_________________________________________ Chapter 2: Are You Eligible?

Are You Eligible?!

A First Draft

Turn over the corner or put a bookmark at this page.

You’ll be referring back to these pages again and again.

When my kids and I went homeless due to unpaid child support, I had worked
with nonprofits including as a nonprofit grantwriter. At the time we went homeless,
I was working at a nonprofit. So I already knew where to look. I had people who
guided me how to apply! (Thank you Nancy, Beth and Shari!) But still I was often
confused by the process!

That's why I share this roadmap, this step-by-step-by-step guide. Because what I
learned then can help other kids can have a better, kinder childhood than mine
did. These programs kept us in our home for 16 full months/ as long as possible;
put presents under the Christmas tree, backpacks for school and shoes on my
kids, fed my kids when I was unable to. (Thank you Don & Marcella). Then these
Hand Ups helped us get back up on our feet! In this book I share every detail I
learned, everything you need...

Yet until now no book and very few websites offers much-needed guidance
to Find. Apply. Receive.

A roadmap is needed because there are over 130,000 nonprofits just to help
those who in need! Do you have time to sift through the lists and lists of hundreds
of programs from those 130,000 nonprofits that offer these 'stability and safety
net' programs?! Do you know how to tell which programs 'fit' your family?

Nonprofits like United Way, Red Cross, Rotary clubs, Catholic Charities all
receive donations that allow them to help assist with paying rent and utility bills,
provide free shoes, eyeglasses, assistance with dental care and braces, and so
much more. Helping hard-working families is exactly why Americans donate
to the nonprofits and their programs.

A roadmap is needed because each person, each family has its own unique mix
of income, assets and family size. And each nonprofit program has its own unique
mix of eligibility criteria, cut off points for amount of income, and what counts as
income and who is in your Family or Household.

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Hand Ups—not Handouts—for Your Hard Working Family

Our steps in this book are simple:

A. Find 25-30 programs that provide something you need for free or at low cost;
B. For each of those 25-30 programs, learn quickly whether you are eligible
for that program;
C. Then apply only to the programs that provide something you/your family
needs and for which you are eligible!

And to understand eligibility, first we start with basic nonprofit vocabulary...

The Federal Poverty Guidelines

The "Poverty Guidelines" is a chart issued in January of each year by the
Department of Health and Human Services. Almost every nonprofit uses the
numbers on the Federal Poverty Guidelines chart to determine your income
eligibility; in other words, whether or not you have too much income to qualify.
And the nonprofit does the math, not you! The Federal Poverty Guidelines chart is
also used by many other types of organizations to determine income eligibility for
their programs. Examples include utility and telephone companies, and
pharmaceutical companies determining whether you are eligible to receive their
medications for free or at a discount. (And of course in a later chapter, we walk
you through the simple steps to find specific programs in your area that assist with
utility and phone bills!)

There are a few different names for this Guidelines chart. The numbers are the
same each year; it's just the label, the title, on the top of the chart which may be
different. Titles commonly used include: "2018 Federal Poverty Level", "FPL
Calculation Chart--2018" or just "2018 FPL Income Guidelines" (and of course
many of the common terms are in this book's Glossary section.)

Some charts also show monthly income

as well as, or instead of, annual income,
for reasons we explain later in this
chapter. Lastly, Poverty Guidelines for
Alaska and Hawaii are different, so
some charts are labeled "Federal
Poverty Guidelines-48 States".

Now, it seems like we should be able to

answer the question "Are You Eligible" just by looking at the chart on this page. But of
course, since this chart is issued by the government/Uncle Sam, it's not 'simple'!

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____________________________________________ Chapter 2: Are You Eligible?

Do you know whether your Gross Annual Income should include any child support
received? Do you know that Family Size can be different than Household Size?
That's why you're reading this chapter—to learn!

These chapters provide the basic info and the steps you need to most
efficiently access nonprofits that fit your situation.
If you skip paragraphs, you'll miss steps...you won't be successful.

The last piece of information you need to

know here: The Federal Poverty
Guidelines are different from the Federal
Poverty Threshold, also called the Federal
Poverty Line. The Federal Poverty
Threshold is used for statistical purposes
by the government, legislators,
policymakers, researchers, etc.

The Income Brackets on Guidelines Chart

The 2018 Federal Poverty Guidelines chart below shows the most common income
cutoffs, known as income brackets. As we said above, income eligibility is
determined not by you, but by the nonprofit—based on information you
provide. The nonprofit does all the math that calculates which income bracket
you fall within. The income bracket is what determines if you are eligible at all, and
also how much assistance the nonprofit can give away to you. So very clearly, you
want to provide very accurate information to the nonprofit! You don't need to
be an accountant—you just need to read 6 more pages! Just 6 more pages; I
promise. (Learning about eligibility is the hardest part!)

