December
10, 2020
As the official benefits
website of the U.S. government, Benefits.gov increases access to benefit
information and program eligibility requirements to help citizens find
government assistance. Financial responsibilities can be difficult to manage,
but depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for financial
assistance to help with your needs. Benefits.gov is here to help you understand
the financial assistance resources available to you, your family, and your
business.
Where can I check my eligibility for financial assistance
programs?
A great way to start your
search for financial assistance programs is to take the Benefit
Finder questionnaire, which will automatically compare your
eligibility to over 1,000 benefit programs. Curious about how the Benefit
Finder works? Here are some things to know about the Benefit Finder:
·
The questionnaire takes around 10 to 20 minutes to complete, but
you can save time by having basic information on hand like your education and
financial history.
·
Benefits.gov never asks for personal information such as a phone
number, address, or Social Security number and does not save your answers in
the Benefit Finder.
·
The more questions you answer, the better we can prescreen your
eligibility for the benefits in your results list.
·
Based on questions you answer about your personal situation, a
list of benefits will return that you may be eligible for, along with the next
steps for how to apply.
After you’ve completed
the Benefit Finder, you can save your results by printing a copy or sending a
copy to your email address.
What kind of programs are there to help my family?
If you find yourself
facing financial hardship, there are programs available that can provide help.
For example, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program
provides funds to states and territories to provide families with financial
assistance and related support services. These programs may include child care
assistance, job preparation, and work assistance based on the state where you
live. Depending on your situation, you may qualify for many other programs to
help with food, housing, and energy costs.
To find out if you may be
eligible for over 1,000 government assistance programs, take our Benefit
Finder questionnaire.
What kind of programs are available to help my business?
According to the U.S. Small
Business Administration (SBA), more than half of Americans either
own or work for a small business and are responsible for creating two out of
every three new jobs in the U.S. each year. The SBA offers several federal
programs to help with funding a small business, including grants and loans.
·
Grants – Federal grants are awards of financial assistance to an
individual or organization. Small businesses may be eligible for grants in
specialized fields, such as nonprofits, educational institutions, and those in
state or local governments for economic development. For more information,
please visit the SBA’s Grant Programs page,
or visit the federal government's official grants website, Grants.gov.
·
Loans – Loans are different than grants because they are awarded
to an individual or organization as a personal benefit or assistance. It is
important to note that you are required to pay back a loan, often with
interest. SBA Loan programs consist
of various loan categories such as starting and expanding business, disaster,
export assistance, veteran/military community, and special purpose loans. The
loans cater to many different scenarios a business may experience. To explore
additional types of loan offers, visit GovLoans.gov. To view
additional SBA programs, browse our Loans
Category.
How can I find help during the coronavirus pandemic?
During the coronavirus
pandemic, many are facing unexpected difficulties. We encourage you to read our
articles about assistance during the pandemic, including:
·
“Where to Find Housing Assistance During the Pandemic”
·
“COVID-19: Finding Food & Nutrition Programs and Shopping
Safely”
·
“Coronavirus Resources for Unemployment & Small
Businesses”
·
“Finding the Right Help During the COVID-19 (coronavirus)
Outbreak”
What other resources can help me on Benefits.gov?
Check out the Help Center on
Benefits.gov to navigate through commonly asked questions and answers to find
additional information about government benefits.
Visit our Get
Involved page to access fact sheets, including a Guide to Benefits.gov and
guides to finding benefit programs for families, people with disabilities,
unemployment resources, senior citizens, students, veterans, and Native
Americans.
Benefits.gov also
publishes helpful, timely news articles to keep people informed about
government benefit programs. To stay up-to-date on benefit
program information, subscribe to the Compass Newsletter or follow
Benefits.gov on Twitter and Facebook.
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