Want to apply for government grants to help with food, living, or medical expenses? The first step to get free grant money is to take a look at all of the grant program opportunities. There are several places online where you can find a list of government grants for individuals and families. 

Research each type of gov grant so you can figure out which ones apply to your situation. Do you need help with food, housing, healthcare, or something else? Oftentimes, if your income is low and you are having trouble paying your bills, you may need help in multiple areas. 

Luckily, qualifying for one federal government grant program such as Medicaid or SNAP may enable you to quickly qualify for other assistance programs, since you have already met the income and other criteria and provided the required paperwork. 

Another alternative to find government grants you may apply for is to use the online tool provided on the U.S. benefits website. There, you can answer a few personal questions and then be directed to programs for which you may qualify.

Since each government assistance program has its own criteria and eligibility requirements, the next step is to determine which ones you can apply to. These programs often take one or more of the following into consideration:

• Age
• Household income
• Family size 
• Health 
• Employment status
• Residency status

Additionally, if you recently moved to a different state, the program requirements may be different in your new state of residence. This could cause you to miss out on certain programs, even if you were previously receiving benefits in your old state.

All the government assistance programs outlined above are federal grant programs. Many of these federal programs are administered by each individual state through one of their agencies, which may have different names. 

Each state has some leeway regarding both the qualification requirements for each government assistance program as well as the benefits that recipients can get. For example, in some states, Medicaid recipients pay no monthly premium and zero or extremely low co-pays. In others, though, there is both a premium and co-pays when the person goes to a doctor or a healthcare facility. 

Take a look at the website of each state’s financial assistance agency to learn more about the qualifications and what type of documentation they require. You may need to provide the following information to apply for assistance:

• A government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license
• Birth certificate
• Proof of address
• Pay stubs
• Bank statements 

Likewise, you may need to visit the agency’s office in person for an interview. This is one way the department can verify the information you provide on an application. Once you submit everything to the state agency, it will check to make sure it has all the paperwork and documents necessary and that the information you provided was true. 

The federal grants application process can take up to several months to complete, during which you will not receive any benefits. If you do qualify for a grant program, you may be by mail, phone, and/or email. Be sure to continue to meet all of the requirements, such as updating the agency about any changes in your circumstances. Failure to do so could result in termination of your benefits.