10 Best Grants for Paying Off Debt in  | Application Steps (2024)

Home 10 Best Grants for Paying Off Debt in | Application Steps

GGRANTS

  • August 28, 2023

If you are toborrow money to cover your educational costs, you would have tremendous debt as you start your career. This article explores the top grants for paying off debts in 2023.

If you are having difficultiesrepaying your debts, there arerepayment assistance programsandfree grantsto help reduce portions of your debt. You canrepay your loans and get out of debt fasterby using grants.

As a student, if you have federal orprivate student loans, You might be eligible for grants based on your profession.

As an entrepreneur, Times are hard for small businesses; dealing with business and debt can be a nightmare. Fortunately with the help of a grant which is available to entrepreneurs can help them survive and succeed in the competitive business environment.

Table of contents

  • What is a Grant?
  • Best Grants for Paying Off Debts
    • #1. National Health Service Corps
    • #2. Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program
    • #3. Tech Grant
    • #4. Department of Justice Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program (ASLRP)
    • #5. Indian Health Service (IHS) Loan Repayment Program
    • #6. National Institute of Mental Health Loan Repayment Program
    • #7. NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program
    • #8. NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program
    • #9. TheNHSC Student to Service Loan Repayment Program
    • #10. Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)
  • How to Search for a Free Grant
  • The Basics of Grant Application
  • How to Apply for a Grant
  • FAQs – Grants for Paying Off Debt
  • Conclusion
  • References
  • We Also Recommend

What is a Grant?

A grant is an award, more often a financial award, given by a company or government to an individual or company to reach a goal or incentivize performance. Grants are gifts that you do not have to pay back under most conditions.

These include education loans, research money, and stock options. Some grants have vesting periods or lock, also known as waiting periods before the grantee can take ownership of the grant.

This article provides detailed information on the 10 best loan grants available for you to pay off some or all your debts, the basics of applying for grants, and how to apply for grants.

See:15 Best Single Mothers Grants for Housing in 2023

Best Grants for Paying Off Debts

Here are our top picks on the best grants for paying off debts in 2023:

  1. National Health Service Corps
  2. Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program
  3. Tech Grant
  4. Department of Justice Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program (ASLRP)
  5. Indian Health Service (IHS) Loan Repayment Program
  6. National Institute of Mental Health Loan Repayment Program
  7. NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program
  8. NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program
  9. The NHSC Student Service Loan Repayment Program
  10. Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)

#1. National Health Service Corps

Loan payback scheme through the National Health Service Corps (NHSC): Under this program, licensed primary care practitioners can earn up to $50,000 in exchange for two years of work at an NHSC location. You can use this program to repay federal and private student loans.

Here are some of the qualifying professions for this program

  • Certified nurse-midwives
  • Dental hygienists
  • Dentist
  • Health service psychologist
  • Licensed clinical social workers
  • Marriage and family therapist
  • Physician assistants
  • Psychiatric nurse specialists
  • Nurse practitioners
  • Allopathic and osteopathic physicians

The funds received through the National health service corps loan repayment program are exempt from federal income and employment taxes.

Visit Website

#2. Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program

The Health Resources & Services Administration administers this program. The Nurse Corps, Loan Repayment Program, reimburses qualifying RNs, RNs in advanced practice, and nursing instructors for up to 60% of their remaining student loan debt.

If chosen for the award, you must agree to devote a minimum of two years of your nursing career to a designated critical shortage institution or an eligible nursing facility. The benefits that you receive through this program are taxable as income.

Visit Website

Read: 20 Colleges with the Happiest Students in 2023

#3. Tech Grant

This grant is a federal program for students who want to take teaching as a career. If qualified, you canreceive up to $4,000 per year to help pay for your study.

In exchange, you must consent to work for a minimum of four years as a teacher in a high-need institution that serves low-income kids in elementary or secondary school.

The government changes the grant into a debt that needs to be returned with interest if you are now qualified to fulfill the Tech Grant’s service obligations.

Visit Website

#4. Department of Justice Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program (ASLRP)

This is a program for department of justice employees. Under this program, the Justice Department will pay back certain federal loans for highly competent attorneys in return for a three-year service commitment. Those who qualify may get up to $6,000 annually to pay their debts.

