What are some financial aid programs available for widows?
961968
Go to www.fastweb.com\nThey have millions of financial aid resources on there.
327120
Found this on the social security website:\n\nHow much will a widow receive?\n\nThe amount you will get is a percentage of the deceased's basic Social Security benefit. The percentage depends on your age and the type of benefit you are eligible for. A widow or widower, full retirement age or older, will receive 100 percent deceased's basic Social Security benefit.\n\nA widow or widower can receive full benefits at age 65 or older (if born before January 2, 1940) or reduced benefits as early as age 60. The age for receiving full benefits is increasing for widows and widowers born after 1939 until it reaches age 67 for people born in 1962 and later.
284844
The Government has created a portal to help individuals who need benefits because of life events. Visit http://www.govbenefits.gov\n\nUse the drop down button\nDO YOU NEED BENEFITS BECAUSE OF A LIFE EVENT?\nChoose the life situation best applicable to you and then see if you qualify for the available government assistance.\n\nForget grant money - there's hardly any money for individuals. Go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) and Grants.gov - these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. But you'd be hard pressed to find any grant that would support individuals.\n\nTo check for available housing grants, go to HUD http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/grants/fundsavail.cfm\n\n\nhttp://www.cfda.gov\nhttp://www.grants.gov\nhttp://gtionline.fdncenter.org\nhttp://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol66/grants.htm\nhttp://www.sba.gov/expanding/grants.html
10450
Get your facts and information straight and well- organized- include names and dates whenever possible.\n\nPresent the information to the nearest TV station with an investigative or consumer help program. Even if they don't give it air time, they can still offer advice.\n\nLook in the community services section of your phone book- contact...\n- free legal aid\n- handicapped services\n- elderly services\n- United Way First Call For Help\n- Habitat for Humanity\n- anyone else that looks good\n- low-income housing programs\n\nIf either is a regular in a church, social or fraternal organization, or even a bar, let them know about the problems and see if they can help somehow.\n\nHOWEVER... let's be realistic here and face a couple uncomfortable points. \n- Low income. With that income it is unlikely that anyone will loan them any money.\n- It sounds like they were living 'off the grid' to some extent (wind/solar, apparently no insurance, etc.) This always makes it harder to get help when it becomes necessary.\n- Living in their own home may not be the best option for two disabled older people. For example, I don't think they would be at the front of the list for a donated home.\n- The father's age alone will work against him in getting some forms of help. Few programs will provide lots of money for rebuilding a house that he might not be able to stay in for a very long time.\n\nAsk for the dream, but be realistic and thoughtfully consider the options and any offers for help.\n\nGood luck!
468647
I've never heard of anything for people over 55, but there are free tuition programs for people over 65.  Look into your local colleges and ask if they have any programs.  Also, there are college advising programs/services that can be accessed on the internet.  It could never hurt to ask a financial aid advisor you're interested in programs.
485409
A good place to start is by contacting the nearest senior center. Also try community education. Local churches are another good place to try. They usually have senior groups and activities at churches as well as Bible studies. The United Way may have some references.\n\nSenior centers frequently have bridge and other card games, board games, sewing/needlework, crafts, pool, exercise classes, off-site trips to places of interest. They also usually serve a noon lunch for a reasonable price or even free if a need exists.\n\nYMCAs have all sorts of senior activities including aquatic exercises.\n\nSome older women join the red hat society. Its a social group where they where red hats and purple clothes and go on fun outings.\n\nCommunity ed classes can include all sorts of subjects such as bridge, computers, art. \n\nAnything that helps physically, emotionally, or spiritually is of benefit. I've seen people who are really depressed from loss of a spouse open up and blossom after getting involved in senior activities and developing a new network of friends.
