101
The Best Government Grants In America
You Won’t Believe What Uncle Sam Is Giving Away
by
Matthew Lesko
Mary Ann Martello
Kelly Edmiston
Matthew Lesko
Information USA, Inc.
12083 Nebel Street
Rockville, MD 20852
1-800-Uncle-Sam
(1-800-862-5372)
www.lesko.com
© Copyright 2012
Matthew Lesko - http://www.lesko.com/
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This Year Uncle Sam Will Give Out $19,379 Per Family
Here’s How You Can Benefit From This Money
If the government is giving out so much money, why can’t the average American find the
money they need to do the things they want to
do in life, like:
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Pay Your Bills and Expenses
Start or Expand A Business
Go Back To School
Get A Better Job
Buy or Fix-Up A House
Get Health Care or Legal Help, or
Take A Vacation?
(download: http://www.unclelesko.net/)
There are two answers to this question:
1. The Government Spends No Money Advertising These Programs, and
2. Americans Are Not Trained On Where to Look
We’ve Made It Easy For You
This eBook Gives You The Best Of Our 30 Years of Work
We have been studying government programs for over 30 years. We maintain the
world’s largest database of government grants, loans, direct payments, free services, and
even free trips and gifts that average Americans are eligible for. We’ve sold over four
million books and served Americans of all incomes from Fortune 500 executives to the
average consumer struggling just to get by.
Americans pay for all these programs but have no idea where to go or what to ask for.
We want every American to know that there are programs available to them that offer:
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Free Money to Live On While You Start Your Own Business
$8,000 to Train for a New Job
Get $1,000 from Debt Collectors Who Don’t Treat You Right
$10,000 to Help Pay Your Student Loans
$2,000 off Your Dental Bills
$250,000 to Work on Your Invention
$2,000 If You Get Mugged
$8,000 to Improve Your Home So It Cuts Your Utility Bills
$10,000 to Buy a Talking Computer
$10,000 for Down Payment, Closing Costs or Rehabilitation
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$12 Million to Start a Real Big Business
$100,000 to Become a Freelancer Working from Your Kitchen Table
Free Prescription Drugs for All Ages
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10 Things YOU DON'T KNOW About Free Government Money
Life is full of answers. You can Google any topic and get one million answers to almost
anything. The hard part in life is asking the right questions. Our mission is to educate
America about the facts about government programs so you get all the benefits you are
entitled to. Start your education here:
1) 80% of Free Government Money Is Not Called Grants
Of the $2 trillion in free government money that is given out each year only about
$378 billion is called grants. The rest of free money is called things like direct
payments, venture capital or loans you do not have to pay back. So don’t call the
government and ask for a grant, you will miss 80% of the free money that is given
out.
We know the average American only thinks about grants. That’s why we put the
word “GRANT” in the title, but the programs we list include all other sources of free
money and help. We make sure you always know the right words to say when
contacting government offices.
2) Don't Call Washington Looking For Money
Think local. Most money programs do originate from Washington; however, the
money goes to the state governments, who in turn give out the money to local
government and even non-profit organizations. Every state government has an office
that tracks this money. Call the governor's office and ask for the state grants office to
get started.
3) Free Services Are Better Than Free Money
Consumers are missing out on tens of thousands of dollars in free services like:
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free credit card help
http://www.lesko.com/free_independent.php
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free help to start a business
http://www.lesko.com/columbus_sbdc.php
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free health care
http://www.lesko.com/montogomery_health.php
4) Government Applications Are Easy
This is where average Americans really miss out. They believe that grant applications
are complicated, and they are right. But 80% of the free money the government gives
out is not a grant so they do not require a grant application and all that is needed is
three or four pages of fill in the blanks.
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5) Your Congressman Provides The Best Help
Every elected official has someone on their staff that helps people take advantage of
government programs. These are the most motivated people in government that want
to help you because if they are able to make a call to a government office and get you
$50,000 for your business or $8,000 to train for a new job, you will vote for them in
the next election no matter what they do. (Find your elected official at:
www.congress.org/)
6) The Government Doesn't Know What It Has
If you call a government office and ask if they have money to help you accomplish
some goal, you can’t take NO for an answer. Government offices are too big for any
one person to know what is in their office. Get the documents, check the websites, ask
for suggestions for other sources. The best way to deal with the government it to find
out what they have before you contact them. Then you call and tell them what they
have. (Find your local government office: www.govengine.com)
7) Only 12% Goes To The Poor
Many people think they have to be destitute to receive government money. But that's
not true. A bigger percentage of rich people are eligible for government money than
poor people. And what's poor in today's economy? You can be working full-time at
Wal-Mart and be eligible for food stamps. (Source: “Running On Empty”, Peter G.
Peterson, former Chairman of Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Farrar, Strauss
and Giroux, New York, page 151)
8) Over $19,379 In Free Money Goes To Every Family
The U.S. Budget for 2013 shows that in 2012 $2.5 trillion was spent in free money
programs and the U.S. Census shows there are about 129 million families. You do the
math. (Source: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BUDGET-2013-TAB/pdf/BUDGET2013-TAB.pdf, page 223 and http://www.census.gov/popest/housing/HUEST2008.html)
9) Government Programs Keep Growing Under Both Democrats And
Republicans
Total government spending has increased every single year since 1948.
(Source: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BUDGET-2013-TAB/pdf/BUDGET-2013TAB.pdf, page 347)
10) 75% Of Government Money Programs Have No Income Requirements
No matter what your income you can apply for money to do specific activities that the
government wants to be done like create or grow a business, fix-up your home, work
on an invention, or train for a new job.
(Source: “Running On Empty”, Peter G. Peterson, former Chairman of Federal
Reserve Bank of New York, Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, New York, page 151)
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Watch These 11 Free Videos
To Learn More About Your American Benefits
Go to http://www.lesko.com/how_to_use_this_service.php and
click on “Help With Your Problems”
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About Matthew Lesko
No one has done more to educate the American public about available government
money programs than Matthew Lesko.
Over 30 years ago, as an ex-Naval Officer armed with a MBA in Computer Information
Systems, Lesko started with only a phone and a desk in a one bedroom apartment, but
soon had over 30 employees in a big office on K Street, in downtown Washington, D.C.
Lesko's brainstorm was showing Fortune 500 executives how to take advantage of littleknown government programs. These business leaders did not care how much the
information cost because they were turning this information into millions.
Growing up in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, Lesko never knew about such government
programs and was constantly surprised when he kept uncovering more and more freebies
that his rich clients could spin into gold.
After a few years, Lesko got bored helping these fat cats. He thought: “Why don't
average people know about all this free money and help from government programs?”
Since then, he has concentrated on getting this information out to the average American.
He has authored over 100 books--two became New York Times Best Sellers, and two
won awards for Best Reference Book of the Year. He was a columnist for the New York
Times Syndicate, Good Housekeeping magazine, The Chicago Tribune, and others.
Lesko has appeared on hundreds of radio and television shows, including The Today
Show, Larry King, Letterman, Jay Leno, Good Morning America, and Oprah. With his
altruistic exuberance and enthusiasm, Lesko became a favorite guest on shows like
Letterman and Larry King, especially when some big star canceled at the last minute.
Now Lesko's TV time consists mainly of off-the-wall infomercials, and he is ranked
among the top ten most recognized infomercial personalities.
Lesko is done writing books, believing his web service allows him to provide even more
personal education and services about government programs for only $20, in contrast to
30 years ago when he charged CEOs $10,000 for the exact same information. Isn't the
government great...it even created the World Wide Web. Lesko wants to show how the
government can help you create something new in your life, too. And it's FREEEEEE!
Matthew Lesko
www.lesko.com
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Learn How We Can Help More
Join Matthew Lesko’s Government Money Club
http://www.lesko.com/
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24/7 email access to answer ANY questions
Top-secret interview videos with government officials
The world’s most exclusive collection of Grants, Loans and other Free Services
One-on-one training with Matthew Lesko
Priority notification of OVER 200 new monthly programs
Access to a team of experts to prepare customized reports
Assistance writing grants from trained Free Money Experts
Unlimited access to Matthew Lesko and his researchers
– a dedicated team to help you find and utilize programs in your area, tailored to
your specific needs
Free assistance filling out ANY government application
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101 Of The Best Government Grants In America
1) $8,000 To Train For A New Job
You are out of work and need to learn some new skills in order to get employed.
The Career One Stop can help you. They have information about Federal job
training programs, Workforce Investment Act training, apprenticeships and more.
Career One Stops can help you do a career skills assessment to see where you are
and where you need to go. They will even help direct you to money sources to
pay for the training you need.
For more information, check out: http://www.careeronestop.org/
2) $10,000 For Your First Business
Count Me In offers women access to business loans, consultation, and education.
Loans of $500 to $10,000 are available to women who are trying to obtain their
first business loan. The organization provides access to networks that expand
contacts, markets, skills, and confidence. Loans can be used for working capital,
purchase of inventory or equipment, marketing materials for a sales event, or
other uses.
Contact: Count Me In, 240 Central Park South, Suite 7H, New York, NY 10019;
212-245-1245; http://www.makemineamillion.org/
3) $25,000 For Your Singing Group Or Jazz Band To Perform
Overseas
The State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs will partner
with American Voices to send approximately 10 American roots music groups in
genres such as urban/hip-hop, gospel, bluegrass, and jazz to more than 40
countries to: conduct public concerts, perform interactive performances with local
musicians, and attend lecture demonstrations, workshops, and jam sessions with
diverse audiences.
For more information, contact: American Voices, PO Box 63421, St Louis, MO
63163; 314-732-1323; http://exchanges.state.gov/programs/cultural.html
4) Get $1,000 From Debt Collectors Who Don’t Treat You
Right
There is a little incentive for debt collectors to follow the rules they have to
follow. They cannot give false information about you to anyone. They cannot
threaten you or say you will be arrested, your wages or property will be attacked
or you will suffer a lawsuit. They cannot call you before 8 am or after 9 pm.
There are ways to stop them from calling.
