Emergency Unemployment Compensation
EUC is a Federal temporary extension of unemployment compensation for unemployed individuals who have already collected all regular state benefits for which they were eligible.
These benefits are available for weeks of unemployment ending on or before November 30, 2010. Individuals establishing benefit entitlement as of this date can collect the remainder of this entitlement through April 30, 2011.
Learn more about unemployment compensation extension here:
http://www.ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/supp_act.asp
http://www.ows.doleta.gov/unemploy/pdf/euc08.pdf
For state specific information, click here
Discounted Utilities
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
LIHEAP is a Federally-funded program that helps low-income households with their home energy bills. LIHEAP can help you stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. By doing so, you can reduce the risk of health and safety problems (such as illness, fire, or eviction). Your LIHEAP program may be able to offer you one or more of the following types of assistance: bill payment assistance, energy crisis assistance, and weatherization and energy-related home repairs.
For more information, visit http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/brochure/brochure.html
Find an LIHEAP office in your state, visit http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/grantees/states.html
Or call the toll free number 1-866-674-6327
Lifeline (discounted home phone)
Lifeline provides qualified consumers with a discount on monthly charges for their primary home phone line, even if it’s a cell phone. If you qualify for this program, Lifeline can save you at least $10 a month on your phone bills, depending on what state you live in and which phone company in your area provides this program. Some states provide more discounts to make local telephone service even more affordable.
Find out if your state provides Lifeline by contacting your state Public Utilities Commission at http://www.naruc.org/commissions.cfm
Find out what the income requirements are for your state and your service provider at http://www.lifelinesupport.org/li/low-income/lifelinesupport/browser/
Link-Up (discounted cell phone)
Link-Up lowers the cost eligible consumers pay for setting up new phone service at their home, including cell phone service. Link-Up pays up to $30.00 of a qualified consumer’s home phone startup fees (even if it’s a cell phone), not including the cost of the phone. Link-Up also lets consumers borrow up to $200 of set-up fees, interest-free, for up to one year.
Find out if your state provides Lifeline by contacting your state Public Utilities Commission at http://www.naruc.org/commissions.cfm
Find out what the income requirements are for your state and your service provider at http://www.lifelinesupport.org/li/low-income/lifelinesupport/browser/
Tax Credits
EITC
The Federal Earned Income Tax Credit is the nation's largest resource for working families at the low end of the income scale. If you are eligible to claim it, it can mean a return of up to $5,600.
Click here to learn more...
Federal Child Tax Credit
You may be able to get back up to $1,000 per qualifying child.
Click here to learn more...
Making Work Pay Tax Credit
Find out how to get more in your paycheck:
Click here to learn more...
First-Time Homebuyer Credit
The First-Time Homebuyer Credit has been extended to September 30, 2010.
Click here to see if you are eligible
Military Tax Tips
Click here to view "10 tips" from the IRS for completing your tax returns
Tax Benefits for Education
There is a variety of tax credits, deductions and savings plans available to taxpayers to assist with the expense of higher education.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=213044,00.html
Tax Prep
I-CAN! E-FILE: www.icanefile.org/
I-CAN E-File is an online service that allows you to file your federal and state taxes online for free.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA): www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=107626,00.html
The VITA Program offers free tax help to low- to moderate-income (generally, $42,000 and below) people who cannot prepare their own tax returns. Certified volunteers sponsored by various organizations receive training to help prepare basic tax returns in communities across the country. VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls, and other convenient locations. Most locations also offer free electronic filing. To locate the nearest VITA site, call 1-800-829-1040.
Tax Center to Assist Unemployed Taxpayers
The Internal Revenue Service recognizes that many people may be having difficult times financially. There can be a tax impact to events such as job loss, debt forgiveness or tapping a retirement fund. If your income decreased, you may be newly eligible for certain tax credits.
Learn for at http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=219269,00.html
Taxpayer Advocate Service
Get free and confidential help to resolve your IRS problems
http://www.irs.gov/advocate/index.html
Have IRS issues? Need Professional Tax Assistance During an Audit?
