Show your mom you’re the best kid ever by showering her with free gifts, services and even money that those friendly government bureaucrats make available to mothers all over the country. Matthew Lesko, the Free Government Money Guy in the question mark suits, Matthew Lesko wants to be a hero this Mother’s Day and has put together a collection of little-know government benefit programs that are available to Moms at any age.
Did you know…
- Your Mom Can Get A Copy Of The Census Form That
Her Mother Filled Out… Original census forms are available to
the public from 1930 back to 1850. - Millionaire Moms Can Get Free Legal Help Collecting
Child Support… Dad may not be happy about this, but you can hook
up Mom to a government office that collects from any deadbeat dad. - Free Child Safety Seats Are Available All Over
The Country… The SAFEKIDS campaign and the National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration provides this program. - Moms Over 55 Can Take Free College Courses And
Earn Free Degrees… There are 350 colleges around the country
that offer such programs. - Free Computers Are Available For Moms Who Home-School
Their Kids… These are used computers but in good working order.
There are also government programs that give free money and help to start
a home-based business, free books for their kids, and great day care for
only $9 a week. See below for details on these and other government benefits
you can use to surprise your mom for Mother’s Day.
46 Government Benefits Programs For Mother’s
Day
1) Your Congressman Will Fly A Flag
Over the Capital In Honor Of Your Mom If you are at a loss as to that
perfect gift, then what about an American flag flown over the Capitol? These
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, www.capitolflags.gov/
or contact your representatives at www.senate.gov,
www.house.gov. You can also check your local
phone book for the numbers to your Representative or Senator. (Income Eligibility:
None).
2) 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; www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/wh-wght.html;
or President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, Department W; 200 Independence
Ave., SW, Room 738-H, Washington, DC 20201; 202-690-9000; Fax: 202-690-5211;
www.fitness.gov; or the Weight-Control
Information Network, 1 WIN Way, Bethesda, MD 20892–3665; 877-946-4627; Fax:
202-828-1028; Email: win@info.niddk.nih.gov;
http://win.niddk.nih.gov/ (Income Eligibility:
None).
3) Get A Copy Of The Census Form Your
Mom’s Mom 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 that 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; 866-272-6272; www.archives.gov.
The following website at the Census Bureau also provides some basic search facts:
www.census.gov/prod/2000pubs/cff-2.pdf
(Income Eligibility: None).
4) Free Lawyers for Millionaires To Collect Child Support
No matter what your income, you can get the most powerful organization in the
world, your government, to fight for you to:
- Establish paternity;
- Set up a court order for child support;
- Track down a missing parent and collect your child support;
- Get the courts to adjust child support orders when circumstances change.
Actually I lied. There are a few states that may charge you up to $25.00. So
the maximum you will pay is $25.00. So, why hire an attorney, who may or may
not know the law, and will charge you up to $200 an hour, when you can call
someone who wrote the law, whose duty is to enforce it for you, and who is free?
Contact your state Child Support Enforcement Office, or contact Office of Child
Support Enforcement, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 370 L’Enfant
Promenade, SW, Washington, DC 20447; 202-401-9383; www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cse/.
(Income Eligibility: None).
5) Mom Can Protect Her Idea for $10 You can file a Disclosure
Document with the Patent and Trademark Office, and they will keep it in confidence
as evidence of the date of conception of the invention or idea.
Disclosure Document Commissioner for Patents Box DD Washington,
DC 20231 Disclosure Office 800-786-9199 www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/disdo.html
Send an 8 1/2 x 11“ drawing, a copy, signed disclosure, SASE, and a check or
money order for $10 to file. Upon request, the above office will also send you
a free brochure on Disclosure Documents. This is the best way to keep the idea
you are working on completely secret and yet document the date you conceived
the idea. You can file the Disclosure Document at any time after the idea is
conceived, but the value of it will depend on how much information you put into
it – so put as much detail into this statement as you can. (Income Eligibility:
None).