For more information, contact the U.S. Federal Trade Commission at 877-FTCHELP or go to: http://ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre18.shtm
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5) Free Prescription Drugs At Any Age
Valium, Prozac, and Dilantin are just a few of the medications you can get for
FREE directly from the drug companies themselves. That’s right; drug
companies don’t want everybody to know this, but they will give certain people
who can’t afford their medications their drugs free of charge if you participate in
their “Patient Assistance Programs.” Your doctor needs to sign a form stating that
you cannot afford the drugs that you need. Once the forms are filled out they are
shipped directly to your doctor’s office.
Contact the Partnership For Prescription Assistance at 888-4PPA-NOW or go to:
http://www.pparx.org/
6) Go On A Free Archeological Dig
Have you always dreamed of being an archaeologist? If so, Passport In Time
(PIT) is the volunteer program for you. PIT is a program of the USDA Forest
Service. Volunteers can work on projects including archaeological excavation,
rock art restoration, survey, archival research, historic structure restoration,
gathering oral histories, or writing interpretive brochures to name a few. Projects
vary in length from two days to two weeks or longer.
Check the website or contact Passport in Time for current projects: Passport in
Time, P.O. Box 15728, Rio Rancho, NM 87174-5728; 800-281-9176;
http://passportintime.com/
7) Seniors Can Take Free College Courses And Earn Degrees
Believe it or not, more than 350 colleges and universities all across the country
have special programs for seniors who are interested in going back to school.
This often means auditing courses or taking courses for credit, for free, or at
discounts up to 90% off the list price. They also offer discounts on fees and
books, and even special deals on housing. You can attend just one course or get a
PhD. Some states call it a Senior Scholar program. Anyone interested should
contact the school they wish to attend to find out if they offer programs, and how
to apply for a discount or waiver. Some limitations and restrictions may apply.
Contact your local college or university and ask what programs they offer.
8) $50,000 To Study French Cooking, James Joyce, Or
Anything
Over $30 billion a year is given out in scholarship money and it is given out to the
young and old. Also remember that you do not have to be low-income to receive
a scholarship or grant to attend college. The data shows that people making over
$100,000 a year get more government money for college than people making less.
Here is where to start your research to find them all:
Federal Government Grants, Loans, and Scholarships
They are described in a book called the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.
This book is available at your local public library or the U.S. Government
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Printing Office at: http://gpo.gov/. You can also search the content of this book
for free on the web at: https://www.cfda.gov/. You can also learn how to apply
for some of the federal funds by going to the Federal Student Aid webpage at:
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/index.jsp
State Government Grants, Loans, and Scholarship
There are close to 400 programs worth almost $3 billion dollars in financial aid
available through all 50 states. Did you know that there are state money programs
that:
 Pay for a singing degree?
 Give you money to study wildlife?
 Give you $2,000 to go to vocational school?
 Give you $7,000 to study marine sciences?
Every state has grants and other money available for higher education. Look for
the state office of higher education. You can find them by calling 411 and asking
for your state capitol operator or by going to the web at: http://govengine.com/
and clicking on your state. You may also find the office at:
http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/Programs/EROD/org_list.cfm?category_ID=SHE
Find All The Non-Government Money Programs
There are dozens of scholarship directories available. Because one directory
cannot possible have everything, it is better to have a collection of scholarship
directories, but this can become too expensive. So you can go to your local
library or you can go into a local large bookstore that has a coffee shop and buy a
cup of $3 coffee and spend an afternoon looking through all the books. You are
only going to get a few scholarships out of any one book. Copy down the info
and do your follow-up. This way for the price of a cup of coffee, you can have
access to hundreds of dollars worth of directories. Most of the bookstores have
big comfy chairs to encourage you to spend time there using their books. Such a
deal.
9) $240 To Pay To Commute To Work
Your employer can give you $125 a month to help pay for bus, train, ferry, or
vanpool commuting expenses and $240 for parking and neither you nor the
employer has to pay taxes on this money. Get a copy of the IRS Publication 535
Business Expenses, and show your boss the section entitled “Qualified
Transportation Fringe.” The publication is available from your local IRS office or
from 800-TAX-FORM or from their website at: http://www.irs.gov/.
Contact your local transit authority for more details on the program called Tax
Free Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefits or contact: Commuter Check
Services Corporation, 401 S. Van Brunt St., Englewood, NJ 07631; 201-8339700 or 800-727-9436; http://commutercheck.com/Home.aspx.
10) Free Auto Repairs
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June Rapp of Massachusetts took her family van into a dealer to have it fixed and
they wanted to charge her over $1,000 to make the repairs. She called the U.S.
Department of Transportation and found out that her problem was part of a
manufacturer recall. Recalls have to be fixed for free and the repair shop didn’t
know that.
To find out about recalls for any car, contact:
 Auto Safety Hotline, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400
Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC 20590; 888-327-4236; https://wwwodi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/
 The Consumer Report people have a searchable database for car recall
information: Consumers Union, 101 Truman Ave., Yonkers, NY 10703;
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/index.htm
11) Free Rides To The Doctor For Grandma
Many seniors have to give up driving their cars, perhaps because of the cost or
due to illness. But then how do they get to the doctor or the bank or the store?
Many rely upon their friends and children to solve their transportation needs, but
there are times when you need to come up with another alternative. The
Eldercare Locator provides access to an extensive network of organizations
serving older people at the state and local community levels. This service can
connect you to information sources for a variety of services, including
transportation.
For more information, contact: Eldercare Locator, National Association of Area
Agencies on Aging, Washington, DC 20201; 800-677-1116 between 9 AM and 8
PM EST; http://www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare.NET/Public/Index.aspx
12) Help Paying Your Student Loans
People with student loans now have a number of options in handling their debt
during tough economic times, including:
 Decrease Payments by Extending the Life of the Loan
 Reduce Payments Because of Reduced Income
 Temporarily Stop Making Payments Until You Improve Your Finances,
and
 You May Even Have Some of the Loan Forgiven
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/repaying.jsp
13) Your Child Has a Doctor’s Appointment And Your Car
Won’t Work
The Federal Transit Administration provides over $50 million a year to over
1,000 local organizations to provide free non-emergency transportation for people
who are old or have a disability. But the groups who get this federal money can
also provide free transportation services to moms who are in a jam. The
regulations state that the vehicles can also be used to “serve the transportation
needs of the general public on an incidental basis.” You may have to some
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educating to get a local group to give you a ride. Tell them to view the
information on the website or contact the FTA. It’s available from the U.S.
Federal Transit Administration, 400 7th St., SW, Washington DC 20590 or on the
web at: http://fta.dot.gov/grants/13093_3556.html.
To find groups in your area who receive the FTA Section 5310 grants for Elderly
and Persons With Disabilities, contact your state department of transportation or
the U.S. Federal Transit Administration, Office of Program Management, Office
of Resource Management and State Programs, 400 7th St., SW, Washington, DC
20590; 202-366-4020; http://fta.dot.gov/
14) Veterans Get Free Honorary H.S. Diplomas
If you are a Veteran of Vietnam, Korea or WWII you may be eligible to receive
an Honorary High School Diploma without homework, tests, or anything else.
Families of deceased veterans may also be able to receive a diploma in their
memory. The state of Virginia has a VA State War Veteran Honorary Diploma.
See: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/boe/veteran_diploma/index.shtml. Montana
calls their program the Honorary High School Diploma Program:
http://opi.mt.gov/pdf/VeteransEd/HonHSDiploma.pdf. And the state of Missouri
calls their program Operation Recognition and the details are at:
http://dese.mo.gov/divcareered/ve_operation_recognition.htm.
Contact your state office of Adult Education in your state capitol by calling 411
and asking for your state capitol operator or go to: http://www.govengine.com/ or
contact: Office of Vocational and Adult Education, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20202; 202-245-7700;
800-872-5327; http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ovae/index.html. To find a
local office, go to: http://www2.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html. If you
don’t get a good answer from these sources contact your elected official, your
congressman, senator or state representative.
15) Produce Your Own TV Show For Cable TV
Every community that has a cable station also has a local non-profit cable access
channel which any member of the community can be trained to use and produce
their own TV shows. You will have to pay for one class or a few classes
depending on what you want to do. Most classes range from $50 to $200 each.
You can train to just be a camera person, an actor or a producer. You can have
your own sports talk show, foreign affairs show or even comedy hour and the
entire cable system can watch it. This can be your first step to Hollywood.
Contact your local cable company and ask for the cable access channel. If no one
knows what you are talking about call the Mayor’s office or County Government
Office.
16) $30,000 To Teach Overseas
U.S. Network for Education Information was created in the fall of 1996 as a
national information and referral service to assist American educators, students,
and parents with access to reliable information about international education and
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to provide basic information and referral contacts to resources within U.S.
education. The United States Information Service (USIS) administers a
worldwide network of overseas Educational Advising Centers (EACs) whose
mission is to help persons and organizations in a particular country who are
interested in education in the United States. While the main work of these
Centers consists of advising local nationals, they can provide information and
assistance to Americans living or working with the areas that they service. The
website has links to study abroad programs, and for teachers interested in teaching
overseas.
Contact: U.S. Network for Education Information, National Library of Education,
400 Maryland Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20202; 800-424-1616;
http://ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/edlite-index.html
17) Train To Be A Master Gardener
Master Gardner classes are offered by the USDA County Cooperative Extension
Service offices around the country. Programs vary, but typically, individuals
attend at least 30-50 hours of classroom instruction and then contribute a
minimum of 30-50 hours of volunteer service. The courses usually have a small
cost to cover teaching materials. At least 20 hours of volunteering is required
each subsequent year. Master Gardeners assist with garden lectures, exhibits,
demonstration, school and community gardening, phone diagnostic service,
research, and many other projects.
