This blog post was first published in 2017 and updated on April 1, 2020.
Grants.gov regularly receives a significant amount of queries from users hoping to apply for personal financial assistance from the federal government. These individuals might be looking for home repair grants or forms of disability assistance.
Others are unfortunately driven to Grants.gov by scam artists posing as agents of Grants.gov (or some made-up variant) who promise “free government grants” in exchange for monthly fees or gift cards.
Benefits.gov vs Grants.gov
As we have stated before on this blog, it’s important to make a general distinction between individuals (i.e., one person) seeking government assistance and organizations (e.g., a university, state government, or nonprofit) applying for a federal grant.
If you are an individual seeking government assistance, you should go to Benefits.gov. There, you will find eligibility information for a wide range of offerings, including healthcare and medical assistance, housing and public utilities, financial assistance, and social security and retirement.
The website, which has recently been redesigned, also has a helpful tool, called Benefit Finder, that can guide you to any federal assistance programs for which you are eligible to apply. Benefits.gov has also set up a resource page specifically focused on the Coronavirus (Covid-19).
How Grants.gov Differs
Grants.gov, on the other hand, is a web application that publishes funding opportunities from federal government agencies and serves as a digital mailbox for grant applications submitted by nonprofit organizations, universities, institutions, local governments, and other entities.
Grants published on Grants.gov fund the development and management of government programs and projects that benefit the public in some way.
If you are a researcher, grant manager, local government employee, or principal investigator looking to fund work that will benefit the general public, then you are in the right place. Click here to begin searching for grants relevant to your field or industry.
To learn more about Grants.gov and its services, visit the homepage and follow us on Twitter.
Grants.gov Community Blog 
Maybe benefits.gov should improve their google research
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i agree with you, benefits.gov should improve, cause people need it.
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I would like to know where to go for financial help to get my car fixed to I can be safe for work. Thank you in advance.
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Hi Ms. Suaurez, we recommend going to Benefits.gov as the post recommends: “If you are an individual seeking government assistance, you should go to Benefits.gov. There, you will find eligibility information for a wide range of offerings, including disaster relief, disability assistance, business loans, child care support, and energy assistance, among many more.”
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I am drawing disibily when i strarted drawing they off set my check, now my x wife and three kids or not getting a check, but i never got ajustment on my check i can’t make it on seven hundred a month , i need dental work, repairs on pickup, i want to know were is my money they off set that they are not drawing were it at l need so bad , who do i need to call someone give me a phone no. Please help!
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Hi Preston, please go to https://www.benefits.gov/ and complete the Benefits Finder tool to see if you are eligible for federal financial assistance.
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Hello ,I am a disabled mother of 2, disability caused by my ex-husband. As am aging I am having loads of health problems. Financial lack is another situation. My combined income is $1900+ I would like to go back to school through the Cobb Works Program but, my income is too high. My daughter is going on her second year of college at Georgia State, they are not offering extra financial help because I’m not poor enough. School starts in a few weeks and there is not enough money to pay her tuition. She worked for the summer but she is still short $2000+. What should I do? I’ve worked since I was 16 years old, I am not lazy neither is my child. I am trying hard to make ends meet, but $1900 don”t go far. Please help. PS. she is study to be a doctor, I don’t want her dream to go unfulfilled.
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Hi Nita, please go to https://www.benefits.gov/ and complete the Benefits Finder tool to see if you are eligible for federal financial assistance. You may also look into state / local government opportunities for financial benefits and grants for education.
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Thanks for making clear the difference Between Grants.gov and Benefits.gov.I had problems but checking whole the post and especially replies to the comments I figure out. Thanks for the links. Helped a lot.
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