6) Get Out Of Paying IRS Bills From A Tax Cheating Husband
Many married taxpayers choose to file a joint tax return because of certain
benefits this filing status allows. Both taxpayers are jointly and individually
responsible for the tax and any interest or penalty due on the joint return
even if they later divorce. This is true even if a divorce decree states that
a former spouse will be responsible for any amounts due on previously filed
joint returns. One spouse may be held responsible for all the tax due even if
all the income was earned by the other spouse. In some cases, a spouse (or former
spouse) will be relieved of the tax, interest, and penalties on a joint tax
return. Three types of relief are available: 1) Innocent spouse relief; 2) Relief
by separation of liability; 3) Equitable relief. Publication 971, Innocent Spouse
Relief, explains these types of relief, who may qualify for them, and how to
get them. You can also use the Innocent Spouse Tax Relief Eligibility Explorer
at www.irs.gov to see if you qualify for innocent
spouse relief. Click on “Individuals,” “Innocent Spouses,” and “Explore if you
are an Eligible Innocent Spouse.” For more information contact the IRS at 800-829-1040
or go to http://www.irs.gov/publications/p971/index.html
. (Income Eligibility: None)
7) $2,000 for Female Equestrians The AQHA Female Equestrian
Award is a $2,000 grant awarded to honor an outstanding female equestrian and
reward her for her accomplishments as a horsewoman and as an athlete. Female
equestrians with national ranking who exhibit leadership, sportsmanship, and
commitment to the sport and its athletes are eligible. Contact: Women’s Sports
Foundation, Eisenhower Park, East Meadow, NY 11554; (516) 542-4700 or (800)
227-3988; Fax: (516) 542-4716; Website: http://www.womenssportsfoundation.org;
E-mail: info@womenssportsfoundation.org
(Income Eligibility: None).
Food Money for Women & Children The Women, Infant and
Children (WIC) Program’s mission is to safeguard the health of low-income women,
infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious
foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health
care. A family of four can make up to $34,873 and still qualify! WIC foods include
iron-fortified infant formula and infant cereal, iron-fortified adult cereal,
vitamin C-rich fruit and/or vegetable juice, eggs, milk, cheese, peanut butter,
dried beans or peas, tuna fish and carrots. In addition to the regular WIC program,
a majority of the states have chosen to operate the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition
Program (FMNP), established in 1992, it provides additional coupons to WIC participants
that they can use to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at participating farmers
markets. Contact Supplemental Food Programs Division, Food and Nutrition Service
– USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302; 703-305-2746; Fax: 703-305-2196;
Website: www.fns.usda.gov/fns/ .
9) Get Your Child Ready for Kindergarten Getting Your Child
Ready for School, Parents as Partners Series is just one of a million bibliographic
reports on educational-related resources in the ERIC database. You can download
many of these articles at no cost. Contact ERIC Project, c/o Computer Sciences
Corporation, 655 15th St. NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005; 800-LET-ERIC; www.eric.ed.gov;
(Income Eligibility: None)
10) Mom Can Find Out If That Old High School Boyfriend Wound Up In
Jail Looking for a prison inmate: The Federal Bureau of Prisons has
an inmate locator service for those inmates in Federal prisons. Check it out
online at www.bop.gov/iloc2/LocateInmate.jsp
(Income Eligibility: None).
11) How to Choose and Locate a Child Care Provider Choosing
child care is a very important decision for parents to make. Local Child Care
Resources and Referral (CCR&R) organizations can help you. They can make
referrals; provide information on state licensing requirements, availability
of child care subsidies and other information. You can find your local CCR&R
on the web site below. The Child Care Connector is a search engine to research
the child care options in your area. They also publish many brochures including:
Finding Help Paying for Child Care, Choosing Quality Child Care for a Child
with Special Needs, Matching Your Infant’s or Toddler’s Style to the Tight Child
Care Setting and more for no charge online or they will send you one in the
mail. Contact Child Care Aware, 3101 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 350, Arlington,
VA 22201; 800-424-2246; www.childcareaware.org.
(Income Eligibility: None)
12) Get $600 For Each Child The child tax credit is a credit
on your taxes up to $600 for each of your children. This will increase in stages
up to $1,000 in 2010. To be able to take this credit you must meet certain requirements.
The credit is limited to people with an income below a certain modified adjusted
gross income level. The instructions and worksheet needed to figure this credit
are included in the 1040 or 1040A tax return packets. If you are claiming an
adoption credit, mortgage interest credit, or District of Columbia first time
homebuyers credit, you must use Publication 972 from the IRS to figure your
child tax credit. You can download that publication and Form 8812, referred
to above, from the IRS website at www.irs.gov.