Contact your local County Cooperative Extension Service located in the blue
pages of your telephone book. The American Horticultural Society keeps a
database of all programs around the country at: http://ahs.org/master_gardeners/
18) Access To Health Info That’s Better Than Your Doctor
Want to find out the latest information on your health condition? All you need to
do is pick up the phone or go online to get the most up-to-date information from
the government’s team of health professionals. The latest cures and treatments to
any condition are changing every day and it is impossible for people in the
medical profession to keep up on the latest developments in any health-related
area. There is plenty of free help available from the government and non-profit
organizations who can even tell you what will be in the medical journals next year
because they are involved in the research today. So, don’t settle for second best
when you can get the best. Here is where you can go:
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National Health Information Center, P.O. Box 1133, Washington, DC
20013; 800-336-4797 or 301-565-4167; http://www.health.gov/nhic/
National Women’s Health Information Center, U.S. Public Health Service,
Office of Women’s Health, 8550 Arlington Blvd., Suite 300, Fairfax, VA
22031; 800-994-9662; http://www.womenshealth.gov/
National Institutes of Health, Office of Communications, 9000 Rockville
Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892; 301-496-4000; http://nih.gov/
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19) Free Treatment By Expert Doctors Who Get Government
Grants
Bob Dole and Sam Donaldson knew where to go to get treatment – The National
Institutes of Health (NIH). Each year close to 75,000 patients receive free
medical care by some of the best doctors in the world.
To see if your diagnosis is currently being studied, you can contact the Clinical
Center, National Institutes of Health, Patient Recruitment; 301-496-2563 or 800411-1222; http://clinicalcenter.nih.gov/ or contact: National Institutes of Health,
Office of Communications, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892; 301-4964000; http://nih.gov/
20) $2,000 Off Your Dental Bills
There are close to 60 dental schools in the country that offer quality care at a
fraction of the cost of private dentists. I used them for years. An $800 crown can
cost you only $200. Sure you get a senior student, but you also get a professor
who is better than most private practitioners. Most also offer payment plans.
For a school near you, go to:
http://www.scholarware.com/dentalschools.htm?source=overture
Also, the Dental Lifeline Network started the Donated Dental Services program to
help disabled and elderly persons who are low-income by matching them with
volunteer dentists. Mentally compromised people are also helped. Volunteer
dentists agree to treat one or two people each year with dental problems, and
dental laboratories that make dentures, crowns, and bridges also donate services.
The program now serves over 5,000 people each year with each patient receiving
an average of $2,000 worth of services. In some areas of the country, Dental
House Call Projects have been started where dentists will come to homes or
centers to provide dental care.
To learn where services are located in your area, contact: Dental Lifeline
Network, 1800 15th St., Suite 100, Denver, CA 80202; 303-534-5360;
http://nfdh.org/
21) Learn How To Legally Transfer Your Assets To Get Gov’t
To Pay For Long Term Care
A government report shows that up to 21% of seniors hide their assets to help
qualify for Medicaid to pay for long-term nursing care (GAO-05-968). Nursing
home care can cost up to $70,000 a year, so people can quickly deplete their
savings accounts. Medicare only covers 100 days of skilled nursing care. Once
all the patient’s funds are gone, Medicaid kicks in to cover the bill. There is a
certain amount of income that is not counted in qualifying for Medicaid and when
a spouse is involved there are even more rules and exemptions. Homes,
automobiles, furnishings, and certain income are exempt, but all of this varies
from state to state. You are legally allowed to transfer money up to 36 months
and up to 60 months for certain irrevocable trusts. That is the time period
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Medicaid will review your finances to see if you qualify for coverage. It is illegal
to hide assets from Medicaid, and to intentionally transfer the assets to qualify for
Medicaid. You can do an internet search for “Medicaid Planning” which will turn
up several publications and information regarding what the rules are for your
state. Some basic rules can found at: http://www.medicaid.gov/index.html,
although you will need to contact your state directly to find specifics for your
state. You can also locate some specific information at:
http://www.medicaid.gov/index.html, which provides rules for each state. Senior
legal hotlines can answer your questions and put you in contact with people who
can assist you in estate planning.
22) Free Scooters For Those Receiving Medicare
A recent study shows that when a senior calls the Medicare Hotline they get the
wrong answer or told “no” 39% of the time. And when a physician calls they get
the wrong answer 96% of the time. If you want to get a power wheelchair and
contact Medicare to see if you are eligible, this report says that your answer
should be “A physician must prescribe the power wheelchair or determine it to be
medically necessary, and a power wheelchair requires a co-payment on the part of
the Medicare beneficiary.” The study is called U.S. GAO Report Accuracy of the
Responses from the 1-800-MEDICARE Help Line Should Be Improved.
See: http://gao.gov/new.items/d05130.pdf
23) Free Financial Counseling Services
Your local cooperative extension service offers free or very low fee courses and
workshops on all kinds of subjects, including personal finance, small business,
food and nutrition, plants and gardening, pets and animals, and health care.
Contact your Local County Cooperative Extension service listed in the blue pages
of your telephone directory or you can also find your local office at:
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/
24) Free Credit Repair
Here are some of the free reports you can get from the Federal Trade Commission
dealing with free credit repair:
 Credit Repair: Self-Help May Be The Best
 Knee Deep In Debt
 How To Dispute Credit Reporting Errors
 How To Deal with Credit Problems
 Credit Scoring
For your copies, contact: Consumer Response Center, 600 Pennsylvania Ave.,
NW, H-130, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC 20580; 202-326-2222
or 877-FTC-HELP; http://www.ftc.gov/ or
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/credit.shtm
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The following non-profit and government organizations provide free or low-fee
credit counseling services. You can contact them to find the office nearest you.
Some of these offices are financed by the bank and credit card industry, who are
biased toward having you pay all your bills without using the bankruptcy option,
so make sure that they explain that option to you.



National Foundation for Credit Counseling, 2000 M Street, NW Suite 505,
Washington, DC 20036; 202-677-4300; http://nfcc.org/
Free internet credit counseling services from the non-profit organization
Credit Counseling of America to Money Management International, 14141
Southwest Freeway, Suite 1000, Sugar Land, TX 77478; 866-889-9347;
http://www.moneymanagement.org/
County Cooperative Extension Service: to find your local office, see the
blue pages of your phone book.
25) $10,000 Bonus To Teach If You’re A Vet
WOW, a $10,000 bonus to teach school. Troops to Teachers (TTT) was
established in 1994 as a Department of Defense program. The program was
transferred to the U.S. Department of Education but continued operation by the
Department of Defense. TTT is managed by the Defense Activity for NonTraditional Education Support (DANTES). Troops to Teacher’s primary
objective is to help recruit quality teachers for schools that serve low-income
families throughout America. TTT helps relieve teacher shortages, especially in
math, science, special education and other high-needs subject areas, and assists
military personnel in making successful transitions to second careers in teaching.
Financial assistance may be provided to eligible individuals as stipends up to
$5,000 to help pay for teacher certification costs or as bonuses of $10,000.
Stipend and bonus recipients must agree to teach for three years in school
locations that meet certain Department of Education criteria.
Contact: DANTES Troops to Teachers, 6490 Saufley Field Rd., Pensacola, FL
32509; 850-452-1320 or 800-231-6242;
http://www.dantes.doded.mil/Sub%20Pages/TTT/TTT_Main.html
26) Two Weeks Free Travel On A Government Weather Ship
Teachers from elementary school to college can climb aboard a NOAA research
and survey ship to work under the tutelage of knowledgeable scientists and crew.
Teachers can gain firsthand knowledge to help enrich their classrooms. Teachers
may choose from one of 18 ships that conduct a variety of scientific research.
Contact: NOAA Teacher at Sea Program Office, 1315 East West Hwy., Room
14250, Silver Spring, MD 20910; 301-427-8039; http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov/
27) Free Rollercoaster Rides
Some of the nation’s top amusement parks offer seniors discounts on daily
admissions. Check with the park before hand to find their best deal. You may
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need to be a member of AAA or AARP, but it never hurts to ask.
28) $25/Day To Be A Park Ranger In Idaho For The Summer
Volunteer.gov is a partnership among the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S.
Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs, and many others. Freedom Corps aims to provide a single,
easy-to-use web portal with information about volunteer opportunities. The site
allows you to search for volunteer opportunities by keyword, state, activity,
partner, and/or date range.
Contact: http://www.volunteer.gov/gov/
29) Get Paid To Be A Teen Counselor In Belize
Counseling teenagers in Belize, launching an Armenian computer center,
promoting HIV/AIDS awareness in Malawi or teaching chemistry in a Ghanaian
high school. These are just some of the projects you may be able to volunteer for
in the Peace Corp. Peace Corp volunteers work in the following areas: education,
youth outreach and community development; health and HIV/AIDS; agriculture
and environment; business development; and information technology.
Contac: Peach Corps, Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Headquarters, 1111 20th St.,
NW, Washington, DC 20526; 800-424-8580; http://www.peacecorps.gov/
30) Free Passports
The American Battle Monuments Commission administers, operates and
maintains 24 permanent American burial grounds on foreign soil. They provide a
number of services to the families of these fallen heroes. They offer letters
authorizing fee-free passports and travel information for members of the
immediate family traveling overseas to visit a grave or memorial.
For additional information, contact American Battle Monuments Commission,
2300 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 500, Arlington, VA 22201; 703-696-6897;
http://abmc.gov/home.php
31) Free Hunting And Fishing Licenses For Seniors
Practically every state has a special license rate for seniors. States such as
Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas and others do not require that
people 65 and older carry fishing and hunting licenses. Other states offer seniors,
on average, half off the cost of licenses. These rules change, so you will need to
contact each state to receive specific details and discounts. States also sometimes
offer free fishing to those under age 16, free fishing days, as well as free fishing
sites.
Contact your local fishing license agency or you can find your state license
information at: http://www.takemefishing.org/fishing/license
32) Get Paid To Give A Speech In A Foreign County
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The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the U.S. Department of State offers a variety
of exchange programs overseas. The Professional Programs Division
demonstrates how Americans deal with the issues of professional interest to
foreign participants. Subject areas vary. The Cultural Programs Division serves
to highlight the creativity and dynamism of American society. Programs include
professional American artists, musicians, and other specialists.
For information, contact: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S.