Visit Website

#5. Indian Health Service (IHS) Loan Repayment Program

Under this program, healthcare professionals can get up to $40,000 to repay their loan in exchange for working for at least two years at the IHS facility tribally operated 638 health program or an urban Indian health program.

An IHS recruiter will help you to find employment at eligible sites. You can use this loan repayment program to repay federal and private student loans. The following professions are eligible for this program

  • Advanced practice nurses
  • Behavioral health professionals
  • Allopathic and osteopathic practitioners
  • Dentists
  • Chiropractors
  • Dietitians
  • Dentists
  • Medical laboratory scientists
  • Nurses
  • Optometrists
  • Acupuncturist
  • Pharmacists
  • Physical therapists
  • Social workers

Visit Website

#6. National Institute of Mental Health Loan Repayment Program

This loan payback program participates in numerous loan repayment schemes run by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). These were developed for doctors of medicine conducting biological or behavioral research funded by domestic or federal agencies.

Qualified professionals can make up to $100,000 to pay off their student loan debt in return for a two-year commitment to research services. The NIH will reimburse you for any federal and state taxes incurred due to benefits you have received, even if the repayment aid obtained through this program is taxed as income.

Visit Website

Also, see:10 Best Business Grants For Disabled Veterans In 2023

#7. NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program

Healthcare professionals are encouraged to work in underprivileged communities through this initiative. If qualified individuals agree to work at the designated location for a minimum of three years, they may be eligible to earn up to $75,000 in student loan payback help.

Some of these professionals are:

  • Nurse practitioners
  • physician assistant
  • pharmacist
  • registered nurses
  • substance abuse counselors, and many more.

The benefits you receive through this program are not taxable.

Visit Website

#8. NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program

This program is part of an effort to combat the nation’s opioid epidemic in rural communities. Eligible clinical can get up to $100,000 to pay their student loans in return for three years of service at a rural NHSC-approved substances use or disorder treatment facility.

The following is the list of qualified professionals:

  • Certified midwives
  • Clinical pharmacist
  • Licensed clinical social workers
  • Allopathic and osteopathic physicians
  • Nurse practitioners and nurse anesthetists
  • Psychiatric nurse specialists
  • Registered Nurses
  • Substances use disorder counselors
  • Psychiatrists

Visit Website

#9. TheNHSC Student to Service Loan Repayment Program

Eligible students in their final year of school can receive up to $120,000 if they agree to a three-year service commitment to work at an approved site. To qualify, the student must be in dental, medical, or nursing school.

The benefits received through NHSC students to service loan repayment programs are not taxable.

Visit Website

#10. Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)

The SBIR offers grants to small businesses to participate in federal research and development with the potential for commercialization.

It’s a highly competitive awards-based program that helps companies to achieve scientific excellence and technological innovation.

To qualify for SBIR grants, you must operate a for-profit company and satisfy other requirements.

Visit Website

How to Search for a Free Grant

Below is how you can search for grants for paying off debts as well as other free rants:

  • Federal government: use Gov loans to find potential loan repayment programs and grants.
  • Professional associations: such as the association of American medical colleges and the American dental association, maintain databases of available scholarships, loan repayment programs, and grants.
  • State education agencies: many states in the United States have grants and student loan assistance programs for their residents. Visit your state education agencies to find opportunities related to your profession.

The Basics of Grant Application

It is essential to understand the five basics before thinking or applying for a grant or funding :

  • Determine your eligibility for specific funding opportunities
  • Get familiar with the overall procedures of grant rewards and applications.
  • Ensure to identify the right funding opportunities
  • Learn the requirements you will need to agree to if awarded the grant.
  • The final step is to apply for the grant.

Now let’s learn how to apply for a grant (step-by-step guide)

Before applying for a grant, you must understand how the three phases of a grant life cycle work. There is the pre-award stage, when the grants are announced and the eligibility is determined.

After that, there is the award phase, when the grant recipients have been picked, and the final phase, the post-award phase, when the grant proposal is put into action and winners are expected to report on their progress and use of the funds.

