How to Get Free Government Money

'Nothing in life is free', people have heard this over and over, yet they tend to forget it. The recent economic conditions have instigated many individuals to look for financial aid. There are some myths surrounding free government grant money, one of them is that the government gives you money to pay off your credit card debt. Many people have taken advantage of this and advertise their 'get grants directories' or lectures on securing government grant money. People who are looking for this information need not pay for it, because it's available for free over the net on the government grants website and in public libraries.

People misconstrue government grants as free money, grants are given for a specific purpose and have an eligibility criteria, for which you need to qualify before being eligible to even apply. Government generally gives grants to nonprofit organizations to run programs that will benefit the community. Some grants are set aside for research organization that work towards saving energy and upgrading agriculture technology. Although the government does give grant money to individuals to pay for education, health care and home improvement.

Different Government Grants

The government has set aside billions of dollars towards grant money under different categories, all you need to do is to apply for them. You could have a look at the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) and apply for a grant online. When you apply you will be assigned a tracking number known as the Funding Opportunity Number (FON) with which you can check the status of your grant. Following are some of the government grants for education and home improvement.

Education
The Obama government pushed for a stimulus package which the US Congress signed, paving the way for millions of dollars of grants money for education. There are grants available for different target groups. For example, there are college grants for single moms and marginalized groups. Here are some pointers on getting government assistance for education.

• Federal Pell Grants : You have to fill the 'Free Application for Federal Student Aid' (FAFSA) form and contact your college financial aid office. You will be required to produce documentation related to your social security number, license, income record etc. Under the Pell Grant you can get anywhere between $400 to $5,000 as assistance for your education expenses.
• SMART Grant : This particular grant is for bright students who cannot afford their educational expenses. The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National Smart Grant) is made available to students with a 3.0 GPA in their second year. This grant is available for the third and fourth year of undergraduate study, up to $4,000 is available under this particular grant.

Home Improvement
The government provides financial assistance to people from the low income group to improve their living conditions. Home improvement grants are made available to help families take care of health hazards in their homes. The US department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) gives these grants to senior citizens and low income families. The grant amount can go up to $7,500 and is allocated with some conditions. For example, the family who has received such a grant cannot sell their house for the next three years. If they wish to sell the house the grant amount will be turned into a loan, and will have to be repaid.

People in the rural areas who want to know how to get free government loans (grants), need to check with the HUD. Farmers can also receive money in the form of grants from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) rural department. The USDA has provisions to give grants for low income farmers and people from minority groups. Office of Departmental Grants Management and Oversight (ODGMO) was also established by the government to oversee the grants process.

You need to identify your need and apply for the specific grant. The applications process may be difficult, but if you have your documentation in order it can be a sweet reward at the end. The best thing about grants is that you need not pay back the financial restitution you receive.