Department of State, SA-5, 2200 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20522-0500;
202-632-6445; http://exchanges.state.gov/
33) $1,000,000 To Make High Tech Golf Clubs
You can contact your local Small Business Administration office to start working
on your business plan and to learn more about financing options they may offer
at: http://www.sba.gov/. You can also setup an appointment with your local
Small Business Development Center which has a wealth of information,
mentoring, and more to help you get your business off the ground. To find your
local office, plug in your zip code at: http://www.asbdc-us.org/. Also look for the
state office of economic development located in your state capitol. You can find
them by dialing 411 and asking for your state capitol operator or by going to the
web at: http://govengine.com/ and clicking on your state. Then start looking for
websites on business or economic development. Every state offers a wealth of
help and information on starting a business. Some offer job training funds, export
assistance, technology resources, tourism promotion, industrial revenue bonds,
revolving loan funds, and more. Most have a State Business Resource Guide to
assist you in your search. Start looking at: http://govengine.com/
34) $250,000 To Work On Your Invention
The Small Business Innovative Research Program (SBIR) stimulates
technological innovation, encourages small science and technology based firms to
participate in government funded research, and provides incentives for converting
research results into commercial applications. Eleven federal agencies with
research and development budgets greater that $100 million are required by law to
participate. Businesses of 500 or fewer employees that are organized for-profit
are eligible to compete for SBIR funding. All areas of research and development
solicit for proposals and the 2009 awards for SBIR were over $26.9 billion. There
are three phases of the program: Phase I determines whether the research idea,
often on high risk advanced concepts, is technically feasible,; whether the firm
can do high quality research; and whether sufficient progress has been made to
justify a larger Phase II effort. This phase is usually funded for six months with
awards up to $100,000. Phase II is the principal research effort, and is usually
limited to a maximum of $750,000 for up to two years. Phase III, pursues
potential commercial applications of the research funded under the first two
phases, and is supported solely by the nonfederal funding, usually from third
party, venture capital, or large industrial firms. SBIR is one of the most
competitive research and development programs in the government today. To
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assist the small business community in its SBIR efforts, the U.S. Small Business
Administration publishes the Pre-Solicitation Announcement (PSA) in December,
March, June, and September of each year. Every issue of the PSA contains
pertinent information on the SBIR Program along with details on SBIR
solicitations that are about to be released. This publication eliminates the need for
small business concerns to track the activities of all federal agencies participating
in the SBIR program. In recognition of the difficulties encountered by many
small firms in their efforts to locate sources of funding essential to finalization of
their innovative products, SBA has developed the Commercialization Matching
System. This system contains information on all SBIR awardees, as well as
financing sources that have indicated an interest in investing in SBIR innovations.
Firms interested in obtaining more information on the SBIR program or receiving
the PSA should contact: Office of Technology, Small Business Administration,
409 Third St., SW, MC/6470, Washington, DC 20416; 202-205-6450;
http://www.sba.gov/content/small-business-innovation-research-program-sbir-0
35) Free/Cheap Health Care at 8,000 Centers
These government funded health care clinics offer overall health care, dental and
substance abuse services. Federally-funded health centers care for you, even if
you have no health insurance. You pay what you can afford, based on your
income. Health centers provide checkups and treatment when you are sick.
Services include complete care when you’re pregnant, immunizations for your
children, dental care and prescription drugs for you and your family, and mental
health and substance abuse care if you need it.
Search your zip code at: http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/widgets/
36) 0% Interest Loans To Fix-Up Your Home
No matter what your income and as long as your improvements will create a more
energy-efficient home, you can save a lot on interest rates and finance charges by
using a subsidized energy conservation loan program. These programs are
typically available from your state department of energy, a local government
office or your utility company. State and local government offices can be found
by contacting your state or city operators or http://www.govengine.com/. Your
local phone directory and library can help you locate your local utility companies.
Be sure to check them all.
37) Free Screenings For Cancer, Osteoporosis and Glaucoma
A government study shows that there are a number of screening and
immunizations that are recommended for seniors, but both seniors and doctors are
unaware that they are covered by Medicare. Nine out of ten seniors visit a doctor
once a year, but don’t know that Medicare will cover immunizations for
Influenza, Hepatitis B, Pneumococcal as well as screenings for cervical cancer
(pap smear), breast cancer (mammography), vaginal cancer (pelvic exam),
colorectal cancer (fecal-occult blood test or flexible sigmiodoscopy,
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colonoscopy), osteoporosis (bone mass measurement), prostate cancer (prostate
specific antigen test and/or digital rectal examination), and glaucoma.
38) Free Legal Help To Fight The IRS
If you have tried everything to resolve a tax problem with the IRS and you just
can’t get your problem resolved, the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) may be
able to help. TAS helps individuals and business taxpayers resolve their IRS tax
problems. This service is designed to help taxpayers who are facing hardships or
economic burden that have been unable to resolve their problem through normal
channels.
For more information, contact: Office of the National Taxpayer Advocate, 1111
Constitution Ave., NW, Room 3031, Washington, DC 20224; 202-622-4300 or
877-777-4778; http://www.irs.gov/advocate/
39) $2,000 If You Get Mugged
When you were mugged, your front teeth were knocked out and you don’t have
the money to get them fixed. Or a member of your family was killed while your
house was being burglarized, and you need help paying for the funeral.
Contact your state capitol operator in your state capitol and ask for your state’s
Crime Victims Compensation Board or go to:
http://ovc.ncjrs.org/findvictimservices/ to find a local office.
40) Free Copies Of Your Credit Report
You can get a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months and if:
 You have been denied credit, insurance or employment within the last 60
days.
 You’re unemployed and plan to look for a job within 60 days
 You’re on welfare, or
 Your report is inaccurate because of fraud.
Otherwise they can charge you up to $9 for a copy of your report. For copies of
your report, contact the credit reporting agencies listed in the yellow pages of
your telephone book or contact the three major national credit bureaus.
You can get a free copy of your report by going to:
http://ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/credit/rights.shtm
41) Disadvantaged Businesses Get Money & Help To Get
Government Contracts
To grow and compete in the transportation marketplace, the U.S. Department of
Transportation offers a variety of programs to help small, disadvantaged and
women-owned firms obtain short-term lending for transportation-related projects,
bonding assistance to provide opportunities to obtain bid, payment and
performance bonds for transportation related projects, and referrals to other
sources of federal financial assistance.
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Contact: U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Small and Disadvantaged
Business Utilization, 400 7th St., S.W., Room 9410, Washington, DC 20590; 800532-1169 or 202-366-5343; Fax: 202-366-7538; http://osbdu.dot.gov
42) 50% Airline Discount To See Sick Relative
When a family member is very ill or has died, families have to make last minute
airline reservations. Obviously you lose out on the 21 day advance purchase
rates, but almost all airlines offer bereavement or compassion fares for domestic
travel. Generally the fares are available to close family members, and the
discount on the full-fare rate varies from airline to airline. Many require that you
provide the name of the deceased and the name, address, and phone number of the
funeral home handling arrangements. In the case of a medical emergency, the
name and address of the affected family member and the name, address and phone
number of the attending physician or hospital are required. Full fare rates vary
from airline to airline, but you could save up to 50%.
Contact the airline of your choice to learn more about “Bereavement/Compassion
Fares.”
43) Free Help Finding A Lost Loved One
When a loved one disappears, those left behind struggle and often spend
thousands of dollars trying to locate their missing person. The Salvation Army
received over 35,000 requests for assistance, and was able to trace over 10,000
missing persons.
To learn more about the services offered, contact the Salvation Army Office near
you or Salvation Army National Headquarters, 615 Slaters Lane, P.O. Box 269,
Alexandria, VA 22313; 703-684-5500;
http://salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf
44) $400 Worth of Free Firewood
Armed with a permit that can cost about $3.00 to $5.00, you can cut dead or
downed trees on U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management Property for
personal firewood use.
To find local forest service land containing firewood in your area, contact: USDA
Forest Service, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250; 202-2058333; http://www.fs.fed.us/ or
http://www.fs.fed.us/specialuses/special_products.shtml
45) Free Christmas Trees
Permits cost only about $5.00 to allow you to cut and carry away a Christmas tree
from the U.S. Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management Property for
personal use.
For more information, contact your nearest park:
http://www.fs.fed.us/specialuses/special_products.shtml or http://www.blm.gov/
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46) Free Concert and Theater Tickets
Many music and theater groups offer special programs to older adults in the form
of discounted tickets, free concerts, transportation, afternoon teas, and/or daytime
events.
Contact your state arts group, state Department of Aging or local senior citizens
groups to see what is available in your area.
47) Free Legal Help To Fight Your Bank or Credit Card
Company
If you are having trouble with your credit card company, remember that they are
regulated by a banking institution. Different banks are governed by different
agencies, but all take complaints and make efforts to assist customers. Your state
Banking Commissioner handles complaints dealing with state chartered banks.
For banks with the word “national” or “N.A.” in its name as well as Savings and
Loans, contact: Comptroller of the Currency, Compliance Management, U.S.
Department of the Treasury, 250 E St., SW, Washington, DC 20219; 202-8744900 or 800-613-6743; http://www.occ.treas.gov/. For FDIC insured banks,
contact: Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Consumer Affairs, 550
17th St., NW, Room F-130, Washington, DC 20429; 877-ASK-FDIC;
http://fdic.gov/
48) Free Health Insurance Counseling
Free one-on-one counseling is available to seniors and in most areas, people with
disabilities, to answer questions like: How much insurance is too much? If
something sounds like fraud, where can I go for help? What’s the best Medigap
insurance plan? The program is called Health Insurance Counseling and
Advocacy Program (HICAP) and is sponsored by the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services. In most states, it is usually run by the state Department on
Aging or the state Insurance Commissioner’s office.
If that fails, contact the Eldercare Locator hotline at: 1-800-677-1116;
http://www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare.NET/Public/Index.aspx
49) Free Information Hotlines For Arthritis, Cancer, Diabetes,
Tobacco, Parkinson, Disability, Alzheimer, Mental Health,
Osteoporosis
Helpful Health Hotlines
The National Health Information Center and the National Library of Medicine
both offer an online database of health-related organizations operating toll-free
telephone services. The databases also include information on services and
publications available in Spanish. You can find out whom to call for almost any
health issue.
Contact: Health Information Resources Database, Referral Specialist, P.O. Box
1133, Washington, DC 20013; 800-336-4797 or 301-565-4167;
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http://www.health.gov/NHIC/Pubs/2012tollfreenumbers/tollfreenumbers1.htm or
http://healthhotlines.nlm.nih.gov/
National Institute on Aging
The National Institute on Aging is the government’s leading effort on aging
research. In addition to research information and professional training, NIA
disseminates health information to the general public.
