Understanding Government Grants and Financial Aid

• Author: Roberta Swift
• Posted: 2024-01-03

If you're going through financial hardship and trying to attain higher education or pay off medical bills, government aid can help you.

There's a wide range of government programs focused on the specific needs of people, such as:

• job training
• health care
• child care
• education
• proper nutrition

People can apply to the program that covers their situation. 

Benefits.gov can assist you in determining which government aid programs may be right for you.

Using benefits.gov is fast and easy. Just go to the homepage and click on one of these two options:
 

• Benefit Finder: for those who need government aid but aren't sure what programs can help.
  • You will see a questionnaire.
  • Fill out the questionnaire. (Indicate your current situation and why you're looking for aid)
  • Submit the questionnaire.
  • You will be provided with a personalized list of possible benefits.
     
• Browse Benefits: for those who already know what benefits and programs they need.
  • On the menu bar, click the downwards arrow beside 'Benefits'
  • Choose whether to sort through the benefits list by federal agency or category.

Grants vs. Government Aid 

Grants are different from government aid.

Grants are awards, and they aren't intended to be an assistance program.

Benefits.gov is unable to help you obtain any government grants.

But you can find and apply for available government grants at grants.gov.


Frequently Asked Questions

How does benefits.gov know what aid programs I may be eligible for?

Benefits.gov has an advanced computer software.

This software compares your answers in the Benefits Finder questionnaire with currently available government aid programs. (There are currently over 1,000)

The system only requires you to answer the first set of questions.

But you'll have more accurate and better results if you fill out the entire questionnaire.


Why does my survey say I 'may' be eligible?

Aid isn't guaranteed until the government benefits program approves your application.

Benefit eligibility can also change suddenly due to certain events, such as:

• a birthday
• an accident
• a death in the family
• a medical procedure

To determine with 100% accuracy if you're eligible for a program, you have to complete an application.


Direct Links to Government Benefits

Rural Rental Assistance
This reduces the rent paid by low-income families who live in eligible Rural Rental Housing (RRH) and Farm Labor Housing (FLH) projects financed by the Rural Housing Service.

Requiement: Monthly rent payments must exceed 30% of a household's adjusted monthly income.

Next Steps: Application Process

Good Neighbor Next Door Program
This program helps civil servants purchase a home in a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) revitalization area. 

It offers a 50% discount off the list price of homes available from HUD's inventory.

Requirement: You must:

• be a law enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency medical technician, or teacher.
• agree to live in the home for three (3) years.
• keep your purchased home as your sole residence.

Next Steps: Application Process

Disaster Relief Assistance
The FEMA Housing Portal helps individuals and families displaced by a disaster find a place to live.

The portal consolidates rental resources to quicken the search for available rental units.

Next Steps: Application Process

Rural Housing Repair Loans and Grants
This program provides loans and grants to help low-income homeowners to:

• repair
• improve
• modernize
• remove

health and safety hazards in their rural dwellings.

Next Steps: Application Process

Full List Of Housing Grant Opportunities
If you haven't found what you're looking for then please review all the potential opportunities using the following link:

Next Steps: Application Process


To apply online please visit benefits.gov.