Jobs & The Economy: Putting America Back to Work

“The American Jobs Act answers the urgent need to create jobs right away. But we can’t stop there. We have to … start building an economy that lasts into the future — an economy that creates good, middle-class jobs that pay well and offer security… If we want [companies] to start here and stay here and hire here, we have to be able to out-build and out-educate and out-innovate every other country on Earth.”

— President Barack Obama, Sept 8, 2011

Jobs & The Economy: Putting America Back to Work

Resources for You

The Obama Administration has been working to make government more open and responsive, and to deliver government services in a way that is convenient for all Americans. We’ve put together some links to information and tools that can help you navigate online health care, education, housing and tax resources.

Tools You Can Use

Tax Cut Calculator Tool

Interactive tool calculates tax cuts you might be receiving.

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Tax Receipt

This interactive tool allows you to understand how and where your tax dollars are being spent. It combines social security, Medicare and income taxes to calculate a tax receipt.

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Financial Literacy

The U.S. government has a website dedicated to teaching all Americans the basics about financial education. Whether you're buying a home, balancing your checkbook, or investing in your 401k, MyMoney.gov can help you do it better. Throughout the site, you'll see important information from 20 federal agencies. Plus: Find out how financially savvy you are by taking the interactive quiz.

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Benefits Finder

Find out if changes in your life situation make you eligible for any federal benefit programs. This tool searches through many benefits including child care/child support, education/training, housing, healthcare, tax assistance and many more. Visitors can narrow their search by category, state, or federal agency.

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Student Loan Payment Calculator

Learn more about the new Income-Based Repayment (IBR) Plan for federal student loans, including IBR eligibility requirements, the benefits of IBR, an IBR payment calculator, and some examples of how your monthly student loan payment amount can be reduced under IBR.

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Student Debt Repayment Assistant Tool

A simple tool from the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau that helps you understand available options to repay your student loans, as well as advice for paying your loans back more quickly.

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Education

College Affordability and Transparency Center

This easy-to-use website identifies the most reasonably-priced universities, as well as the institutions whose prices rise at the highest rates. College applicants and their families can compare tuition rates at colleges and universities or search on a variety of criteria, including whether the college is a two- or four-year program, public or private, or a for-profit or not-for-profit college. You can also compare the cost of a year at college based on its listed tuition and fees or its “net price” (tuition and fees minus grant and scholarship aid).

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Pell Grants

The Federal Pell Grant Program provides need-based grants to low-income undergraduate and certain post-baccalaureate students to promote access to postsecondary education. Students may use the grants at any one of approximately 5,400 participating postsecondary institutions. Grant amounts are dependent on: the student's expected family contribution; the cost of attendance (as determined by the institution); the student's enrollment status (full-time or part-time); and whether the student attends for a full academic year or less.

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Student Aid on the Web

The official student gateway to federal financial aid, including eligibility, application, repayment, and more - plus self-service tools to help you prepare, choose, and apply for college.

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Health Care

New Patient's Bill of Rights

The Patient’s Bill of Rights puts consumers, not insurance companies, in control of their health care. In 2014, new, competitive private health insurance exchanges will give millions of Americans the ability to pool together and purchase affordable, quality coverage

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Find Health Care Options

This tool from the Department of Health & Human Services will help you find the health insurance that best suits to your needs, whether it's private insurance for individuals, families, and small businesses, or public programs that may work for you. It was created to help consumers under the health insurance reform law, the Affordable Care Act.

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Families with Children: Health Care Options

Learn more about the improvements in place for families under the Affordable Care Act, including coverage of children’s pre-existing conditions. If you are losing work coverage, were rejected insurance, or need insurance, this site will supply more information.

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Young Adults: Health Care Options

The Affordable Care Act is expanding options for coverage for young adults and making them more affordable. Already in place is a provision that enables young adults to stay on your parent’s policy until you are 26 – even if you don’t live with them, or you are married. You can also find more information on post grad insurance, losing school coverage, losing work coverage, options if you were rejected for insurance or if you can’t afford coverage.