Contact: National Institute on Aging, Building 31, Room 5C27, 31 Center Dr.,
MSC 2292, Bethesda, MD 20892; 301-496-1752 or 800-22-4225;
http://www.nia.nih.gov/
SeniorHealth.gov
The National Institute of Health offers an online information website for older
adults. Their goal is to make age-related health information easily accessible to
seniors, family members, and friends. The website is senior friendly, including
large print, short easy to read segments, and simple navigation. There is even a
“talking” feature which reads the text. Information is updated regularly.
Contact: http://nihseniorhealth.gov/
50) $3,500 For Emergency Home Repairs
Cities, counties, townships, and even local non-profit organizations around the
country offer grants to people who need emergency work done on their home or
apartment. The income requirements can go up to $42,000 for a couple. To find
programs you may qualify for in your area you must search: 1) your city or
township government, 2) your county government, and 3) local non-profit
agencies and local development corporations. Make sure you check with all of
the following offices for help in locating appropriate organizations in your area:
1) your local library, 2) your local elected officials, 3) your local United Way, and
4) all housing agencies in your area. Local government offices can be identified
at http://govengine.com/ and your local United Way can be identified at
http://liveunited.org/.
Listed below is a sampling of similar local programs around the country. They
should give you an indication of the kind of help that may be available in your
area, too.
Free Minor Home Repairs for 62 or Older and Income Less Than $47,850
Los Angeles Housing Department
Los Angeles, CA
http://lahd.lacity.org/lahdinternet/HandyWorkerandHomeSecurePrograms/tabid/8
6/language/en-US/Default.aspx
$5,000 Home Repair Grant for 55+ and 50% of Median Income
First Ward Action Council, Inc.
Binghamton, NY
http://firstwardaction.org/Home%20Repair%20Seniors.htm
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Roof, Plumbing, Heating-Cooling and Other Repairs for Seniors Making
$42,200
Community Services of Arizona, Inc.
Chandler, AZ
http://www.csainc.org/emergencyassistance.html
$2,500 Grant for Emergency Repairs to Couples Making Less Than $46,400
City of Colorado Springs, Housing Rehabilitation Program, Emergency Repair
Colorado Springs, CO
http://www.springsgov.com/Page.aspx?NavID=3215
$7,500 Grant to Fix-Up One- to Four-Family Units
Margert Community Corporation
New York City’s Queens County, NY
http://www.margert.org/restore.htm
$20,000 Forgivable Loans to Fix Your Roof, Broken Windows, Water
Damage, Structural Deficiencies for Seniors Making $46,680
Housing Program, Emergency Repair Program
Deltona, Florida
http://www.deltonafl.gov/Pages/DeltonaFL_Depts/DeltonaFL_CommDev/OOHR
$2,000 Grant in Emergency Money for 55+ With $26,000 Income
Dept of Housing and Business Development
Fontana, CA
http://www.fontana.org/index.aspx?NID=569
51) Free Phone Or $120 Off Your Phone Bill
Under the Federal Communication Commission’s Link-Up American and Lifeline
programs, low-income households seeking telephone service are give a 50%
discount on local connection charges, and may be able to pay installment
payments on the remaining charges. You may also receive discounts up to $10 per
month on the phone line charges. Many phone companies offer free cell phones
and 200 minutes.
For more information, contact your local phone company or check out the Federal
Communications Commission at: http://www.lifeline.gov/
52) Grants For Alzheimer Caregivers
If you are a caregiver for an Alzheimer’s or memory disorder patient, you may be
eligible for a grant to pay for adult day care or a private caregiver, take a short
respite, or pay for housekeeping.
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For programs in your area, contact your nearest Alzheimer’s Association at
http://www.alz.org/ or contact the Eldercare Hotline at 800-677-1666;
http://www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare.NET/Public/Index.aspx
53) 55+ Get Paid 20 Hours A Week To Learn A New Skill
(income up to $20,112 per couple)
Seniors all across the United States are getting the help and training they need to
get better paying jobs through the Senior Community Service Employment
Program. It provides temporary, paid, community service jobs to low-income
persons age 55 and older so that they can develop marketable job skills while
searching for permanent employment. The program is designed to benefit both
individuals and their communities. Participants help to meet community needs by
performing necessary services at non-profit organizations and government
agencies, while at the same time receiving on the job training and employment
assistance. Program services include an assessment of skills; a program
orientation; an Individual Employment Plan that identifies barriers to
employment, recommended assignments, training, and services to overcome these
barriers; help in setting employment goals; résumé preparation; referrals to
employment opportunities; and follow-up meetings, reviews and evaluations to
determine progress and the next step. These jobs are part-time, up to 20 hours per
week, and pay at least the current minimum wage. The average amount of time
spent in a temporary assignment is nine months. Types of job assignments vary,
but can include educational support and assistance, general office and computers,
clerical, home health, food service, and building maintenance at government
agencies and non-profit organizations such as day care facilities, schools, libraries
and recreational centers.
To find your closest SCSEP office, you can check the America's Service Locator
site at: http://servicelocator.org/. Simply type in your zip code and use the drop
down menu to choose "Older Worker - SCSEP." You can also find more
information at: http://www.doleta.gov/seniors/html_docs/AboutSCSEP.cfm
54) $5,000 Grant To Get Rid Of Lead Paint In Your Home
(income up to $24,135 per couple)
If you are living in a house or apartment that was built before 1978, you or even
your landlord, may be eligible for grant money and other assistance to make sure
that you do not suffer the effects of lead poisoning from lead-based paint. Chips
or dust from this type of paint can be highly dangerous to humans, especially your
grandchildren. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development operates
the Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control Program providing grants to state and local
departments of housing to help homeowners and apartment owners eliminate the
problems associated with lead paint.
Contact your state or local department of housing to see if you qualify for free
inspections, free guides or even free lead paint removal. To obtain information
about the grant program, contact: Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard
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Control, 451 7th Street S. W., Washington, DC 20410; 202-708-1112;
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/healthy_homes
55) $980 Tax Refund For Seniors In Massachusetts (income up
to $78,000 for a couple)
The credit for real estate taxes paid for persons age 65 and older, also known as
the “Circuit Breaker” allows certain senior citizens in Massachusetts to claim a
credit on their state income tax returns for the real estate taxes paid on their
Massachusetts residential property.
Contact: Massachusetts Department of Revenue, P.O. Box 7010, Boston, MA
02204; 617-887-MDOR or 800-392-6089; http://www.mass.gov/dor/. For other
states, check with your county tax assessor regarding homestead exemptions.
56) $6,500 To Pay For New Insulation (income up to $44,700
for a family of 4)
Storm windows, insulation and even weather-stripping can help reduce your
heating and cooling bills. The U.S. Department of Energy offers the
Weatherization Assistance Program. Many people are eligible for this program
from renters to homeowners, from those who live in single-family or multi-family
housing to those who live in mobile homes. Preference is given to the elderly and
those families with children. You must apply through your state weatherization
agency. States allocate dollars to non-profit agencies for purchasing and
installing energy-related repairs.
For information on eligibility and where to apply in your state, contact your
state’s office below or the National office at Department of Weatherization,
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Mail Stop EE-1, Department of
Energy, Washington, DC 20585; 202-586-9220;
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/wip/wap.html or
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/wip/wap_apply.html
57) $2,800 To Pay For Heating Bills
Even if you are not approved for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Weatherization
Assistance Program, you might still be eligible for short-term assistance on your
utility bill from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
Funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, LIHEAP offers
heating and cooling subsidies and energy crisis intervention to assist in weatherrelated or fuel supply shortages and household energy-related emergencies, such
as utility shutoffs.
To find your local office, contact the national office at Office of Community
Services, Division of Energy Assistance, Administration for
Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 370
L’Enfant Promenade, SW, 5th Floor West, Washington, DC 20447; 202-4019351; toll-free 866-674-6327; http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/
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58) $8,000 To Improve Your Home So It Cuts Your Utility
Bills
This program is called the “Energy Efficient Mortgages Program” and can be
used to make energy-efficient improvements in one to four new and existing
homes. The improvements can be included in a borrower’s mortgage only if their
total cost is less than the total dollar value of the energy that will be saved during
their useful life. The cost of the improvements that may be eligible for financing
as part of the mortgage is either 5 percent of the property’s value (not to exceed
$8,000) or $4,000, whichever is greater. The maximum mortgage limit for a
single-family home is $160,950, plus the cost of the eligible energy-efficient
improvements. (Limits may be lower in some areas of the country.)
Contact: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th St. S.W.,
Washington, DC 20410; 202-708-1112;
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/housing/sfh/eem/ener
gy-r
59) $500 To Stop Utility Cut Offs
Heating bills are going up and the winter months can create financial havoc with a
senior’s utility bill payments. There are many programs around the country that
help people financially and legally from having their utilities turned off. To find
programs you may qualify for in your area you must search: 1) your city or
township government, 2) your county government, and 3) local non-profit
agencies and local development corporations. Make sure you check with all of the
following offices for help in locating appropriate organizations in your area: 1)
your local library, 2) your local elected officials, 3) your local United Way, and 4)
all housing agencies in your area. Local government offices can be identified at:
http://govengine.com/ and your local United Way can be identified at:
http://liveunited.org/content/splash
Listed below is a sampling of similar local programs around the country. They
should give you an indication of the kind of help that may be available in your
area, too. You can also contact your local Area Office on Aging by calling 1-800677-1116 or go to: http://eldercare.gov/Eldercare.NET/Public/Index.aspx. You
should also seek out your local community action agency near you to see if they
have a program to help you. You can find your local agency at:
http://www.communityactionpartnership.com/index.php?option=com_spreadsheet
s&view=search&spreadsheet=cap&Itemid=188 or by contacting Community
Action Partnership in Washington, DC at 202-265-7546. A lot of Local Utility
Programs can be identified on the web by going to:
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD then choose your state under the title
“Information by State.” Most state pages have a link called “Renting Help Page.”
Click there even if you are a homeowner. Most Rental Help pages have a link
called “Help with Your Utility Bills”, which describes programs for both renters
and homeowners.
