Screen yourself for both government grants and benefit programs at Benefits.gov.
If your savings are dwindling and you've exhausted your family for financial help, it may be time to allow grants to carry you through hard times. One word of caution: though it may seem like the government gives free money to the needy, these are very rarely grant programs. Instead, they are benefit programs, which aren't free -- rather, they are funded by taxes. You may qualify for government benefits if you are disabled, elderly, pregnant or low-income. Otherwise, it may be time to start sending out grant applications.
Disaster Relief
The Federal Emergency Management Agency grants financial aid to people who have lost their homes or belongings in a natural disaster through the Individuals and Households Programs (IHPs). The IHP for housing provides grant assistance to low-income, underinsured people to help rebuild their homes. The IHP Housing program also pays for temporary housing during a presidentially-declared natural disaster. Additionally, IHP also has a grant program to help people pay other expenses that aren't covered by their insurance, including damage to personal property and medical bills.
Job-Related and Student Grants
Transitioning between jobs and obtaining an education during hard times can be very costly. Professional fellowships, career-related grants and student grants exist to help you foot the bill of a major career change. The National Endowment for the Arts awards grants to artists, musicians, writers and craftsman to aid them with the expenses of career-related projects (nea.gov). The government also grants money to low-income students of all ages to help them pay for college. For example, the federal Pell Grant awards up to $5,550 to each student per award year, and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) awards up to $4,000 (fafsa.ed.gov).
Home Energy Grants
If your utilities bills have been piling up and you're worried about losing your home energy service, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) may be able to help. Because of the dangers associated with a lack of heat or cool air during appropriate seasons, the government grants money to low-income people to help them pay for home energy. LIHEAP grants money to individuals whose income does not exceed $16,245. Guidelines are different depending on how many people live in the home. Contact your state's LIHEAP office to apply or call 866-674-6327 for more information.
Surviving Dependent Grants
Dependents of deceased military men and women, emergency relief workers, firefighters and civil servants may obtain unique grants. The Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant helps pay tuition and school fees for students under 24 who lost a parent in military service. Some states grant money to surviving dependent spouses and children of public workers: for example, the Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grant Program (LEPD) in California awards up to $11,259 to dependents of those killed in public service. Dependent students who lost a parent to breast cancer may qualify for aid through the Mary Ellen Locher Foundation (melfoundation.org). Don't overlook local nonprofit organizations and your own employer for grant money, either: there may be a specific fund for someone suffering through your exact circumstance.
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