Do not assume, if your income is over 400% on the chart below, that you are not
eligible. There's more to learn.

Eligibility is based on
three things: #1) Number
of people in your Family
or in your Household; #2)
Income (which can be
less than what you earn
from working); #3) Assets.

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Family Size vs. Household Size

Obviously, calculating eligibility starts with the chart's
first column. On the chart above, the first column
says "Size of Household". Now notice that on the
chart to the right, the first column says "Family Size".
Some nonprofit programs (and some government
programs including SNAP/Food Stamps) calculate
eligibility on Household Size; some use Family Size.
Those numbers can be very different.
"Family Size" is defined, for purposes of program
eligibility, as "two or more people related by birth,
marriage or adoption (spouse, parent, sibling, your child) who live at the same
address and also any person not living in that home but is a Dependent on your
taxes" (for example your child away at college who you claim on your tax return
as your Dependent). So Family Size could include relatives who live with you
such as your parents, grandparents, your Aunt Suzie.
"Size of Household" or "Persons in Household" simply means all people who
live at that address but are not necessarily Dependents on your taxes. So this
number could include your Family Size plus:
Ÿ someone for whom you are Legal Guardian;
Ÿ the aide who lives in and cares for your elderly parent your home;
Ÿ Aunt Suzie's son who shows yours as his address on his Driver's License.

u Why is this important? For a number of reasons, including that the

nonprofit will require Proof of Address for everyone you list on your
application as a member of your Family or a member of your Household.

The nonprofits receive billions of dollars in

Each year Americans donate
over $350 billion to the 9
different categories of
nonprofits (known as Public
Charity Subsectors). The 3
Subsectors which received the
most in donations in 2017:
Ÿ Religion ............. $122.9 Billion
Ÿ Education ............... 59.7 Billion
Ÿ Human Services.... 48.6 Billion
donations each year (see box on left). Some
nonprofits (primarily the Human Services
category) give away the majority of those
donated dollars to individuals or families who
are eligible. Before they give away $200,
$500, often $1000 to you/your family for free
(from each nonprofit), of course they expect
to see documents which prove you/your
family are eligible. The nonprofits have to
follow some rules dictated by the IRS.
The rules of the IRS are strict. So the
rules of the nonprofits are too.

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____________________________________________ Chapter 2: Are You Eligible?

So don't include Aunt Suzie in your total number of Household Size if she hasn't yet
changed her address to your home on her Drivers License/can't provide paperwork
that proves she lives in your home!

Would you spend time applying for an engineering job if you weren't an engineer? So
would you waste time applying to a nonprofit you're not eligible for?! Or would you
prefer to follow the steps in this book, find then provide 25-30 nonprofits with a few
numbers—and have your budget stretched with $2,500, $6,000, maybe as much as
$20,000 in assistance per year?

The steps in this book come from my personal experience looking for
assistances from nonprofits so I could feed and clothe my children ...and also
from my professional experience.
I have been doing these very steps for 15 years. I have found literally
hundreds of grant and government contract (RFP) opportunities for my clients
and employers. I then confirmed that my client/employer was eligible, and that
the opportunity 'fit', then submitted successful applications. In other words, for
15 years I've done exactly this, and only this professionally. And brought in
literally millions of dollars for my clients and employers. For them, not for me :(
I feel privileged to use my personal and professional experience to write these
words that can help you/your family stay afloat financially. I just ask you again
read the dedication in the front; those folks are much of the reason you and I
have this book.
We got this.

In Chapter 5 we provide the very detailed steps to efficiently submit complete

documents that make up your full application! We also teach you the easy and
simple steps that very effectively protect and secure any sensitive personal financial
documents, as well as some excellent tips from my personal experiences... such as
"Don't Forget to Take Your Driver's License Out Of the Copy Machine!"

Gross Annual Income: An Overview

Income eligibility for programs is based on an individual or family's countable
income and expenses. As one example, at some nonprofits, alimony or child
support received is countable—added into—the dollars you earn from working. At
some, it is not. And as you can see from the chart below, the difference between
being eligible or not could be less than $122 in your countable monthly income.

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The math that some nonprofits must do to calculate your eligibility is not simple;
some have to factor in 33 different types of income and expenses! Notice on the
chart above and below how small the difference is between one income bracket to
the next. The higher your income bracket, the less the nonprofit is allowed to give
away to you. (And also notice how many income brackets there are on this chart
below...and that's only half of them!!)

Your part is so incredibly simple: #1—have all your numbers accurate (Income,
Family and Household Size, etc.) so the nonprofits we find together can do the
math. And #2—keep your numbers organized, all in one place. That's it.