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Payments Made to Utility Companies to Avoid Shut Off
Charlotte Neighborhood Development/Crisis Assistance Ministry
Charlotte, NC
http://charmeck.org/mecklenburg/county/MeckCARES/resources/Documents/Co
mmunityResourceGuide.pdf
$500 to Pay Utility Bills for Seniors Making $22,453
Utility Emergency Services Fund
Philadelphia, PA
http://uesfacts.org/
Hardship Funds for People Who Fall Through the Cracks
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
http://www.puc.state.pa.us/general/consumer_ed/energy_assistance_tips.aspx
Up To $500 in 5 Funds to Stop Utility Cut Offs
Mid America Assistance Coalition-Managed Utility Funds
Kansas City, MO
http://maaclink.org/
60) $5,575 Grant From IRS (income up to $49,078 per couple)
It’s not really a grant, but it looks like a grant, it walks like a grant and it even
smells like a grant. They are called tax credits. It is extra money the IRS will give
you that’s better than a refund because they will give it to you even if you don’t
pay any taxes. You just have to have some income and the less income you have
the bigger the check you get. You can make up to $49,078 and still be eligible.
To learn more get the free publication, IRS Publication 596, Earned Income Tax
Credit: Call: 1-800-829-3676 or download: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irspdf/p596.pdf. This is just one grant from the IRS that millions are missing.
61) Get Free Child Support Enforcement
The Office of Child Support Enforcement will fight for you to establish paternity,
set up a court order for child support, track down a missing parent, collect child
support, and get the courts to adjust child support orders. The government
collects child support money from tax refunds, employers, sale of property etc.
but cannot always find the custodial parent to whom the money is owed. Check if
your money is sitting in your state child support agency.
To locate your state office, go to:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/extinf.html
62) $100 To Buy Fresh Fruits And Vegetables (income up to
$27,214 per couple)
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It’s called the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program and provides vouchers
to purchase locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs from farmers’ markets and
road side stands.
To find your local office for this program, contact the national office at:
Supplemental Food Programs Division, Food and Nutrition Service – USDA,
3101 Park Center Dr., Alexandria, VA 22302; 703-305-2746;
http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/SeniorFMNP/SFMNPmenu.htm
63) Get An Extra $1,200 (income up to $17,892 per couple)
Each year over 43% of eligible seniors and people with disabilities fail to apply
for a little-known program that will give them close to $1,200 extra in their Social
Security check. That’s how much the government deducts for Medicare Part B
payments. There are three programs: Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries Plan,
Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries Plan and Qualified Individual.
For Medicare Savings, contact your local Medicare office by calling the Medicare
Hotline at 800-MEDICARE or go to: http://www.medicare.gov/default.aspx or
http://www.medicare.gov/navigation/medicare-basics/medical-and-drugcosts.aspx. Request information about Medicare Savings Programs by getting the
publication “Guide to Health Insurance for People with Medicare”.
64) Extra $12,000 For Over 65 Or Disability (income up to
$12,576 per couple)
If you are over 65, blind or disabled and if you have limited income and limited
resources, be sure to check because you may be eligible for Supplemental
Security Income. Studies show that only about 53% of eligible seniors apply.
This means at least one million seniors are out there who can get the money but
don’t know it exists. And that’s not counting the blind and disabled, which could
double that number.
To apply, call 1-800-772-1213 or go to: http://ssa.gov/pgm/ssi.htm
--Income Eligibility Requirements: $8,376/yr for single, $12,576/yr for couples
with many exceptions. See: http://ssa.gov/ssi/text-eligibility-ussi.htm
65) $3 For Every $1 Dollar You Save (income up to $25,660 per
couple)
Triple your savings by taking advantage of Individual Development Accounts.
These accounts are currently available in 350 communities with more in
development. Designed to help low-income people save for a down payment,
college, or a small business, funds are matched with one dollar from the
government and one dollar from private funds. A short course on money
management is usually required.
To learn more about the program or to see what may be available in your
community, contact: Corporation for Enterprise Development, 777 N. Capitol St.,
NE, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20002; 202-408-9788;
http://cfed.org/programs/idas/
Matthew Lesko - http://www.lesko.com/
- 1-800-Uncle-Sam
66) Discounts On Vets Bills (determined case-by-case)
Veterinary teaching hospitals can be an excellent place to take your pet, and most
of them will take new patients directly or as referrals from other veterinarians.
But as research and teaching institutions, they have access to a lot more resources
than your average veterinary hospital. Many, but not all, of these hospitals
provide services like: Free Services and Drugs for People Who Can't Pay, Free
Medical Treatment for Strays in Need Brought in by Non-owners, Free Answers
to Questions Over the Telephone, Free and Discount Treatment for Companion
Animals and Assistance Dogs, and Discounts for Seniors.
Call to see what services your local Veterinary Teaching Hospital may offer.
67) Free Mammograms And Breast And Cervical Cancer
Treatment (usually $57,625 for a family of 4)
An estimated two million American women will be diagnosed with breast or
cervical cancer in the next decade, and half a million will lose their lives from
these diseases. Screening could prevent up to 20% of these deaths for women over
40. The government's Center for Disease Control will spend about $200 million a
year to maintain a state-by-state program to establish greater access to screening
and follow-up services. To find the program contact for your state, go to:
http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/cancercontacts/npcr/contacts.asp. Each state runs their
program a little differently. Most states have the following requirements: women
starting at 40 or 50 years old, are underinsured or have no insurance, and have
income below a certain level. Some states can adjust eligibility requirements for
special cases. States vary in the array of services covered, but they normally
include: breast and cervical cancer screening, mammograms, treatment if
diagnosed with cancer, breast reconstruction or prosthesis. States that don't have
direct funds for treatment often make arrangements with other facilities to provide
treatment for free. If your screening has been done elsewhere, you can still
receive free treatment under this program. Men diagnosed with breast cancer can
also receive free treatment.
Contact your county office of public health listed in your telephone book or your
state Department of Health. You can also contact the main office of this program
at Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Center for Disease Control and
Prevention,4770 Buford Highway, NE,MS K-64, Atlanta, GA 30341; 770-4884751 or 888-842-6355; Fax: 770-488-4760; http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/
68) $10,000 To Buy A Talking Computer (determined case-bycase)
People with disabilities now have a place to turn to learn everything they need to
know about how the latest in technology can improve their lives. It can be a
specially equipped van, a talking computer, a special kitchen or eating aid. A
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project funded by the U.S. Department of Education, called Technical Assistance
Project has established an office in each state that can provide:
 Information Services: will help you identify the special products that are
available to help you cope with your disability.
 Equipment Loan Program: allows people to borrow new technology
devices for a number of weeks before they purchase them.
 Recycling Program: matches up people with needs for products with
people who want to sell or donate products.
 Funding Information: collects information on the various sources of
funding for this equipment from public and private sources.
 Loans: many states are offering special loans to help people purchase the
necessary equipment; Ohio offers low-interest loans up to $10,000, North
Carolina has loans up to $15,000, and California offers loan guarantees up
to $35,000
Contact your state information operator and ask for your state Office of Social
Services or Vocational Rehabilitation. They should be aware of your state
Assistance Technology Office. If you have trouble locating your state office, you
can contact the office that coordinates all state activities: Rehabilitation
Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America (RESNA), 1700
North Moore Street, Suite 1540, Arlington, VA 22209-1903; 703-524-6686; Fax:
703-524-6630; TTY: 703-524-6639; http://resna.org/ or
http://www.resnaprojects.org/allcontacts/afpcontacts.html or http://askjan.org/cgiwin/TypeQuery.exe?735
69) Let The Navy Help You Pay Off Up To $65,000 Of Your
Student Loans
The Navy can help you manage your college debt with special loan repayment
programs for qualified students. The Navy will pay for up to $65,000 of loans
acquired from a post-secondary education for college students and graduates who
qualify. To be eligible for the program, the loan cannot be in default and it must
be the applicant’s first enlistment. The LRP is available to all active Navy
enlisted positions.
To learn more, contact the U.S. Navy at 800-872-6289;
www.navy.com/jsp/explore/education/summary.jsp?cid=4&pid=5
70) $6,480 To Pay For Groceries (income up to $44,700 for
family of 4)
Government studies show that over 16 million families are eligible for this
money, but are not applying. It is estimated that in cities like Galveston, TX
nearly 50% of the people eligible to receive this money are not aware of the
program and do not apply.
For information on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAPformerly Food Stamps), contact your state office or the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Ctr. Dr., Park office Center
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Bldg., Alexandria, VA 22302; 703-305-2276; http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/ or
http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/contact_info/hotlines.htm
71) Free Help Paying Your Bills, Rent Or Mortgage
There are now programs that will make your mortgage payments for you when
you get into financial trouble. Counseling agencies are located throughout the
country where you can sit down with an expert to help look through your finances
and keep you from losing your home. One of the best ways to find out if there are
programs like this in your area is to contact the local HUD-approved Housing
Counseling agencies.
To find your closest agency, contact your state housing office or the Housing
Counseling Center locator at 800-569-4287;
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/i_want_to/talk_to_a_housing_counselo
r
72) $10,000 For Down Payment, Closing Costs Or
Rehabilitation
The American Dream Downpayment Initiative offers grants up to $10,000 to firsttime single parent homebuyers.
For more information on this program, find a local U.S. HUD- approved housing
counseling agency in your area by calling 1-800-569-4287 or go to:
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/i_want_to/talk_to_a_housing_counselo
r.
For the national office contact American Dream Downpayment Initiative, U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development at:
http://www.hud.gov/offices/cpd/affordablehousing/programs/home/contacts/
--Income Eligibility Requirements: up to 80% of median family income,
$56,000+
73) $12 Million To Start A Real Big Business
No matter how much money you need there probably is a program for you. You
can also collect large amounts of money by putting together money from a
number of programs. The government also offers venture capital through the
Small Business Administration’s Small Business Investment Companies (SBIC).
Over 75,000 entrepreneurs received money from this source to get their dreams
off the ground, including the big guys like Compaq, Apple, Federal Express and
Staples. See how they can help you at Associate Administrator for Investment,
U.S. SBA, 202-205-6510 or http://www.sba.gov/inv . Many states also have
venture capital programs or will help you locate private venture capitalists and
state governments can also help you prepare the necessary paperwork. A good
place to look for this kind of help is your State Government Office of Economic
Development located in your state capital. You can call 411 and ask for the state
capital operator in your state capital or go to http://govengine.com/ and click on
your state and find the office that is listed under business and/or economic
development.