To receive them by Fax-On-Demand, call 703-368-9694 or call 800-TAX-FORM (829-3676)
to have them sent by mail or go to http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=106182,00.html.
(Income Eligibility: Ranges from $55,000 to $110,000, depending on if you’re
married or not and if you’re filing jointly or separately.)
13) Taxi Fare to Work, School or Day Care One county in Oregon
has a program that takes you and your child to day care and work. North Carolina
has programs where counties are given vans to transport people back and forth
to work, with lower fees for those in welfare-to-work programs. Mississippi
has a program that will pick you up and take you back and forth to work, if
you are working to get off welfare. Some communities, like Fairfax County, in
Virginia, maintain a database that helps locate the necessary transportation
for work and day care needs. And Kentucky operates an 800 hotline that tries
to solve any work-related transportation need. To start looking for programs
like this in your area, contact your local Congressman’s office or your local
social services agency. They won’t know about all the programs but can probably
give you some starting places. You should also find out about local vanpool
and rideshare programs. Your local chamber of commerce or library should have
this kind of information. (Income Eligibility: Varies by program and location;
contact your local program to find out more about eligibility requirements in
your area.)
14) Grants and Fellowships for Women The American Association
of University Women Educational Foundation funds a broad array of academic research,
career development, and community projects for women. The foundation provides
fellowships and grants to women who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
for educational, special projects, and professional support. The foundation
offers several types of funding, including American Fellowships, which provide
funding between $6,000 and $30,000 to women doctoral candidates completing dissertations,
or scholars seeking funds for post-doctoral research leave from accredited institutions.
Career Development Grants, ranging from $2,000 to $8,000, are available to women
in the early stages of graduate study, or women preparing for a change in career,
re-entering the work force, or advancing their current careers. Community Action
Grants are two-year seed money grants of $5,000 to $10,000, available for programs
or non degree research projects that promote education and equity for women
and girls. In addition, the foundation offers Eleanor Roosevelt Teacher Fellowships
up to $5,000 for full-time K-12 women teachers. Selected Professions Fellowships,
ranging from $5,000 to $12,000, are given to women in the following degree programs:
architecture, computer/information sciences, engineering, and mathematics/statistics
(business administration, law, and medicine are also offered, but only to women
of color). Contact American Association of University Women Educational Foundation,
1111 16th St. N.W., Washington, DC 20036-4873; 202-728-7602. Application address:
2201 N. Dodge St., Dept. 148, Iowa City, IA 52243-4030; 319-337-1716, ext. 148;
Fax: 202-463-7169; http://www.aauw.org; email:
foundation@aauw.org (Income Eligibility:
None).
15) Free Legal Help with Sexual Harassment at Work or School
Free assistance to women and girls who are facing sex, or race discrimination,
sexual harassment at work or at school, pregnancy, discrimination, or problems
with family medical leave and other employment issues related specifically to
women. The staff offers information and answers questions, and occasionally
can draft “demand” letters, demanding that an employer or other person or organization
stop doing something. In some circumstances, they can help you pursue internal
grievance or administrative procedures, and in some precedent-setting cases,
they will provide legal representation. Contact Equal Rights Advocates, 1663
Mission Street, Suite 250, San Francisco, CA 94103; 415-621-0672; Fax: 415-621-6744;
Advice and Counseling Line: 800-839-4ERA; www.equalrights.org.
(Income Eligibility: None)
16) Free Legal Assistance for Domestic Violence Problems Seven
days a week, 24 hours a day, you can call the hotline and not only get access
to sources that will solve your immediate problem, but also get information
and sources in your area that can explain your legal options and get you through
the legal process. Contact National Domestic Violence Hotline, P.O. Box 161810,
Austin, TX 78716; 800-799-7233; www.ndvh.org
or ndvh@ndvh.org. (Income Eligibility: None)
17) Free Meals At Day Care Not only does the government offer
free lunches for school children, but your younger children can also receive
free meals at day care centers, family day care homes, and more. Child and Adult
Care Food Program (CACFP) provides nutritious meals to 2.6 million children
and 74,000 adults who receive day care outside of their home. CACFP reaches
even further to provide meals to children residing in homeless shelters, and
snacks and suppers to youths participating in eligible after school care programs.