See Also:15 Best Grants for New Businesses in Wales | 2023 Requirements

How to Apply for a Grant

Below is a simple guide on how you can apply for grants for paying off debts as well as other rants:

  • First, read the complete grant application, including guidelines and eligibility requirements, to ensure the requirements are met.
  • Research and understand the priorities and strategy of the loan repayment organizations and for the grant.
  • Assemble data, plans, and budget information that are requested before going for it. The data and number of related questions must be accurate because some organizations will dismiss inaccurate information.
  • Answer all the questions. Some questions are multi-pronged, so make sure you answer all the elements of the questions accurately.
  • Be direct with your answer and give the grant evaluator a complete picture of how you want to carry out your program.
  • Give the budget request adequate attention because this is the most critical component of a grant application.

In your budget request, you must ensure the following:

  • Your budget is in line with the budget requirement listed by the organization.
  • The request is, at most, the maximum amount of the grant.
  • The request is in unity with your program plan outlined in the grant.
  • Request sustainable investments that will sustain themselves for years and not have to be purchased yearly.
  • Make sure you review the requirements. After reviewing and clearly articulating the problems, barriers, and how the program plan will handle these problems, you are fully ready to submit your application.

FAQs – Grants for Paying Off Debt

How do you get money you don’t have to pay back?

Applying for a personal grant is one solution. The government provides subsidies to aid Americans in meeting their financial obligations and getting through difficult times.

What is a debt hardship loan?

A hardship loan is finance intended to assist those experiencing a financial crisis brought on by an unexpected cost or a lack of income. A hardship loan can be used to pay for unanticipated expenses, such as a medical bill or automobile repair, and cover regular expenses like rent and food.

Can you be forgiven for debt?

This is known as debt forgiveness, when the lender partially or entirely forgives a debtor’s outstanding balance on a loan or credit account. The borrower typically has to be eligible for a particular program before the creditor may forgive all or part of the amount owing.

How many years until debt is forgiven?

In California, the statute of limitations typically lasts four years for consumer debts resulting from written contracts. This covers debts from credit cards, auto, personal, private student, and medical loans.

Are there grants to pay off debt?

Best grants for paying off debt in 2023:

National Health Service Corps
Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program
Tech Grant
Department of Justice Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program (ASLRP)
Indian Health Service (IHS) Loan Repayment Program
National Institute of Mental Health Loan Repayment Program
NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program
NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program
The NHSC Student to Service Loan Repayment Program
Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)

Conclusion

To be awarded grant money can be a long and strenuous process, but it can be done. It has to be done correctly to avoid waste of effort. Although the results are worth the effort, the satisfaction and sense of winning a grant will not only sponsor your project but also motivate you to push forward and chase your goals harder.

References

We Also Recommend

  • 10 Best Grants For Heat Pumps In UK | 2023 Requirements
  • 15 Best Grants for Single Parents in the UK | 2023 Requirements
  • Best Grants for Home Improvements in the UK | 2023 Application Guide
  • Disability Grants For Furniture In The UK | 2023 Requirements
10 Best Grants for Paying Off Debt in  | Application Steps (2024)

FAQs

What is the number one debt relief program? ›

The 8 best debt relief companies of April 2024
Debt Relief CompaniesBest for
Featured partner National Debt ReliefBest for private student loans
Money Management InternationalBest overall
Accredited Debt ReliefBest for customized options
Americor Debt ReliefBest for all unsecured debt types
4 more rows
Mar 29, 2024

Can I get a government loan to pay off debt? ›

While there are no government debt relief grants, there is free money to pay other bills, which should lead to paying off debt because it frees up funds. The biggest grant the government offers may be housing vouchers for those who qualify.

What is the most highly recommended method of paying off debt? ›

Focusing on paying down the account with the smallest balance tends to have the most powerful effect on people's sense of progress. The snowball method, which has been popularized by “The Total Money Makeover” author Dave Ramsey, prioritizes your smallest debts first, regardless of interest rate.

Is there such a thing as a government debt relief program? ›

Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a government-sponsored program for credit card debt relief. In fact, if you receive a solicitation that touts a government program to get you out of debt, you may want to think twice about working with that company.

What is the National Debt Relief Hardship Program? ›

Founded in 2008, National Debt Relief is a debt settlement company that negotiates the reduction of unsecured debt. If you have over $7,500 in unsecured debt, NDR may be able to cut that amount in half.