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74) World’s Best Diet Info
Look better, feel better, and have energy to spare. The only thing you might need
is more time off. Diets are a dime a dozen, but the government has the facts on
which systems work and which don't.
For information about losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight contact:
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 5100 Paint Branch Parkway,
College Park, MD 20740-3835; 888-INFO-FDA or 888-SAFEFOOD;
http://www.fda.gov/Food/default.htm or President's Council on Physical Fitness
and Sports, Department W; 200 Independence Ave., SW, Room 738H,Washington, DC 20201; 202-690-9000; Fax: 202-690-5211; http://fitness.gov/
or the Weight-Control Information Network, 1 WIN Way, Bethesda, MD 20892;
877-946-4627; Fax: 202-828-1028; http://win.niddk.nih.gov
75) Find A Lost Loved One
The Social Security Administration will be glad to forward an unsealed letter that
is accompanied with a letter explaining your request (the request must be for
humanitarian reasons). You need to supply the name and social security number
of the recipient, or the person’s date and place of birth. Send to Office of Public
Inquiries, Social Security Administration, Windsor Park Building, 6401 Security
Blvd., Baltimore, MD 21235; 410-965-2736. The County Board of Elections
(also called the Registrar of Voters) has public information from voter registration
forms. You can look here to find someone as well. They can do a search to find
out if a voter is registered in their district. They may be able to verify the
person’s full name, date of birth, current address, and political party. The State
Department of Motor Vehicles in most states can help your search with public
information from driver’s license and car registration forms. You will need to
provide them with the person’s full name, date of birth, and maybe the person’s
driver’s license number. You also may need to put your request in writing, and
there might be a fee for this service. Your State’s Department of Motor Vehicles
is in your state’s capitol.
76) Videos About Great Artists
The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. lends more than 150 teaching
packets, videos, video-discs, CD-ROMs, DVDs, and slide sets about great art and
artists.
You can also tour the gallery by visiting the website:
http://www.nga.gov/education/. Order forms can be found at:
http://www.nga.gov/education/learningresources/. Send orders to: Department of
Education Resources, Extension Programs, National Gallery of Art, 2000B South
Club Drive, Landover, MD 20785; Fax: 202-842-6937
77) Hangover Hotline: Sideswiped By The Holidays? Uncle
Sam's Got The Best Remedies
Matthew Lesko - http://www.lesko.com/
- 1-800-Uncle-Sam
Christmas parties, New Year's Eve parties, hair of the dog, leftover eggnog...This
time of year parties stack up like flights over LAX airport and self-control flies
out the window without a parachute. If you become a victim of holiday crash and
burn, let Uncle Sam's HANGOVER EXPERT help you back into the pink. Even
if moderation is your forte, holiday stress can bring MASSIVE HEADACHES.
Here too, you're in luck. Uncle Sam's HEADACHE HOTLINE has all the
answers and information on the latest medical studies.
Contact: The Headache Expert, The National Institute of Neurological Disorders,
NIH, P.O. Box 5801, Bethesda, MD 20892; 800-352-9424; 301-496-5751;
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
78) Free Photo Of The President
Want a picture of the President or the First Lady? It is as simple as cut and paste.
The White House used to mail out copies, but now everything is online.
Just go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/ and you have your pick of hundreds of
photos to choose from.
79) Free Canoeing Lessons
Don't get lost up-a-creek without a paddle. The Army Corps of Engineers can
teach you the proper way to handle a canoe or tie a line. They even have maps
and brochures on great canoeing spots all over the country.
So paddle over and contact: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 441 G Street, NW,
Washington, DC, 20314; 202-761-1228;
http://www.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/Recreation.aspx
80) Find $2,000 In Your Own Missing Money
Well, actually it is your money that you or someone in your family lost and it is
just sitting there waiting to be claimed. According to reports, there may be over
$32 billion dollars in abandoned money. This money could be old forgotten
utility deposits, bank accounts, insurance payments, stock dividends, utility
deposits, or even the contents of a safe deposit box. In 45 minutes, one of our
researchers found $2,000.
All you need to do is contact the National Association of Unclaimed Property
Administrators, c/o National Association of State Treasurers, P.O. Box 11910,
Lexington, KY, 40578-1910; 859-244-8150; Fax: 859-244-8053;
http://www.unclaimed.org/
81) Free Speakers For Your Club
You have experts living all around you, and many are more than willing to come
give talks on various topics to your group or organization. Want a Top Gun pilot
to come talk? Contact your nearest military base or armory and submit your
request. You can also check online at: http://www.defense.gov/ to see what the
U.S. Department of Defense has to offer. You can also have a local artist come
and explain Picasso to you (or actually any art subject). Contact your nearest art
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museum, arts council or your state arts council. These can be found by calling
411 or by going online to: http://govengine.com/ A master gardener can come
help your group with their roses. Contact your nearest arboretum, botanical
garden or gardening organization. These can be found by calling 411 or by going
online to: http://govengine.com/
82) Free College Or Career Help
There is a wealth of information and a mess of money to help people change
careers or just get ahead by taking some college courses. It is also a great way to
meet new minds and make more money. Congressional Research Service reports
are FREE from the office of your state Representative or Senator. Ask for
Financial Aid for Students (or go online to:
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33451.pdf) or Internships, Fellowships, and
Other Work Experience Opportunities in the Federal Government (or go online
to: http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crspublish.cfm?pid=%26%2A2%3C4Q%2CO%3F%0A).
If you cannot find your Congressman or Senator locally, call the Capitol Hill
Switchboard at 202-224-3121 or go to: http://www.congress.org/
83) $10,000 To Take Entrepreneur Training Courses
Each state has established local job-training centers that provide money to job
seekers to upgrade their skills and get better jobs. Many of these local centers
allow residents to use this money to train to become an entrepreneur.
Contact your state’s One-Stop Labor Information Center headquarters located in
your state capital and they can direct you to a local office. Check them out at:
http://doleta.gov/usworkforce/onestop/onestopmap.cfm or go to:
http://servicelocator.org/
84) $100,000 To Become A Freelancer Working From Your
Kitchen Table
My wife got over $100,000 of government money to do consulting right out of
our home. My sister got over $350,000 from the government to frame pictures.
They are both government freelancers. There are free offices around the country
that will help any freelancer get government contracts. The government buys:
legal services, web design, aerobics instructors, landscaping, cleaning, and even
stand-up comics. Contact the state Office of Economic Development located in
your state capital or your local Procurement Assistance Office who can match the
product or service you are selling with the appropriate agency, and then help you
market your wares effectively.
To find the office nearest you, contact: Small and Disadvantaged Business
Utilization Office, Cameron Station, Room 4B110, Defense Logistics Agency,
Alexandria, VA 22304; 703-767-1660;
http://www.dla.mil/SmallBusiness/Pages/ptap.aspx
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85) Get $75,000 In Trees And Bushes
If you are a landscaper/orchardist and had plants damaged or destroyed by natural
disaster, you can be reimbursed up to $76,000 for the cost to replant eligible trees,
bushes and vines.
Contact: Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, 1400 Independence
Ave., S.W., Washington, DC 20250-0506; 202-720-7809;
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=diap&topic=landing
86) $5,000 Worth Of Free Health Care For Kids
There are over 6 million families who are eligible and don’t apply for this
program that gives free health care services for kids. Almost every state now has
a Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIPS), which extends medical coverage
to many children who may not be covered.
For more information on a national level, call: 877-KIDS-NOW; 877-543-7669
or go: http://www.insurekidsnow.gov/
87) Free Help Filling Out Money Applications For Your
Business
The government supports over 1,000 offices all over the country called Small
Business Development Centers. They will sit down with you and help tackle any
problem you may be having with your business, like: finding money, filling out
forms, taxes, marketing, technical problems, contracting, etc. All their services
are free or for very little cost. These Centers do not have money for
entrepreneurs, but will know of local money sources available.
For a Center near you, contact: 1-800-8-ASK-SBA or
http://www.sba.gov/content/small-business-development-centers-sbdcs
88) Free Coloring And Activity Books
Teach your kids about the environment in a fun way. The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency has several coloring and activity books to help you increase
your child’s awareness of the earth and recycling. Titles include: Happy Earth
Day, Thirstin’s Wacky Water Adventure and Save Our Species as well as others.
Copies are available online or from the National Center for Environmental
Publication and Information, P.O. Box 42419, Cincinnati, OH 45242-0419; 800490-9188 or 513-489-8190; Fax 513-489-8695;
http://www.epa.gov/students/index.html
89) Get Free Boating Safety Lessons
If sun bathing is boring, how about spending some time out on the water? Many
boating safety courses are offered for all types of recreational boaters of all ages.
Qualified volunteer organizations, such as the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S.
Power Squadron, and others sponsor many courses, and many state boating
agencies also provide classes.
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For more information, contact: U.S. Coast Guard, 7323 Telegraph Rd., Arlington,
VA 22310; http://www.uscgboating.org/
90) A Greeting Even Hallmark Can’t Match
The White House Greeting Office will send a 50th Anniversary card or an 80th
birthday card to your special someone from the President of the United States.
What a way to show that you care enough to send the very best! They will also
send a card for weddings, births, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Eagle Scouts and Girl Scout
Gold Awards. You must send your request at least six to eight weeks prior to the
event with the recipient’s name or names, their return address, and the occasion
for the card. In the case of a wedding or birth, send your request in after the
event.
Send your request to: The White House Greeting Office, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave,
NW, Washington, DC 20502-0039; Fax 202-396-1232
91) Free Help Working On Your Invention
Don’t call an invention company that will charge you thousands of dollars to
work on your invention. There are free and low-cost services provided by
government offices and non-profit organizations that are likely to do an even
better job than they will do. A good place to start is by contacting your local
Small Business Development Center, which is supported by your federal and state
tax dollars.
To find a center near you, contact: Association of Small Business Development
Centers, 8990 Burke Lake Road, Burke, VA 22015; 703-764-9850; Fax: 703764-1234; http://www.asbdc-us.org/
92) When Your Money Blows Up In The Microwave
Never fear – don’t throw the money away. The Office of Currency Standards,
within the Bureau of Engraving and Printing redeems partially destroyed or badly
damaged currency as a free public service. Every year the U.S. Treasury handles
approximately 30,000 claims and redeems mutilated currency and will approve
the issuance of a Treasury check for the value of the currency determined to be
redeemable.