CACFP reimburses participating centers and day care homes for their meal costs.
It is administered at the Federal level by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS),
an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The State education or health
department administers CACFP, in most States. Programs include:
Child Care Centers Adult Day Care Centers Family Day Care Homes
Homeless Shelters After School Care Programs
Contact FNS Public Information, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 926, Alexandria,
VA 22302; 703-305-2281; www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/care/cacfp/cacfphome.htm.
(Income Eligibility: Family of 4 – $25,155. This varies from county to county
so you must check with your local office to determine eligibility.)
18) Creative Financing for Women Entrepreneurs The Women’s
Business Ownership Office runs seminars on how women can use creative ways to
locate financing if they’ve been turned down for loans by regular banks. For
more information about these seminars, contact the Office of Women’s Business
Ownership, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 3rd St., SW, Washington,
DC 20416; 800-8-ASK-SBA; 202-205-6673; http://www.sba.gov/womeninbusiness/welcome.html
(Income Eligibility: Determined on a case-by-case basis.)
19) Financial Help for Abortion Some of the 850 Planned Parenthood
clinics will help women seeking an abortion during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy
starting at $350 for those not covered by health insurance. In some cases they
even have special funds to help women pay for services. To investigate what
your local clinic offers, call 1-800-230-PLAN. Contact Planned Parenthood Federation
of America, 434 West 33rd Street, New York, NY 10001; 800-230-7526, 212-541-7800,
Fax: 212-245-1845; www.plannedparenthood.org.
There is another consumer hotline that can also handle your abortion-related
questions: Contact The National Abortion Federation, 1755 Massachusetts Ave.,
NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036; 800-772-9100 or in Canada 800-424-2282;
www.prochoice.org/. (Income Eligibility:
None)
20) Free Money For Kids To Go To 79 Camps The Salvation Army
is concerned about the happiness of children, so they operate many children’s
homes and nurseries. In additions there are 239 camps children can attend as
well as over 400 clubs. The Salvation Army wants to offer children a healthy
alternative, so they can live their lives to the fullest. 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; www.salvationarmyusa.org.
(Income Eligibility: Must be in financial need)
21) Free Child Safety Seats There are hospitals that give
out free child safety seats as you leave with your new baby, with no questions
asked and no income requirements. Local police and fire departments inspect
child safety seats to see that they are in proper order and properly installed,
and sometimes provide free seats to those whose current equipment is not considered
safe. Local organizations, like the Easter Seals Society were part of a federal
program that gives out millions of dollars worth of free seats because of a
settlement the U.S. Department of Transportation made with General Motors. Other
groups will lend you a seat for as little as $5. The state of Minnesota alone
has over 225 such programs. To find a program near you, contact your local police
or fire department. Or contact your state information operator listed in the
Appendix and ask them for your state office for Highway Safety or Traffic Safety.
These national organizations may also be able to give you a local source: National
SAFEKIDS Campaign, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004;
202-626-0600; Fax 202-393-2072; www.safekids.org
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation,
400 Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC 20590; 888-327-4236 or Auto Safety Hotline:
800-424-9393; www.nhtsa.dot.gov (Income
Eligibility: None)
22) Venture Capital for Women Business Owners They offer a
venture capital forum that prepares and showcases 20-25 women-led high-growth
businesses to local investors along with other assistance educational programs;
access to information, experts and investors needed to grow a business for alumni;
and a virtual boot camp. Contact Springboard Enterprises, 2100 Foxhall Road,
NW, Washington, DC 20007, 202-242-6282, Fax: 202-242-6284, Email: info@springboardenterprises.org,
www.springboardenterprises.org
(Income Eligibility: None)
23) Pay Only $9/wk for Child Care at Local Non-Profits Local
non-profits around the country get grants from the United Way or other institutions
and offer free and sliding scale day care services. The United Way spends about
a third of its funds, about $1 billion a year, on programs for children and
families. For example, the Community Partnerships for Children Program in Brockton,
MA provides child care for a family of 2 with weekly income of $210 for only
$9.00 a week, and families of 4 with income of $1,000 a week can get care for
$114 a week per child. There are about 500 local United Way Information and
Referral Services around the country that can point you to local groups that
can help you solve your child care problems. Look in the phone book for your
local United Way agency, or contact United Way of America, 701 N. Fairfax Street,
Alexandria, VA 22314-2045; 703-836-7112; www.unitedway.org
(Income Eligibility: Determined on a case-by-case basis.)