And together we are ready to start creating that "Quick List of Your Numbers"!
Yes, of course this book provides one very simple document which will organize your
list of income, expenses, assets and family and household size in one place! And
after that step, the only remaining steps are to find 25-30 nonprofits, then apply...and
those steps, I promise, you'll find are easier than this one/eligibility!!

The countable income of well over 60% of all U.S. households falls within
eligibility guidelines of majority of nonprofit Hand Ups programs.
____________________________

40% working families who are eligible have not applied for food stamps.

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____________________________________________ Chapter 2: Are You Eligible?

Your Gross Annual Income

As we said above, some nonprofits factor in more than 33 different types of
countable or not countable income and expenses! In this Chapter we list the
types that affect majority of our readers, or which the
nonprofits most commonly add into or subtract from the
income you earned. In Chapter 4 we provide the full list of
all 33 types, with simple explanations of the unusual ones.

In Chapter 4 we also list as many of the other variables

we could find that can increase eligibility, such as if
you or someone in your home is disabled, a teacher,
performing artist, or you have a family member currently
or in the past served our country in law enforcement or
the military. It was my honor and privilege to be loved
by, engaged to, a Navy Captain after he left the service.
To our law enforcement and military families: I offer my
sincere Thank You For Your Service to country &
community.

Remember our goal is 20 hours of your time that brings in $2,000,

$4,000, $6000 per year in Hand Ups that help your family. I/we
use our considerable expertise to provide every single step,
direction you need while also keeping this process efficient.

So the steps to document that lists your full, final "Quick List of Your Numbers" is
of course provided in a future chapter, together with several very simple lists that
keep you organized (in paper and electronic format). Those include:
Tracking Applications Submitted (you don't want to apply twice!)
Timeline of Needs

A what? Timeline of Needs?! Do you know to apply for holiday help by mid-
October? For free backpacks and school supplies in May ... for the next school
year?! This Timeline of Need (sample on next page) allows you to look ahead in an
organized way to see what you need, and when it's best to apply so you have that
Hand Up ready when you need it! It's not
helpful to you to find the many nonprofits in
your area that assist with cost for summer day
care if you're too late to apply...

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Sample Timeline of Needs

January Find/apply for one-time assistance with utility bill
February Find/apply for assistance with summer daycare
March Find/apply for assistance/scholarship so your child can play in a
Spring non-school sports League such as baseball, soccer

Again, our goal is to provide a roadmap of every step necessary to move you
towards financial self sufficiency, with a few dollars in the bank as cushion for
emergencies...instead of paycheck-to-paycheck. So in future chapters we also
help you find matching-savings plans, offer very simple tips for working with
creditors, and raising your credit score/FICO. In 2004 my FICO was 520 thanks
to unpaid child support; I'm proud to say I raised it to over 650 simply by
learning/using some simple tactics that I share with you. And my FICO is even
higher than that now, Hurray!

And Yes, of course future chapters include HowTo find the nonprofit programs!
Over many years I've developed a unique and highly effective Keywords search
that efficiently finds programs in your city and state, which fit your family size...and
fill a need you chose to include on your Timeline of Needs! My Search tactics
avoid spending hours looking at the many online and paper directories which list
dozens, hundreds, of programs...with almost no way to know if any programs on
the list 'fit' your family.

You'll also find a couple of my personal Life stories like the one discussing our
'rooflessness' (not homeless thank god and friends and family) at the end of this
chapter. Plus more quotes that encourage. (We make this as simple and efficient
as possible; we didn't say it would be effortless!) Having money problems is
reallllly hard. I've been where you are. I was unable to feed my hungry children.
So I'll do what I can to encourage you;
other people did that for me.

After this page, you will know if it's

possible you are eligible to fill out a few
pieces of paper, bring in assistance for
free, bring in the Hand Ups that can
change your Life, that prevent financially
devastating consequences to your family
from something as simple as a car
repair, a week's lost wages or large
medical bill.

So now, finally — drumroll please — Are You Eligible?!

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____________________________________________ Chapter 2: Are You Eligible?

First, determine your Family Size using the definitions in this Chapter; write that here:

This is your Family Size:

Now fill in the annual amount you receive, in any of blanks that apply to you, from:
Most recent Last year's
check stub income tax return
Gross wages, salary per year $________ $________
(before any deductions)
Self-employment/business income $________ $________
(Line 31 on Schedule C)
Social Security $________ $________
Retirement or pension / year $________ $________
Unemployment compensation $________ $________
Workers Compensation $________ $________
Veterans' disability, pension $________ $________
Total $________ Total $________

Put the lower of the two totals here: $

This is your estimated Gross Annual Income:

Now, using the chart below, select the row in the first column which lists your
Family Size. Follow that row across to the number that is closest to but more than
your estimated Gross Annual Income. Now simply look at the % at the top of that
column to determine what income bracket you most likely fall in! Then turn to the
next page....

