Quick answer
Real free money comes from claiming what you are owed: unclaimed property held by your state, tax credits like the EITC, benefits you qualify for through Benefits.gov, refunds from overpaid bills or deposits, class action settlements you are part of, and rebates from utilities. The government does not give personal grants for bills through ads or calls, and real programs never charge a fee to receive money.
Places to check
- Unclaimed property. Search every state where you have lived.
- Tax credits. File a return to claim the EITC and Child Tax Credit even with low income.
- Benefits screener. Benefits.gov lists programs you may qualify for.
- Old deposits and refunds. Utility, rental security and overpaid account balances.
- Utility rebates. Energy-saving appliances and upgrades often come with rebates.
Free money red flags
Anyone asking for a fee, gift card or bank details to send you a grant is running a scam. Report it to the FTC.
Common questions
Does the government give free money for bills?
Not as personal grants. Help comes through programs like LIHEAP, SNAP and rental assistance, applied for through agencies.
Are free grant websites real?
Sites promising personal federal grants for a fee are scams. Federal grants are listed for free on Grants.gov, mostly for organizations.
How do I find class action settlements?
The FTC posts refunds from its cases. Notices for other settlements usually come by mail or email to affected people.
Where these facts come from
- USAGov: find unclaimed money from the government
- IRS: Earned Income Tax Credit
- USAGov: benefit finder
- FTC: government grant scams
Sources checked October 10, 2026. Programs and rules change; confirm details with the agency or company before you act.
Disclosures
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Rates and terms. Each lender sets its own rates, fees, and terms and will disclose them in writing as required by the federal Truth in Lending Act before you sign. Personal and installment loans from lenders in our network typically carry APRs from about 5.99% to 35.99% with terms from 3 to 84 months. Representative example: a $5,000 loan over 36 months at 15.99% APR has 36 payments of $175.76 and a total cost of $6,327.36.