Guides & Resources
- Home /
- Guides & Resources
Hiring your first employee: what you're now on the hook for
The day your first employee starts, you take on payroll tax, I-9 checks, new-hire reporting, wage rules and record-keeping. Here's what each one actually requires.
HUBZone and 8(a): two certifications, two different tests
HUBZone tests where your business and its employees are located; 8(a) tests the owner's financial disadvantage. The rules, the limits, and how to check an address.
Running a business from home without breaking a rule
Zoning, licences, your lease, the IRS exclusive-use test and insurance: the five layers of rules that apply when you run a business from home.
Selling to the Federal Government: The First Steps
Registering to sell to the federal government is free. How SAM.gov, the Unique Entity ID, NAICS codes and set-aside contracts actually work for a tiny business.
Starting a business after service: what's actually available
What veterans actually get when starting a business: free VBOC advice, Boots to Business training, SBA VetCert certification, loan fee relief and VR&E support.
The Women-Owned Small Business certification, step by step
How to get WOSB certified free through the SBA: ownership and control rules, EDWOSB thresholds, the documents you need, and what set-asides actually get you.
Writing a business plan a lender will actually read
The one-page lean plan is for you; lenders want the traditional one. What SBA's guidance says your plan and projections must contain to get a loan.
Qualifying for Lifeline through Your Child's Benefits
Your child's Medicaid, SNAP or SSI can qualify your whole household for Lifeline. Who applies, what proof you need, and how the one-per-household rule works.
The National Verifier Said No: How to Find Out Why and Fix It
Most National Verifier denials are data mismatches, not rulings that you're ineligible. What each error means, which documents fix it, and how manual review works.
Which documents actually prove you qualify for Lifeline
What counts as proof for Lifeline: the four details every benefit letter must show, the three-month pay stub rule, and how address and identity are judged.
Your Lifeline recertification is due: what happens if you ignore it
Miss your Lifeline recertification window and you're de-enrolled five business days later. Who has to act, how USAC contacts you, and how to get back on.
Food banks and SNAP are not the same thing. Use both.
Food banks hand out food the same day; SNAP takes up to 30 days but pays every month. How the two systems differ and how expedited SNAP bridges the gap.
Getting an ID When You Don't Have a Permanent Address
No fixed address doesn't mean no ID or no benefits. How shelter letters, General Delivery and the National Verifier's map option work when you have no address.
Phone service and safety when leaving an abusive situation
How to separate your phone line from an abuser's account under the Safe Connections Act, and how the Lifeline survivor benefit can cover service costs.
Replacing a lost Social Security card, and what you need it for
How to replace a lost Social Security card free through SSA, which documents count, and why Lifeline only needs the last four digits, not the card.
Facing a utility shutoff: the LIHEAP crisis track
A shutoff notice triggers LIHEAP's crisis track: federal 48- and 18-hour deadlines, reserved funds until March 15, and help with arrears and reconnection.
Getting a Child Online for School on a Low Income
The ACP is gone, but a student can still get online at home. How Lifeline, school and library options, and the FCC's broadband labels actually work.
TANF cash assistance: what it is and who can get it
TANF cash assistance varies sharply by state. How the block grant works, work requirements, the 60-month time limit, and what TANF means for Lifeline.
Your Lifeline provider isn't helping. Here's who to escalate to.
When your Lifeline provider won't fix the problem, there's a clear escalation ladder: USAC, FCC complaints and appeals. Here's each rung and what to have ready.
Registering a business: structure, EIN, licences
The EIN is free from the IRS and it isn't step one. The real order of registering a business: structure, state filing, tax ID and the licence layers.
Free and Reduced-Price School Meals: Applying and Qualifying
Who qualifies for free or reduced-price school meals, the 2026–27 income limits, and when a SNAP case number, or no form at all, replaces the application.
Medicaid renewal: how to keep coverage you already have
Most people who lose Medicaid at renewal are still eligible. Learn the 90-day rule, how to fight a termination notice, and how to protect your Lifeline discount.
What an SBA 7(a) Loan Is, and Who Actually Gets One
The SBA 7(a) loan is a bank loan with a federal guarantee, not government money. Here's what lenders actually check, and where to look if you won't qualify yet.
SSI vs SSDI: which one you get changes what else you qualify for
SSI qualifies you for Lifeline and usually Medicaid; SSDI does not. Understand the funding, health coverage and benefit differences before you apply.