Low Income Taxpayer Clinic (LITCs) represent low income taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service in audit, appeals, and collection issues, for free or for a nominal charge. If you are a low income taxpayer who cannot afford professional tax assistance during audits of your federal income tax return, you may qualify for help from Low Income Taxpayer Clinics or other organizations that provide free assistance in tax disputes.
Find a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic in your state at http://www.irs.gov/advocate/content/0,,id=151026,00.html
IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers
IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers are your source for personal tax help when you believe your tax issue cannot be handled online or by phone, and you want face-to-face assistance.
Click here for 8 reasons to visit a Taxpayer Assistance Center
Visit http://www.irs.gov/app/officeLocator/index.jsp and enter your zip code to find a Taxpayer Assistance Center near you!
The Beehive: www.thebeehive.org/taxes
The Beehive is a place where you can file your taxes for free online as well as other valuable information.
Are you from an organization who wants to open a VITA (volunteer income tax assistance) location? Click here to learn more!
Money Advice
The Beehive: Money
Help with your finances, free tax filing, home budgets, and more.
http://www.thebeehive.org/money
MyMoney.gov
MyMoney.gov is the U.S. government's website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about financial education. Whether you are buying a home, balancing your checkbook, or investing in your 401(k), the resources on MyMoney.gov can help you maximize your financial decisions. Throughout the site, you will find important information from 20 Federal agencies and Bureaus designed to help you make smart financial choices.
http://www.mymoney.gov/
Practical Money Skills For Life
Classroom resources for financial literacy education, home-based financial literacy resources for adults, parents and children, and financial management tools for small businesses.
Click here to learn more...
Free Online Budgeting Tools
Geezeo: http://www.geezeo.com/
Wesabe: http://www.wesabe.com/
Buxfer: http://www.buxfer.com/
The Motley Fool
Investment and Retirement basics
http://www.fool.com/investing/basics/index.aspx
Junior Achievement
Dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy.
http://www.ja.org
Planning for Retirement? Visit these two retirement calculators to learn more about what retirement could mean for you:
Retirement Nest Egg Calculator
This calculates what is needed for retirement and underlying facts.
http://www.aarp.org/work/retirement-planning/retirement_nest_egg_calculator/
Retirement Contribution Effects on Your Paycheck Calculator
An employer sponsored retirement savings account could be one of your
best tools for creating a secure retirement. It provides two important
advantages. First, all contributions and earnings are tax deferred. You
only pay taxes on contributions and earnings when the money is
withdrawn. Second, many employers provide matching contributions to your
account, which can range from 0% to 100% of your contributions. Use
this calculator to see how increasing your contributions to a 401(k),
403(b) or 457 plan can affect your paycheck as well as your retirement
savings. This calculator has been updated to use the new withholding
schedules for 2010.
http://www.aarp.org/work/retirement-planning/contributions_paycheck_calculator/
Money Saving Websites
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
Who says you can't get a break these days? The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act may give you the break you are looking for.
Click here to learn more...
FinancialStability.gov
This website seeks to bring a new level of transparency and accountability that is designed to protect American taxpayers by ensuring proper use of public funds through conditions on lending and executive compensation, and by enhanced reporting requirements.
http://www.financialstability.gov
Coupons.com
Print coupons for FREE and save!
Click here to learn more...
Food Assistance
Find a food bank in your area
http://feedingamerica.org/foodbank-results.aspx
Nutrition Assistance Programs
FNS provides children and low-income people access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition education. We help nearly one in four people. Check out our programs to see if we can help you or your family.
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/
Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infant’s and Children (WIC)
WIC provides Federal grants to States for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.
http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/
Emergency Food Assistance Program
TEFAP is a Federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income needy persons, including elderly people, by providing them with emergency food and nutrition assistance.
