Operates a website clearinghouse of grants, loans, financial aid and other benefits available from the federal government to people who qualify.

Federal Benefits Information offered at USA.gov

Operates a website clearinghouse of grants, loans, financial aid and other benefits available from the U.S. government to people who qualify.

Programs that provide information and guidance for eligible individuals who need assistance in determining whether they qualify for the federal Hope Scholarship Credit or the Lifetime Learning Credit, both of which allow individuals to take a tax credit for postsecondary education expenses. Education credits are subtracted from the individual's tax, but are non-refundable, i.e., the credit amount cannot exceed a family's tax liability, and no benefit is provided to families whose incomes are so low that they have no income tax liability.

Federal Education Tax Credit Information

Programs that provide loan funds to meet the financial needs of students for whom grants and other forms of aid are inadequate or unavailable. Student loans are available at attractive interest rates (usually three to nine percent) and repayment is not required until after the student has completed school. Most student loans are federal Stafford Loans which have two variations: federally guaranteed Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) that can be obtained from banks, savings and loan associations, credit unions or other financial institutions; and loans from the Federal Direct Student Loan Program (FDSLP) which are provided to students and their parents directly by the federal government. Stafford Loans may be subsidized (the government pays the interest while the student is in school) or unsubsidized (the student must pay the interest either while in school or following graduation, if deferred). Other options include PLUS loans (federal loans to parents of dependent undergraduate students), state government loans, loans from the educational institution or private donors, and loans that are designated for students who are pursuing specific courses of study (e.g., nursing, medicine, law).

Student Loans

Programs that enable students who can demonstrate financial need to obtain cash awards (which do not need to be repaid) to help support the cost of their education. Included are Pell Grants and Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants which are funded by the state, and Grants-in-Aid (GIAs) which are usually made available by the educational institution.

Educational Grants

Programs that provide venture capital, loans or grants or other forms of financial support for individuals or groups who want to establish or expand the operation of a business.

Business Financing

A program administered by the U.S. Department of Defense that provides retirement benefits to members of any of the branches of the military within DoD who have 20 cumulative years of active service. Retirees are eligible to receive benefits immediately regardless of their age at the point of retirement.

Military Retirement Benefits

Programs that provide information and guidance for eligible individuals who need assistance in determining whether they qualify for the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit program which allows for the deduction of payments for some types of home care, child care and adult day care services when such care is necessary to allow the individual to work. Service recipients must be children younger than age 13 or a spouse or other dependent of any age who is incapacitated. The credit amount cannot exceed a family's tax liability, and no benefit is provided to families whose incomes are so low that they have no income tax liability.

Federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Information

A federal program established by the Civil Service Retirement Act which provides regular cash benefits for qualified federal employees who retire because of age and years of service, involuntary separation not for cause, or disability.