We feel your long term financial success can be enhanced by the educational materials we provide on this site. By following the links to the Moneysworth Financial Information and our collection of Financial Articles, you can obtain long range planning advice and tips for successful financial living.

Get answers to the questions most commonly asked by consumers interested in the Free In Five program.

Call 1-800-448-9080

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 contributed 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 for the availability of meetings in your area.
• Call (651) 649-4573 for more information or a referral

AARP Legal Services Network

• 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

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

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 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
• 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 Employment 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, and training and basic education
• Or, call 1-877-872-5627 for more 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 Serach 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

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

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