the U.S., you may qualify for Social Security retirement benefits. You must meet age and work requirements in order to qualify, but those who do receive about 40% of their pre-retirement income in the form of financial assistance from the Social Security Administration. Social Security retirement benefit amounts are often based on the age of applicants when they retire and how much they earned while they were working. If you meet the criteria of the SSA, you can apply for the benefits you have earned in various ways, including online, by phone or in person at a local office.