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, www.lesko.com/formom 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…
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:
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:
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).
8)
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, 4483-A
Forbes Boulevard, Lanham, MD 20706; 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.)
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