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Individuals: Health Care Options

This will provide you more information about Health Care for healthy individuals, individuals with health conditions, and women. It explains the recent improvements under the Affordable Care Act and the coming improvements. If you are losing work coverage, were rejected insurance, or need insurance, this site will supply more information.

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Pre Existing Conditions: Health Care Options

People with a pre-existing condition who have been uninsured for at least six months and have been denied coverage (or offered insurance without coverage of the pre-existing condition) by a private insurance company can now participate in the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP), which will provide coverage until 2014 when you will have access to affordable health insurance choices through an Exchange. You can find state-run and federal programs here.

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People with Disabilities: Health Care Options

The Affordable Care Act is expanding health insurance options for people with disabilities, and making them more affordable. If you are losing work coverage, were rejected by an insurance company or need to find insurance, you can find more information here.

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Drug Discounts for Seniors

The Affordable Care Act protects seniors’ guaranteed Medicare benefits, while taking important steps to fight waste, fraud and abuse. In 2010, 4 million people with Medicare who fell into the “donut hole” received $250 rebate checks. In 2011, people with Medicare in the donut hole receive a 50% discount on their covered brand name prescription drugs.

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Preventive Services for Seniors

Seniors with Medicare are eligible for an annual wellness visit and free preventive services, such as mammograms and colonoscopies. Find out exactly what other screenings are eligible.

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Health Care Consumer Assistance Programs

Many states offer help to consumers with health insurance problems. The Affordable Care Act gives grants so that states can start or strengthen existing Consumer Assistance Programs (CAPs). This interactive map will help you find the Consumer Assistance Program in your state.

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Housing

Good Neighbor Next Door Problem

The government has realized that public servants sometimes need a little help when it comes to home buying. The Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program is designed to improve the quality of life in urban communities by encouraging law enforcement officers, teachers (pre K-12), firefighters and emergency responders (EMT) to purchase and live in homes in these communities.

Find Out if you Qualify

Find Mortgage Help
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Following these easy steps can help connect you to a HUD-approved housing counselor, at no cost. The counselor can help work with your mortgage company to try to avoid foreclosure. The housing counselor can help the homeowner organize finances, understand mortgage options and find a solution that works. Follow the easy steps to begin the process.

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Making Home Affordable- Eligibility Tool
Treasury Department, Housing and Urban Development

Making Home Affordable is a key part of the Obama Administration’s effort to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. If a homeowner is struggling with monthly mortgage payments or has already missed a payment, this resource can help. If your mortgage is owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, you may be eligible for a Home Affordable Refinance to take advantage of lower interest rates. By answering a list of questions, this tool can help determine home owner’s next steps so that they can start making the most of Making Homes Affordable programs.

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Payment Reduction Calculator
Treasury Department, Housing and Urban Development

Under the Home Affordable Modification program, the target maximum amount for your mortgage payment (or mortgage debt-to-income) should be 31% of your gross (pre-tax) monthly income. This Payment Reduction Estimator will determine what your current mortgage debt-to-income is and how much your monthly payment may be reduced if you qualify for a modification.

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Home Affordable Unemployment Program (HAUP)

Unemployed home owners having trouble making mortgage payments may be eligible for UP, a temporary reduction or suspension of mortgage payments for at least three months while seeking re-employment. This site provides more information on the program and how to apply.

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Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP)

Homeowners who are current on their mortgage but have been unable to obtain a traditional refinance because the value of the home has declined may be eligible to refinance through HARP. HARP is designed to help refinance a home into a new affordable, more stable mortgage. The HARP loan is a new loan and will require a loan application and underwriting process. Loan refinance fees will apply.

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Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program (HAFA)

Homeowners with mortgage payments that are unaffordable who are interested in transitioning to more affordable housing may be eligible for a short sale or deed-in-lieu of foreclosure through HAFA . The benefit of a HAFA short sale is that a homeowner is no longer responsible for the difference between what is owed on their mortgage and the new purchase price.

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