24) Free Publications for Women Business Owners If you’re
interested in finding out more about women in the workforce, including trends
and future projections, you might find the following free publications informative:
Characteristics of Self-Employed Women Developments in Women’s
Labor Force Participation Employed Women About as Likely as Men to be
Looking for Jobs Marriage, Children and Women’s Employment: What Do We
Know Married Women, Work and Values Much Variation in Women’s Employment
Across Metropolitan Areas ‘Second-Chance’ Strategies for Women Who Drop
Out of School Twenty Facts on Women Workers Women Business Owners Women
in High-Tech Jobs Women in Jobs (Recessions) Women in Jobs (Recoveries)
Women at the Millennium Women’s Share of Labor Force to Edge Higher by
2008 Differences in Women’s and Men’s Earnings by Age Income and Spending
Patterns for Working Women Women in Managerial, Professional Occupations
Earn More Than Others Women’s Earning’s: An Overview Job Absence Rate
Higher for Women Than for Men Women in the Construction Workplace: Providing
Equitable Safety and Health Protection Work Injuries and Illnesses Occurring
to Women
These titles can also be accessed online at www.dol.gov/dol/audience/aud-women.htm.
Contact the Women’s Bureau, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Labor,
200 Constitution Ave., NW, Room S-3002; Washington, DC 20210; 800-827-5355 or
202-693-6710. (Income Eligibility: None)
25) Volunteers Will Fix-Up Your Mom’s Home for Free Many service
organizations have organized community service days, where the town is beautified
along with certain homes in need of repair. Christmas in April is a national
organization with over 185 affiliates that gather together volunteers to help
rehabilitate the homes of low-income homeowners. The work is done for free with
the goal being to provide a safe and secure home for those in need. An example
of a program in the Dallas area is the Volunteer Home Repair and Weatherization
Program. This program provides home repairs that improve the health, safety,
and energy efficiency of a home for low-income homeowners. Contact your city
government, your county government and your local community development office
to learn about local programs. In the Dallas area, contact Volunteer Home Repair
and Weatherization Program, Center for Housing Resources, 3103 Greenwood, Dallas,
TX 75204; 214-828-4390, Fax: 214-828-4412; www.chrdallas.org
(Income Eligibility: Determined on a case-by-case basis.)
26) Health Insurance for Divorcees Who Start Their Own Business
Under the new law, divorced and separated women and their children can continue
to receive the same health insurance coverage they had before they were divorced
or separated from their husbands at the group rate. The only difference is that
they must pay the premium. This law applies to all private businesses that employ
more than 20 people and to federal, state, and local government plans. For more
information on this law, contact Women Work, 1625 K St. NW, #300, Washington,
DC 20006; 202-467-6346; Fax: 202-467-5366; www.womenwork.org.
(Income Eligibility: None).
27) Free Rides to Pick Up a Sick Child at School Suppose your
child is sick at school and needs you in the middle of the day, but you don’t
have a way to get there because you go to work most days by some other way than
using your car. You can probably get a free ride, taxi, or free rental car from
the local “Guaranteed Ride Home Program.” You can also use the service for most
family emergencies if your normal ride falls through, or if you have to work
late unexpectedly. Call your local carpool or vanpool service to see if they
have a similar program. Most of these programs require that you pre-register,
but it is always best to plan ahead for emergencies anyway. If you do a computer
search using the terms (including the quotes) “guaranteed ride home program,”
you will find a listing of many of the programs offered. You can also contact
your state Department of Transportation for starting places. (Income Eligibility:
None).
28) Free Pre-School for Your Child Head Start is preschool
that has a great student teacher ratio and all teachers are certified in early
childhood development. It prepares the children with school readiness, and research
shows that these children enter kindergarten with the skills necessary to succeed.
