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DEPENDING ON YOUR SITUATION, ONE OR MORE OF THESE PROGRAMS MAY BE OF ASSISTANCE TO YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW.
12-STEP PROGRAMS
Debtor's Anonymous
The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop incurring unsecured debt
www.debtorsanonymous.org
Click on Find a DA Meeting for the availability of meetings in your area
Call the General Service Office at (781) 453-2743 for more information or a referral
Gambler's Anonymous
The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop gambling, which contributes to unmanageable debt and financial problems
www.gamblersanonymous.org
Click on Meeting Directory for the availability of meetings in your area
Call the International Service Office at (213) 386-8789 for more information or a referral
Spender's Anonymous
Find out if you are a compulsive spender
www.spenders.org
Click on List of Meetings
Call (651) 649-4573 for more information or a referral
RESOURCES AND REFERRALS FOR THOSE 55+
AARP Legal Services Network (LSN)
Provides easy access to attorneys who reduce their fees for AARP members and provide free 30-minute consultations in person or over the phone
www.aarp.org/states
Click on your state, and then select Family, Home and Legal.. Select Legal Issues under Topics in Family, Home and Legal for more information about the AARP Legal Services Network
Call 1-888-687-2277 for more information
Benefits Checkup
Comprehensive online service that screens 1,300 programs for federal, state and some local private and public benefits for older adults (ages 55 and over)
www.benefitscheckup.org
Fill out an on-line questionnaire to find out what benefits may be available to you
Call The National Council on Aging at (202) 479-1200 for more information
MILITARY PERSONNEL
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
Strengthens and clarifies some of the provisions of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940
Applies to members of the Uniformed Services, Reservists who have been called to Active Duty and to members of the National Guard called to Active Duty for more than 30 days pursuant to a contingency mission specified by the President or Secretary of Defense
Limits the amount of interest that can be collected on debts to 6% per year during the period of military service; the interest in excess of 6% per year is forgiven (as opposed to simply being deferred)
Applies to all debts incurred prior to the commencement of active duty and includes interest on credit card debt, mortgages, car loans and other debt (DOES NOT apply to federal guaranteed student loans, but deferrals or suspensions of payment may be available)
Interest rate reduction does not occur automatically; service members must request it in writing and provide a copy of their orders
www.usmilitary.about.com/cs/sscra/a/scra2.htm
Or, contact a Judge Advocate (JAG) or Legal Assistance Officer in your unit for additional guidance
GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Food Stamps
www.fns.usda.gov/fsp
Click on Find Out Whether You Could Be Eligible for Benefits to determine if you may be eligible to receive Food Stamp benefits
Website also available in Spanish
Call 1-800-221-5689 for more information
General website for a variety of government benefits
www.govbenefits.gov to answer questions and learn more information about benefits you might be eligible to receive
www.govbenefits.gov/govbenefits/benefits/federal.jhtml to search availability and eligibility for federal programs
www.govbenefits.gov/govbenefits/benefits/state.jhtml Click on your state to search availability and eligibility for state programs
website is partially available in Spanish
call 1-800-FED-INFO (800-333-4636) between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., EST, Monday through Friday
Low Income Energy Assistance Program
A federally-funded program to help eligible low income households meet their home heating and/or cooling needs
www.ncat.org/liheap/profiles/energyhelp.htm
Select your state from the drop down menu and click on Go To for information about LIHEAP assistance in your area
You also can call the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) project. NEAR is a free service providing information on where your can apply for LIHEAP. You can speak to someone at NEAR Monday through Friday, from 6 a.m.- 6 p.m. (Mountain Time) by calling the toll-free phone number at: 1-866-674-6327
Unemployment Benefits
www.workforcesecurity.doleta.gov/map.asp
Click on your state for information about unemployment insurance benefits that can provide temporary financial assistance to workers unemployed through no fault of their own who meet eligibility requirements established by state laws
Or, call 1-877-US-2JOBS (1-877-872-5627).
JOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE
Job Bank
www.ajb.org
Refer to JOBSEEKERS section for access to the Job Bank by zip code and job category
Job Opportunities
www.dol.gov/dol/jobs.htm for a list of Job Opportunities, or
Call 1-866-4-USA-DOL (1-866-487-2365)
Employment Training and Assistance
www.govbenefits.gov/govbenefits for information about the One-Stop Career Center Initiative. Under Benefits Quick Search select the heading Counsel/Counseling and click on Go. Under Program Name select the heading Employeement and Training Assistance
Job search assistance, referral and placement assistance, reemployment services to unemployment insurance claimants, labor market information, and individual skills assessments
If you are 18 or older and authorized to work in the United States, you may also be eligible to receive counseling, help in developing an individual employment plan, training and basic education
Or, call 1-877-872-5627 for additional information regarding services and access points in your state or local area
Job Layoff Assistance
www.doleta.gov/layoff/workers.cfm for information about services available to those who have just been laid off or are about to experience a layoff
Or, call 1-877-US-2JOBS (1-877-872-5627) for more information regarding services and access points in your state or local area
Career Center
www.govbenefits.gov/govbenefits
for information about the One-Stop Career Center Initiative. Under Benefits Quick Search select the heading Counsel/Counseling and click on Go. Under Program Name select the heading One-Stop Career Initiative.
These centers provide high-quality services to workers and job seekers under one roof in easy-to-reach locations
Eligible individuals also can obtain more intensive services and training, or
Call the One-Stop Career Center within the Employment and Training Administration at 1-866-487-2365 for information about state and local contacts
STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT ASSISTANCE
American Student Assistance
www.amsa.com for information about student loan repayment options
Student loan borrowers having difficulty with repayment, call the Repayment Assistance Center at (800) 343-8883
Student loan borrowers in default, call Payment Advisory Services at (800) 343-2120
Federal Student Loans
www.ed.gov/students/landing.jhtml Click on Find & Pay for College then click on Repay Student Loans for information about loan repayment options (consolidations, deferrals, forbearances)
Federal Direct Loan borrowers should contact the Direct Loan Servicing Center at 1-800-848-0979 or go to www.dlservicer.ed.gov for more information
Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL) borrowers should contact the lenders or agencies holding their loans
Perkins Loan borrowers should contact their loan servicer or the school that issued the loan
CHILD SUPPORT
Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement
www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/extinf.html
Click on your state for information about the Child Support Enforcement Agency in your area