The US government has set aside billions of dollars as government grants to help the population tide over economic hardships. These grants are not to pay off credit card debt or personal loans and any site which asks you to pay for information regarding government grants for credit card debt is dubious. It is also not advisable to pay someone for information about the grant applications and their eligibility, as the same information is available for free on related government sites. Government grants are need based aids and they are for a specific purpose, for example the administration recently increased the funding for education grants to enable students from low income families get higher education. Financial aid made available through government grants can vary from USD 100 to USD 100,000 and most of them have a strict eligibility criteria. The government recently passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 under which it promised nearly 275 billion dollars worth of grants for different sectors. Grant for Education Government education grants are given to students from low income families to help them get a higher education. There are several grants for individuals looking to continue with their education, like Pell Grant, SMART Grant, Academic Competitiveness Grant, TEACH Grant, etc. Each of them have their individual eligibility criteria and the reward also varies. One of the basic requirements for applying for these government education grants is filling the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form. Detailed information regarding each education grant is available on the federal student aid website, you can also contact the financial aid office of a college near you to get further information. Grants for Business Most of the government business grants are for nonprofit organizations and institutes working on projects that will help develop the community. Business ventures that plan to work on agriculture technology, renewable energy, or energy efficiency projects get government funding. The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistant (CFDA) website has details regarding government grants for small business, federal financial and non financial assistance programs. Once you have identified the grant which has an eligibility criteria which you qualify for, note the CFDA number and then access the government grants site for online applications. If you are wondering how to apply for free government grants, the CFDA website is a great resource and it will also assist you with writing a grant proposal. Grants for Medical Bills There are some government grants for medical bills and the information regarding these grants is available on the US Department of Health and Human Services website. Also, check the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website for free online applications regarding programs that offer financial assistance to low income families and senior citizens for medicines. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) are some of the agencies run by the Department of Health and Human Services, that provide assistance to a target audience. Each individual grant program will have a specific eligibility criteria, which you need to fulfill to qualify for receiving federal assistance. Grant Applications for Home Improvement The government also provides financial assistance to low income families for home improvement. This does not mean that the government gives free money to anyone who wishes to redecorate or renovate their homes. Home improvement grants are given to low income families to remove any health hazards from their home and provide a safe living environment. Those who receive home improvement grants cannot sell their homes for at least three years and if they wish to do so the financial assistance given will be converted into a federal loan. The US department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website has details regarding home improvement grants. The financial reward under this program is up to USD 7,500 and you can apply for such grants by accessing the government grants website which has a list of government grants. Grant applications are available for free on the individual government grant program websites and you need not pay for them.