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/programs/tefap/
Commodity Supplemental Food Programs
The Commodity Supplemental Food Programs (CSFP) is a Federally funded program, which works to improve the health of low-income pregnant and breastfeeding women, other new mothers up to one year postpartum, infants, children up to age six, and elderly people at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA commodity foods.
http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/programs/csfp/default.htm
For other federal food assistance programs and nutritional information, click here
Health
Find a Health Center in Your Area
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 when you're well, treatment when you're sick, complete care when you're pregnant,immunizations and checkups for your children, dental care and prescription drugs for your family, and mental health and substance abuse care if you need it
Health centers are in most cities and many rural areas. Type in your address and click the 'Find Health Centers' button to find health centers near you.
http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/
COBRA
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provides a COBRA premium reduction for eligible individuals who are involuntarily terminated from employment through the end of May 2010. Due to the statutory sunset, the COBRA premium reduction under ARRA is not available for individuals who experience involuntary terminations after May 31, 2010. However, individuals who qualified on or before May 31, 2010 may continue to pay reduced premiums for up to 15 months, as long as they are not eligible for another group health plan or Medicare.
The Unemployment Compensation Extension Act of 2010 signed by the President on July 22, 2010, did not extend the COBRA premium reduction.
If You Are Recently Unemployed...
Get answers to frequently asked questions and check out your COBRA options at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html
Health Care Updates
Explore health care options and learn about new programs and services you may be eligible for
http://www.healthcare.gov/
Access2Wellness: www.access2wellness.com
Access2wellness
provides access to one of the broadest selections of assistance
programs that offer more than 1,000 prescription medications, for free
or at a discount, to those who qualify. Access2wellness was designed to
help people find information on assistance programs quickly and easily.
It describes available programs and provides contact information. It
also features a unique Eligibility Tool that can quickly and easily
determine which patient assistance programs might be most appropriate.
Health Insurance Eligibility Quiz (Provided by Foundation for Health Coverage Education)
Take our
simple 5-question Eligibility Quiz and receive a personalized list of
both the public and private health coverage options for which you may
qualify!
http://www.coverageforall.org/finder/index.php
Women, Infants and Children Program: www.fns.usda.gov/wic/
WIC is a
federally-funded health and nutrition program for women, infants, and
children. WIC helps families by providing checks for buying healthy
supplemental foods from WIC-authorized vendors, nutrition education, and
help finding healthcare and other community services. Participants
must meet income guidelines and be pregnant women, new mothers, infants
or children under age five.
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is a state and federal partnership that provides low-cost health insurance coverage for children in families who earn too much income to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford to purchase private health insurance coverage. States have considerable flexibility to establish income eligibility rules for CHIP, but children enrolling in the program must be otherwise uninsured.
Find a provider in your area at http://www.insurekidsnow.gov/state/index.html
Planned Parenthood: www.plannedparenthood.org/
Planned
Parenthood is the nation's leading sexual and reproductive health care
provider and advocate.
The Beehive: Health
Free health tips on living a balanced and healthy life.
http://www.thebeehive.org/health
Seniors
Medicare Interactive Tool
Helps make the healthcare maze easier to understand.
http://www.medicareinteractive.org/index.php
Doughnut Hole Calculator
If you have Medicare Part D, you may be at risk of falling into the coverage gap, or "doughnut hole." Follow this four-step tool and save money!
http://doughnuthole.aarp.org/
Human Services
2-1-1 is the three digit number set aside by the federal Communications Commission (FCC) in July 2000 for the sole purpose of providing health and human service information and referral (I&R). Similar to 911 for emergency services and 411 for directory assistance, 2-1-1 is the three digit number to dial for health and human service information and referral.
United Way:www.liveunited.org/
United Way
of America is the national organization dedicated to leading the United
Way movement. Local United Ways create long-lasting community change by
addressing the underlying causes of the most significant local issues.
Common focus areas include helping children and youth achieve their
potential, promoting financial stability and independence, and improving
people's health. Our goal is to create long-lasting changes by
addressing the underlying causes of problems.
Meals on Wheels: www.mowaa.org
The
Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is the oldest and largest
organization in the United States representing those who provide meal
services to people in need.
Visit this website for more information on programs which provide little to no cost child care in your area.
http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/emergency/topic_childcare.cfm#2
Early Head Start Program
The Early Head Start (EHS) program is for low-income infants, toddlers, pregnant women and their families. EHS programs enhance children's physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development; assist pregnant women to access comprehensive prenatal and postpartum care; support parents' efforts to fulfill their parental roles; and help parents move toward self-sufficiency.
Find a head start location in your area at http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/HeadStartOffices
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