Use the benefit finder tool or search by category to learn which benefits you and your family may be eligible for and how to apply.
Benefit finder tool
Answer some basic questions to get a customized list of potential government benefits you may be eligible for during life events.
Find benefits across benefit finder’s three life events: disability, death of a loved one, and retirement. Start here if two or more of these life events are relevant to you.
Find government survivor benefits including COVID-19 funeral benefits, housing, and education help.
Whether you are newly disabled or have a lifelong challenge, assistance may be available, including financial help.
Find out what financial, health care, and other benefits may be available as you enter this next phase of your life.
FAQs
The government does not offer free money or grants to people for personal needs.
How can I get money if I'm struggling? ›
Facing financial hardship
- Food assistance. ...
- Unemployment benefits. ...
- Welfare benefits or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) ...
- Emergency housing assistance. ...
- Rental assistance. ...
- Help with utility bills. ...
- Government home repair assistance programs.
What resources are available to those with low incomes? ›
- Find government benefits and financial help.
- Food assistance.
- Housing help.
- Help with utility bills.
- Welfare (TANF)
- Health insurance.
- Social Security.
- State social service agencies.
Does the US government give free grants? ›
Federal government grants - typically not given to people for personal expenses. Grants are for organizations that work with programs and projects funded by the government, including: Universities.
What is a loyalty grant? ›
What are Loyalty Grants? Loyalty Grants are need-based grants available to Gamma Phi Betas who are experiencing unforeseen, extreme financial challenges created by a health crisis, natural disaster or other unexpected life circ*mstances.
What is a hardship loan? ›
Hardship personal loans are a type of personal loan intended to help borrowers overcome financial difficulties such as job loss, medical emergencies, or home repairs. Hardship personal loan programs are often offered by small banks and credit unions.
How much hardship payment can I get? ›
This is roughly 60 per cent of the amount of the sanction. The amount of the Hardship Payment you get is the daily rate multiplied by the number of days the sanction lasts. A Hardship Payment is only paid for a limited number of days.
How to get money urgently? ›
Types of Quick Loans
There are plenty of quick loans and emergency funds one can avail of, depending on the need and urgency. Some of the common options are payday loans, personal loans, credit cards, and lines of credit. Payday Loans: This loan is typically small, short-term loans that are due on your next payday.
What are the three biggest programs that assist low-income people? ›
The three primary cash assistance programs provided by the federal government are:
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
What is a poverty program? ›
ANTI-POVERTY POLICIES & PROGRAMS. Safety net policies like food assistance, housing assistance, and family tax credits keep millions of Americans from poverty each year and reduce hardship for millions more.
Universal basic income (UBI) is a social welfare proposal in which all citizens of a given population regularly receive a minimum income in the form of an unconditional transfer payment, i.e., without a means test or need to work.
Is there really a government debt relief program? ›
There aren't any free government debt relief programs for credit card or personal loan debt other than bankruptcy. Many types of government debt relief exist in the form of grants and low-interest loans for specific purposes.
What is the money you don't have to pay back? ›
A grant is a form of financial aid that doesn't have to be repaid (unless, for example, you withdraw from school and owe a refund, or you receive a TEACH Grant and don't complete your service obligation).
What is the most common grant? ›
The most popular type of grant is for Program support. Program grants provide funding for specific projects or programs.
Does the US government give personal grants? ›
You may have heard of forms of government assistance like small business grants and subsidized healthcare. But did you know that the government offers personal grants for individuals, too? If you meet eligibility requirements and you need the money for one of a set of approved expenses, you could be in luck.
How do you know if a government grant is real? ›
Here are five ways to spot a grant scam:
- Did you apply for a grant? ...
- Is a fee involved? ...
- Is the grant for business or personal use? ...
- What agency does the issuer represent? ...
- Were you asked for either your personal or your company's ID or your bank account information?
How much money can you get from a federal grant? ›
Award amounts can change yearly. The maximum Federal Pell Grant award is $7,395 for the 2023–24 award year (July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024). The maximum Federal Pell Grant award is $7,395 for the 2024–25 award year (July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025). your plans to attend school for a full academic year or less.
Do you have to pay back federal grants? ›
The federal government provides grants for students attending college or career school. Most types of grants, unlike loans, are sources of financial aid that generally do not have to be repaid.