What is the 20000 dollar debt relief program? ›

Canceling runaway interest for millions of borrowers

President Biden will announce plans that, if finalized as proposed, would cancel up to $20,000 of the amount a borrower's balance has grown due to unpaid interest on their loans after entering repayment, regardless of their income.

Does the government give out $9000 dollar grants? ›

The government does not offer free money or grants to people for personal needs.

What is a hardship loan? ›

What Is A Hardship Loan? A hardship loan is a type of financing that helps people dealing with a financial crisis caused by an emergency expense or an income shortfall. You can use a hardship loan to cover everything from a surprise medical or car repair bill to necessities like food and rent.

What are the 5 types of government loans? ›

Loan Categories
  • Agricultural Loans.
  • Education Loans.
  • Housing Loans.
  • Loan Repayment.
  • Veterans Loans.

What is a trick people use to pay off debt? ›

Using a strategy called the debt avalanche method, you make the minimum payments on all your debts and put extra money toward the balance with the highest interest rate. Once that debt is paid off, you put any extra money toward the balance with the next-highest interest rate and so on.

How do I pay off debt when I live paycheck to paycheck? ›

Tips for Getting Out of Debt When You're Living Paycheck to Paycheck
  1. Tip #1: Don't wait. ...
  2. Tip #2: Pay close attention to your budget. ...
  3. Tip #3: Increase your income. ...
  4. Tip #4: Start an emergency fund – even if it's just pennies. ...
  5. Tip #5: Be patient.

What is the debt avalanche method? ›

The debt avalanche method involves making minimum payments on all your outstanding accounts and using any extra money to pay off the bill with the highest interest rate. Using the debt avalanche method will save you the most in interest payments.

Who can help me clear my debt? ›

Seek professional help to get out of the debt trap: You can approach professional debt counselling agencies that provide advisory services. They also offer repayment options.

How can I get debt free on a low income? ›

SHARE:
  1. Step 1: Stop taking on new debt.
  2. Step 2: Determine how much you owe.
  3. Step 3: Create a budget.
  4. Step 4: Pay off the smallest debts first.
  5. Step 5: Start tackling larger debts.
  6. Step 6: Look for ways to earn extra money.
  7. Step 7: Boost your credit scores.
  8. Step 8: Explore debt consolidation and debt relief options.
Dec 5, 2023

How do I ask for debt forgiveness? ›

Unfortunately, my circ*mstances are unlikely to improve in the foreseeable future and I have no assets to sell to help clear my debt. I am therefore asking you to consider writing off my debt as I can see no way of ever repaying it. If you are unable to agree to this, please explain your reasons.

Is it a good idea to use a debt relief program? ›

Debt relief plans can help make your payments more manageable, but they're not right for everyone. It's important for you to understand how each plan or program works and how debt relief can affect your finances.

Who's the best debt consolidation company? ›

Compare the best debt consolidation loans
INTEREST RATESLOAN AMOUNTS
LendingClub8.98% to 35.99%$1,000 to $40,000
Discover7.99% to 24.99%$2,500 to $40,000
Happy Money11.72% to 17.99%$5,000 to $40,000
LightStream8.99% to 25.99%$5,000 to $100,000
3 more rows

What program helps someone pay off debt faster? ›

Debt settlement programs are typically offered by for-profit companies to people with significant credit card debt. The companies negotiate with your creditors to let you pay a “settlement,” or lump sum of money that's less than what you owe. They agree that this amount will settle your debt.

Do debt relief companies ruin your credit? ›

Debt relief services may have a negative impact on your credit score, but that impact may not be as big as you think — and in some cases, it can help your credit. How these services impact your credit depends on the debt relief option you choose.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Dan Stracke

Last Updated:

Views: 6133

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (63 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Dan Stracke

Birthday: 1992-08-25

Address: 2253 Brown Springs, East Alla, OH 38634-0309

Phone: +398735162064

Job: Investor Government Associate

Hobby: Shopping, LARPing, Scrapbooking, Surfing, Slacklining, Dance, Glassblowing

Introduction: My name is Dan Stracke, I am a homely, gleaming, glamorous, inquisitive, homely, gorgeous, light person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.