1066499
The Government has created a portal to help individuals who need benefits because of life events. Visit http://www.govbenefits.gov\n\nUse the drop down button\nDO YOU NEED BENEFITS BECAUSE OF A LIFE EVENT?\nChoose the life situation best applicable to you and then see if you qualify for the available government assistance.\n\nForget grant money - there's hardly any money for individuals. You can go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov and Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov - these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. Browse through the listings and see if you can find any grant that would support your purposes.\n\nEven if you buy books on "how to get grants" or list that supposedly has information on grants -- all of them are mere rehash of what CFDA has, albeit packaged differently.\n\nNote though that these grants generally support non-profit organizations, intermediary lending institutions, and state and local governments. Most of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT - Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program. Individuals especially for personal purposes are not eligible for federal grants. \n\nGrants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women's business center that will train women entrepreneurs
143034
Yes, there is.  Check with your social services, they should be able to help you.
81888
You are intitled to a widow's pay As long as you have not married again since. http://www.va.gov/ you can get more info here.
196831
Was the spouse on Social Security? He/she may have been enitiled to Medicare benefits and you can send bills there to get paid. You may be eligible for surviving parents benefits if you have a child of deceased in your care.  Also depending on your age, you may be eligible for widow/ers benefits. Go to SSA.Gov for informtion. If you spouse was working contact the HR office at their place of work. Good Luck!
957240
Contact Focus on the Family, or some other Org like that. There are charities out there that benefit those in financial need who has a sick spouse/child/etc.\n\nMy best wishes to you.
494236
IF YOU HAVE A STATE UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE THEY WILL HELP ON A LOCAL LEVEL AND WWW.FAFSA.GOV WILL HELP ON A STATE AND GOVNERMENT LEVEL...PLUS SOME CAREER COLLEGES OFFER DIFFERENT GRANTS AND LOANS OR THINGS OF THAT NATURE
1149254
First of all, I am sorry to hear you have lost both your parents.  As far as your question is concerned, Social Security does have a survivor benefit.  Now, since you are under 18 that support would go to your guardian to support you. When I say support you, I am referring to feeding you; clothing you; keeping a roof over your head, ect.  If you are in foster care, it would be payable to the state.  If you are living with another relative, it would go to them.  I don't think you would receive benefits after you turn eight teen, because at that point you are an adult and no longer a dependant.  I would try to find out if your parents had a will just incase they had some sort of life insurance that you may be entitled to or estate.  If you live with relatives, I would suggest you sit down with them and ask some questions.  I would not invest in a lawyer until there is good reason to believe something is being held from you that you are entitled to.  Are you sure that your parents actually owned anything tangible of value?  Did they have a house they owned that was sold after their death before foreclosure?\n\nIf you are in foster care, please plan for your future.  Stay in school and try your best to get good grades.  Visit the high school counselor and find out if there are any scholarship programs for students that are in the custody of the state.  It's going to be a tough road for you.  Hang in there. You can rise above it.\n\nTake care :)
978548
Stipends are usually awarded to students that work in a specific office on campus. You can take a look at www.finaid.org for tons of information on scholarships and grants and also talk to the financial aid office of the school you are interested in attending. Good news, there are scholarships out there specifically designed for single mothers that are looking to return to school. Some even pay for childcare. Just continue to keep researching the net and talk to the staff at the university and you should be able to find it. Hope that helps and I am proud of you!
104810
There are many grant programs etc.available.  Check with your local and state government.  Also, a really good motivating read is "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" It is really straightforward.
256051
If you are a widow/widower, one of the best sites is Widownet.org. They are totoally made up of other widows/widowers, and no one would really understand what it is you're going through unless they've been through this themselves.
1213
The Government has created a portal to help individuals who need benefits because of life events. Visit http://www.govbenefits.gov\n\nUse the drop down button\nDO YOU NEED BENEFITS BECAUSE OF A LIFE EVENT?\nChoose the life situation best applicable to you and then see if you qualify for the available government assistance.\n\nForget grant money - there's hardly any money for individuals. Go to the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) and Grants.gov - these are two sites created by the federal government to provide transparency and information on grants. But you'd be hard pressed to find any grant that would support individuals.\n\nMost of the federal grants are given to specific target groups with specific requirements (e.g. minority business owners involved in transportation related contracts emanating from DOT - Grant#20.905 Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Short Term Lending Program \n\nGrants are also often given to non profit groups or organizations involved in training or other similar activities (grant 59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance that are given to those who will create women's business center that will train women entrepreneurs