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Hand Ups—not Handouts—for Your Hard Working Family

If you are close to above 100% and also close to 250% or less,
you/your family are most likely eligible for the vast majority of nonprofit programs.
Together we've accomplished estimating if you are eligible!

If you are above the 250% bracket, keep reading!

Remember how many different income brackets on the chart on Page 6?! And how
very few dollars made the difference between one income bracket or the next?!

We used the words 'most likely', and 'estimated' as each nonprofit program has
its own criteria for countable income and expenses. Countable Expenses,
like unreimbursed medical costs or expenses for child or elder care, get
subtracted from your income. And of course that would put you in a lower
Income Bracket (since your Gross Annual Income would be lower). If you are in
the 138% Income Bracket, you might get $750 from the same program which
would give $500 to you if you were in the 250% Income Bracket.

Remember—your part is so incredibly simple: Have all your numbers accurate,

Keep your numbers organized, all in one place. In Chapter 4 we provide as
complete a list of all variables as possible, so you can be sure that everything that
counts is in one place, on the document that is your Quick List of Numbers. Then
all that's left to do is find 25-30 nonprofits, then apply!

Remember...while it does assure that I keep eating if you buy the book,
the goal is to use our considerable expertise to help you.

And now here's some possible help, a Hand Up!

If your estimated Income bracket is anywhere near 138%_____________

Find your state's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) online and
apply. Now. (Simply Google your state's name Plus SNAP or "Food Stamps",
then apply online or in person at the local office).

This is one important example where Household vs. Family Size matters. For
Food Stamps it doesn’t matter whether the people who live in your household are
your Dependents on your taxes, or not.

40% of working families who are eligible are not receiving Food Stamps.

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____________________________________________ Chapter 2: Are You Eligible?

A US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) study in 2012 of the SNAP program found that:
Ÿ 35% of those eligible who have not yet applied would qualify for $200/month;
Ÿ 58% of those eligible who have not yet applied would qualify for $100/month.

Believe me when I tell you, if you are eligible, having food stamps in any amount
lifts alot of stress. Yes, it feels like accepting charity, and for many of us that feels
very bad. Again, our goal is to move you towards financial self sufficiency, with
some dollars in the bank as cushion for unexpected expenses or emergencies.
You can't get there if you're hungry. One quarter of the folks who use food stamps
do so just for a few months, then are back on their feet again.

And completing this one application does two things: it lets nonprofits that you
contact know very quickly that you could be eligible for that nonprofit's program.
And also leads you easily to other programs—most states automatically mail you
other program applications including for free milk from the Special Milk Program
for Children; Child and Adult Care Food Program; the National School Lunch
Program; the School Breakfast Program; and the Summer Food Service Program.

If your estimated Income Bracket is anywhere near 200% or less_______

One-time utility bill payment assistance (as well as energy-related home repairs
and weatherization of your home so you save money) is available from your local
utility company. Look on your bill for what will be called something like “Care to
Share” or "Project Care" for the number to call for LIHEAP (Low-Income Home
Energy Assistance Program).

Call your local Catholic Charities; the offices in my area were most helpful to
someone like myself who was just learning.

go to www.Modest Needs.org. Modest Needs is a national nonprofit that makes

small, emergency grants to low-income workers who are at risk of slipping into
poverty. Since 2002, Modest Needs' donors have stopped the cycle of poverty for
13,784 hard-working individuals and families by empowering members of the
general public to help.

If your estimated Income Bracket is much higher than 400%_________

The techniques in this book can still guide you to many programs, especially
“sliding scale” programs. "Sliding Scale" simply means pro-rated to what your
income bracket says you can afford. So you pay less than full/normal rate for that
item or service such as daycare, eyeglasses, braces, summer camp. In a future
chapter, you'll also learn about Special Districts, which often have higher income
eligibility cutoffs.

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Remember, our goal here is simple: Find. Apply. Receive. Efficiently!

We look forward to continuing to assist you.

Susan

And now I share a personal story from our Life -- 2002...

Our 17-year-old is a freshman in college now, attending a great school in

Boston on a 75% out-of-state merit scholarship. She visited via Greyhound
bus after, instead of on, Christmas; that was the cheapest possible fare.
And she had no home to “come home” to.

It’s hard, being homeless. We’re not 'roof-less', thank god and family and
friends. But we are definitely homeless. Tonight, after Christmas dinner at
Gramma’s, my son, my daughters and I spent the four hours of holiday
traffic at first singing Christmas carols, then beautiful blonde daughter read
Lord of The Rings to her 7 year old brother. When I pulled -- finally! -- into
the driveway, my daughters got out…and I tooted the horn, and my son
and I drove off to where my son and I were laying our heads that month,
20 minutes away. My daughters live with my sister, you see—my family
has no home.
.

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