There are income requirements for acceptance into the program, but the program
does allow 10% of the students to have higher incomes. And 10% of the program
needs to be offered to kids who have a disability. To learn more about Head
Start programs near you, contact your local board of education, the state Department
of Social Services, or Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services, Head Start Bureau, 370 L’Enfant Promenade, SW,
Washington, DC 20201; 202-737-1030; www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/hsb
(Income Eligibility: family of 4- $20,000, although this does vary and you should
contact program to learn specific requirements for your area).
29) Free Help for the First 3 Weeks After Childbirth The Healthy
Families America Project helps new mothers cope with the pressures of being
a new parent by offering volunteer home visitors. They can show you how to deal
with the physical, emotional and financial strains of a new baby. Contact Healthy
Families America, 200 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 1700, Chicago, IL 60604; 312-663-3520;
Fax: 312-939-8962; www.healthyfamiliesamerica.org
(Income Eligibility: None).
30) Over $12,500 in Scholarships for Abused Women The R.O.S.E.
Fund offers four programs. The R.O.S.E. Scholarship acknowledges women and children
who are survivors of abuse through a scholarship of up to $10,000 to be used
toward any college or university in New England. The R.O.S.E. Scholarship at
Pine Manor College annually awards one Pine Manor student who is or will be
enrolled in a minimum of twelve credits per semester. The R.O.S.E. Scholarship
at UMASS Boston annually awards two $2,500 scholarships to current or future
UMASS Boston students who are or will be enrolled in a minimum of nine credits
per semester. The R.O.S.E. Continuing Education Grants Program provides grants
from $200 to $1,000 to be used toward education or work related training. Applicants
must be nominated and they go to classes or school in New England. Contact The
R.O.S.E. Fund, Inc., 175 Federal Street, Suite 455, Boston, MA 02110; 617-482-5400;
Fax: 617-482-3443; www.rosefund.org/programs/scholarship.asp
or rosefund@ici.net. (Income Eligibility:
None).
31) $1,200/Month in Day Care Money While You Look for Work
The Child Care and Development Block Grant gives money to states to help families
meet their child care needs. Parents may choose from a variety of childcare
providers, including center-based, family childcare and in-home care, care provided
by relatives, and even sectarian child care providers. You can even get money
to start a day care center! To find out how to take advantage of this program
in your state and to learn the eligibility requirements, contact National Child
Care Information Center, 243 Church Street, NW, Vienna, VA 22180; 800-616-2242;
http://nccic.org. (Income Eligibility: Varies
from county to county. Contact your state to learn specific requirements).
32) $8,000 for Women and Minorities in Construction The purpose
of the Job Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals program is to award funds
to organizations that will create new full-time permanent employment opportunities
for certain targeted populations. Projects must: create new permanent full-time
employment opportunities through one of four new job creation project design
priority areas: 1) expansion of existing businesses through technical and financial
assistance; 2) self-employment/micro-enterprise; 3) new business ventures; and,
4) non-traditional employment initiatives that lead to economic self-sufficiency
for targeted populations. To find out more, contact the U. S. Department of
Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office
of Community Services, Division of Community Discretionary Programs, 370 L’Enfant
Promenade, S.W – 5th Floor West, Washington, D.C. 20447; 202-401-5307; http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/dcdp/joli/index.html
(Income Eligibility: $9,800 for individual; $13,200 for couple).
33) Federal Government Set-Asides for Women Entrepreneurs
Many Federal government contracting offices are trying to insure that a certain
percentage of their contracts go to women entrepreneurs. Most even have special
offices that will help women entrepreneurs sell to their agencies. For help
in selling your product or service to the government, contact your State Economic
Development Office in your state capital or the Office of Women’s Business Ownership,
Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW, Sixth Floor, Washington,
DC 20416; 202-205-6673; www.onlinewbc.gov
(Income Eligibility: None).
34) $2,310 Check from Your State for Child Care Twenty-seven
states offer Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit on your state tax returns.
About 14 of these states do not require you to pay any taxes in order to get
a check. Contact one of the free tax services described above or your state
tax office located in your state capital. You can call 411 and ask for this
number or go to www.govengine.com and
click on your state. You can also contact your local public library or your
Congressman’s office at www.congress.org.