To learn more, contact: Office of Currency Standards, Bureau of Engraving and
Printing, Currency Residue Request, 14th and C Streets, S.W., Room 344A,
Washington DC 20228; 866-575-2361;
http://www.moneyfactory.gov/damagedcurrencyclaim.html
93) $50 Bags Of Money For $3
Or better yet, $10,000 worth for only $45. No, it’s not too good to be true. For
the first time online the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is offering a 5 lb bag of
shredded U.S. currency. This bag contains a minimum of $10,000 worth of
shredded U.S. currency notes and costs only $45. The smaller sized shredded
money bags are only available in the gift shop of the Bureau.
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- 1-800-Uncle-Sam
For more information, contact: Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Mail Order
Sales, Room 515M, 14th and C Streets, SW., Washington, DC 20228; 800-4563408; http://www.moneyfactorystore.gov/premiumproducts.aspx
94) Copyright Your Song, Book Or Poem
Think you have the next big hit? Before you share it with anyone, protect your
rights. You can do it simply by filing a form and paying a small fee to the
Copyright Office at the Library of Congress. This is the place where you can also
copyright your poetry, photographs, games, visual arts, books, and even recipes.
For more information, contact: Library of Congress, Copyright Office, 101
Independence Ave., SE, Washington DC 20559-6000; 202-707-3000;
http://www.copyright.gov/
95) Get A Copy Of The Census Form That Grandma Filled
Out
Your grandma’s Census records can provide a wealth of information. Census
data starts in 1790 and can get you started on your family tree. From 1850 to
1930, details are provided for all individuals in each household, such as:
 Names of family members
 Their ages at a certain point in time
 Their state or country of birth
 Their parent’s birthplaces
 Year of immigration
 Street address
 Marriage status and years of marriage
 Occupation(s)
 Value of their home and personal belongings
 The crops they grew.
The data is available on microfilm.
For information on how to access this information, contact: National Archives
and Records Administration, 8601 Adelphi Rd., College Park, MD 20740; 866272-6272; http://www.archives.gov/. The following website at the Census Bureau
also provides some basic search facts: http://www.census.gov/prod/2000pubs/cff2.pdf
96) White House Commemorative Certificate For All Vets
You can commemorate the honor of a deceased veteran by requesting a
Presidential Memorial Certificate, an engraved paper certificate expressing the
nation’s recognition of the veteran’s service. The veteran’s name is inscribed and
the certificate is signed by the current president. Eligible recipients include next
of kin, loved ones and friends. More than one certificate may be issued. To
apply, you must submit copies of the veteran’s discharge and death certificate.
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You can request the Presidential Memorial Certificate by mail or in person at any
regional office.
Contact: Presidential Memorial Certificate (41A1C), Department of Veteran
Affairs, 5109 Russell Road, Quantico, VA 22134-3903; 202-565-4964;
http://www.cem.va.gov/pmc.asp
97) Let The Government Be Your Collection Agency
Do you have a supplier in another state that owes you money and won’t pay you
back? Well, you don’t have to hire an attorney and pay hundreds or even
thousands of dollars to get back your money. Try calling the attorney general’s
office in the state of your supplier and complain about how a company in their
state mistreated you. Many of these offices will investigate, for free, by
contacting the business in question. No matter who is right in the matter, the
supplier does not likely want a government office on their back because this
government office can put them out of business. The smartest business decision
is to just give you the money owed and have the problem go away. Maybe your
credit card company does not treat you right and holds back money you think is
due to you? Maybe your insurance company will not pay a claim you think is
covered in your policy? Maybe the package delivery service or airline shipping
your product did you wrong? Maybe the radio station running your ads cheated
you? All of these problems can be handled more effectively, and FOR FREE, by
contacting the government agency that regulates the business you are dealing
with. All businesses are regulated by some agency. If your customers have a
problem with you they can contact the state attorney general’s office or the postal
inspector if you sent a product by mail. So why hire an attorney who will charge
you $200 an hour to get you satisfaction, when you can call a government office
who will do the job for free. And don’t forget, a business can fight an attorney
because the worst they have to lose is that they have to pay what they owe you. It
does not pay a business to fight a government agency, because a government
agency has the power to put them out of business.
To find who regulates a specific business call 411 and ask for your state capital
operator. Then ask for the office that regulates the profession or organization that
hurt you. Or go to: http://www.govengine.com/ and start by looking for the
office of attorney general. You can also try the Consumer Action website at:
http://www.usa.gov/topics/consumer.shtml
98) Photos Of Elvis With Richard Nixon
The National Archives and Records Administration has many historical
documents on their website in the online exhibit hall. For example, you can see a
picture of the first meeting between Elvis and President Nixon, and also a letter
written from the King (Elvis) to President Nixon. You might also wish to look
over the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, or the
Bill of Rights.
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You can view all the documents and many more by going to the National
Archives and Records Administration’s website at:
http://www.archives.gov/index.html
99) Video Of The News Of The Day When Grandma Was Born
Newsreels were popular before movies, and many have been donated to various
libraries to preserve these historical records. The National Archives can help you
locate the resource you will need to locate a copy. There is a fee involved that
varies by the different sources.
For more information, you can contact the various Newsreel archives listed here:
http://www.archives.gov/research/
100) Fly A Flag Over U.S. Capitol On Your Friend’s Birthday
If you are at a loss as to what to give someone, then what about purchasing an
American flag? These flags are flown over the Capitol and cost between $13.25
to $22.55 plus shipping and handling, depending on the size of the flag. The flags
also come with a certificate, listing the name of the person for whom the flag was
flown and the date. You can request a specific day, such as a birthday,
anniversary or even the day someone was discharged from the military. The flags
are available for purchase through your representatives in the House and Senate.
The program has become so popular that the government has set up a website to
provide information on ordering a flag, http://www.capitolflags.gov/. Or you can
contact your Representative or Senators at: http://www.senate.gov/,
http://house.gov/. You can also check your local phone book for the numbers to
your Representative or Senators.
101) Money From The Department Of Veterans
Administration For Nursing School
VALOR, the Veteran’s Administration Learning Opportunities in Residence
Program, is for rising junior baccalaureates. Students are placed in Veteran’s
Administration facilities and given 80% of the salary rate for an entry-level nurse.
The following academic year is subsidized. Candidate must be willing to work at
a VA facility for three years to pay back tuition payment.
You can apply to this program directly through your school’s nursing program or
contact: Department of Veterans Affairs, Health Care Staff Development and
Retention Office (10A2D), 1555 Poydras Street, Suite 1971, New Orleans, LA
70112; 504-589-6267; http://www.vacareers.va.gov/vayou/students/nursing/valor-program.asp
102) Serve Your Country And Slash $10,000 Off Your Student
Loans
Be on your way to loan forgiveness and buff up at the same time! If you join the
Army Reserve or the National Guard after graduation, you can receive up to
$10,000 to pay off your student loans. If you’re the sort of person who doesn’t
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mind the occasional brush with death, ask to be stationed in areas of hostility and
you could get even more money.
For more information, contact: United States Army Reserve Command
(USARC), 1401 Deshler Street, S.W., Fort McPherson, GA 30330-2000; 800359-8483; http://www.usar.army.mil/arweb/pages/default.aspx
103) Where To Find The Best Customers For Your Business
Or where is the best place to put up a store? Or which surrounding zip codes
offer the best potential for increasing sales? Or where can I get a list of all the
accountants in my area to tell them about my new product or service? You don’t
have to hire a high priced marketing consultant to get answers to questions like
these. You can tap into the government’s free marketing data collected by the
Bureau of Census and other government agencies. This is where the multibillion
dollar companies get their marketing data and it’s where the high priced
consultants also get it and then resell it to clients at outrageous fees. That is what
I used to do when I was a consultant.
To get detailed information about data available for your state, contact your local
Census State Data center in your state capital by calling your state capital operator
at 411 or going to: http://www.census.gov/sdc/. You can also get lots of free and
low-cost marketing help from your local Small Business Development Center.
You can find them by calling 800-8-ASK-SBA or going to:
http://www.sba.gov/content/small-business-development-centers-sbdcs
104) Money For Teenagers To Start A Business
You can be as young as 12 and get $5,000 to start a business. The program is
aimed at youth in rural areas, but you never know where you can use this. Maybe
you can set up a distributorship for your products in a small town using your
nephew who lives in that small town you never visit. Put this aside, you never
know when someone in your family may need this. It’s part of the Farm
Operating Loan program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
For more details, call: 202-720-1632 or go to:
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=fmlp&topic=dfl-yl
105) $100,000 Direct Loans To Buy Or Fix-Up Homes In The
Country
Want to buy a home in the country, but don’t think you can afford it? Think
again. Rural Housing Service provides financing for individuals and families who
cannot obtain credit from other sources to purchase homes in rural areas.
Applications are received at USDA offices. Funds may be used to purchase
suitable existing homes, new site build homes, approved modular units, and new
manufactured units from an approved dealer/contractor. Funds may also be used
to repair or remodel homes, or to make the home accessible and usable for
persons who are developmentally disabled. Loans may be made for up to 100%
of the appraised value of the site and the home. Maximum repayment period is 33
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years, or under certain conditions, 38 years. Down payment is not required if
your net assets do not exceed $7,500. Certain fees must be paid and you cannot
currently own a home. Applicants for direct loans from RHS must have very low
or low income. Very low-income is defined as below 50 and 80 percent of AMI;
moderate income is 80 to 100 percent of AMI. Form required: Uniform
Residential Loan Application. Over 17,000 homes were purchased through this
program. The budget for the program is $1,076,988,750. (Section 502 Direct
Loan Program- 10.310 Very Low to Moderate Income Housing Loans).
For more information, contact your state, area or local Rural Development office
or contact: Single Family Housing, Direct Loan Division, U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Washington DC 20250; 202-720-1471;
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?navid=HOUSING_ASSISTA&n
avtype=RT&parentnav=RURAL_DEVELOPMENT
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