Also see: www.nccp.org/policy_long_description_15.html
or http://www.nwlc.org/pdf/NWLCTaxCreditsOutreachCampaignToolkit2005.pdf.
(Income Eligibility: None).
35) Moms Over 55 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% of 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 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. (Income Eligibility: None)
36) Free Rides To The Doctor For Grandma Many seniors have
to give up driving their cars, perhaps because of the cost or 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 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST; www.aoa.gov
(Income Eligibility: None)
37) Free Mammograms And Breast And Cervical Cancer Treatment
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 (usually $46,000 for a family
of 4). 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 30341-3717, 770-488-4751; 888-842-6355;
Fax: 770-488-4760; www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/
(Income Eligibility: Varies from program to program although usually $46,000
for family of 4).
38) Money And Help For Divorced Or Widowed Women To Get A Job
Single parents, recently divorced women and women in transition sometimes need
a helping hand. Women Work! is an organization whose mission is to help women
become self-sufficient. This is accomplished by helping them get the education,
training and jobs they need to be successful. Women Work! has over 1,000 programs
across the country doing just that. To learn what is offered in your neighborhood,
contact Women Work! 1625 K St., NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20006; 202-467-6346;
800-235-2732; Fax: 202-467-5366; www.womenwork.org.
(Income Eligibility: None)
39) 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 include 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. Contact: U.S. Department of Transportation,
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, 400 7th Street, SW,
Room 9410, Washington, DC 20590, 800-532-1169 or 202-366-5343, Fax: 202-366-7538,
Email: nancy.strine@dot.gov, http://osdbu.dot.gov
(Income Eligibility: None) 40) White House Birthday Cards For Friends
80+ or Married For 50 Years 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! You must send your request at least 6 to 8 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: 202-395-1232; www.whitehouse.gov/greeting.
(Income Eligibility: None).
41) 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 do some
educating to get a local group to give you a ride. Tell them to view the information
on the web site or contact the FTA. It’s available from the U.S. Federal Transit
Administration, 400 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20590 or on the web at www.fta.dot.gov/legal/federal_register/2004/16290_17856_ENG_HTML.htm.
To find groups in your area who receive these 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; www.fta.dot.gov. (Income
Eligibility: None)
42) $675 Million in Uncollected Child Support No matter what
your income, you can get the most powerful organization in the world, your government,
to 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. There are a few states that may charge you up to $25.
Contact your state Child Support Enforcement Office or contact Office of Child
Support Enforcement, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 370 L’Enfant
Promenade, SW, Washington, DC 20447; 202-401-9383; www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cse/.
(Income Eligibility: None)
43) FREE Computers for Children in Need The Second Byte Foundation
provides computers to disadvantaged children. Awards are based in part, on 100-word
essay written by the student on why they should receive this opportunity and
how they will benefit from the computer. Kids and families receive computers
through schools or other organizations that apply for the program. Contact Second
Byte Foundation, 2663 Townsgate Road, Westlake Village, CA 91361; 888-263-2983;
Fax: 805-495-9935; www.2ndbyte.org or info@2ndbyte.org.
(Income Eligibility: varies from program to program. Check with the program
near you to learn specific requirements.)
44) Free Computers For “Homeschoolers” Not only home schools,
but any school or community group that are trying to educate kids from pre-K
through grade 12, can be eligible to receive used computers from the government
through its surplus property program. Contact General Services Administration,
Computers for Learning Program, 1901 S. Bell Street, Rm. 815, Arlington, VA
22202; 866-472-9161 or 703-605-2888; www.computers.fed.gov/,
Email: computers.learning@gsa.gov
(Income Eligibility: Determined on a case-by-case basis.)
45) Make Sure Your Kid’s School Is Getting A Discount On Internet Connections
Elementary and secondary schools are eligible for up to 90% discounts on Internet
connections according to the Passage of the Snowe-Rockefeller-Exon-Kerry Amendment
Universal Service section of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. See if your
school is eligible by contacting: Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th
Street SW Washington, DC 20554; 888-225-5322; www.fcc.gov/learnnet/,
Email: fccinfo@fcc.gov (Income Eligibility:
Determined on a case-by-case basis.)
{ 4 trackbacks }
Comments on this entry are closed.