Categories
- ACP ( 5 )
- Ayudas Del Gobierno 101 ( 3 )
- Business Funding ( 6 )
- Consejos Técnicos ( 2 )
- Device Reviews ( 37 )
- FAQs ( 15 )
- Free & Discounted Tablet ( 145 )
- Free Government Phone ( 385 )
- Free Government Tablet ( 194 )
- Free Phone ( 409 )
- Free Phone & Tablet ( 519 )
- Free Phone & Tablet Near Me ( 127 )
- Government Assistance 101 ( 845 )
- Government Support ( 276 )
- How to Apply ( 17 )
- How to Qualify ( 16 )
- Lifeline Program ( 300 )
- Lifeline Program Facts ( 7 )
- Lifestyle ( 115 )
- Lifestyle & Events ( 47 )
- Medicaid/Medi-Cal ( 391 )
- Medicaid/Medi-Cal ( 345 )
- Medicare ( 39 )
- Mobile Tips ( 173 )
- News & Updates ( 146 )
- Other Programs ( 71 )
- Others ( 17 )
- Programa Lifeline ( 3 )
- Providers ( 6 )
- Self-Employment ( 6 )
- Small Business ( 12 )
- Smartwatch Guide ( 7 )
- SNAP - Food Stamps ( 51 )
- SNAP/Food Stamps ( 221 )
- SSI ( 38 )
- Starting a Business ( 8 )
- TANF ( 1 )
- Tech Hacks ( 117 )
- Tech Tips ( 254 )
- Teléfono Y Tableta Gratis ( 40 )
- Uncategorized ( 34 )
- Understanding Lifeline Program ( 29 )
- Veterans & Survivor Support ( 4 )
- WIC ( 67 )
Tags
- 7(a) Loan
- 7(a) Loans
- 8(a) Program
- 90-Day Reconsideration
- 911
- Acp
- Acp and Ebb
- Acp Application
- Acp Benefit
- Acp Free Phone
- Address Verification
- AMS Error
- Benefit Qualifying Person
- Benefit Transfer
- Benefits
- BIA General Assistance
- Boots to Business
- Broadband Labels
- Business Funding
- Business Insurance
- Business Licences
- Business Plan
- Business Registration
- Calfresh
- California EBT Customer Service Number
- Cash Assistance
- Cell Phone Plans
- Child Benefits
- Community Eligibility Provision
- Consumer Rights
- Contact
- Crisis Assistance
- Data
- DAV
- DAV X
- De-Enrollment
- Device Offers
- Disability Benefits
- Disaster Assistance
- Disaster Recovery
- Domestic Violence
- Duplicate Address Error
- E-Rate
- Earned Income Tax Credit
- Ebb
- EBT
- EBT Card
- EDWOSB
- EIN
- Eligibility Documents
- Emergency Calling
- Emergency Food Stamps
- Energy Assistance
- Enhanced Tribal Benefit
- Esim
- Expedited SNAP
- Fair Hearing
- Faq
- FCC
- FCC Complaint
- FCC Form 5630
- Fcc Form 5631
- FCC Rules
- FDPIR
- Federal Contracting
- Federal Poverty Guidelines
- Federal Public Housing Assistance
- FEMA
- Financial Projections
- Florida EBT Application
- FLSA
- Food Assistance
- Food Banks
- Food Stamps
- Form I-9
- Free Business Advice
- Free Business Counseling
- Free Government Phone
- Free Government Phone for Students
- Free Government Phone in Alabama
- Free Government Phone in Alaska
- Free Government Phone in Arizona
- Free Government Phone in Arkansas
- Free Government Phone in California
- Free Government Phone in Florida
- Free Government Phone in Georgia
- Free Government Phone in Hawaii
- Free Government Phone in Idaho
- Free Government Phone in Illinois
- Free Government Phone in Indiana
- Free Government Phone in Kentucky
- Free Government Phone in Louisiana
- Free Government Phone in Maryland
- Free Government Phone in Michigan
- Free Government Phone in Minnesota
- Free Government Phone in Missouri
- Free Government Phone in Montana
- Free Government Phone in Nevada
- Free Government Phone in New Jersey
- Free Government Phone in New York
- Free Government Phone in Ohio
- Free Government Phone in Oklahoma
- Free Government Phone in Pennsylvania
- Free Government Phone in South Carolina
- Free Government Phone in Tennessee
- Free Government Phone in Texas
- Free Government Phone in Utah
- Free Government Phone in Vermont
- Free Government Phone in Virginia
- Free Government Phone in Washington
- Free Government Phone in West Virginia
- Free Government Phone in Wisconsin
- Free Government Phone in Wyoming
- Free Government Phone West Virginia
- Free Government Phones in Mississippi
- Free Government Phones in South Carolina
- Free Government Tablet
- Free Government Tablet With Food Stamps
- Free IPhone
- Free Lunch
- Free Phone
- Free Phone and Tablet
- Free Phone for Seniors
- Free Phone for Veterans
- Free Phone Plan for Low Income
- Free Phone San Francisco
- Free Phones With Ebt
- Free Replacement
- Free Tax Filing
- Gig Workers
- Government Assistance Programs
- Government Contracts
- Grant Scams
- Grants.gov
- Heating Bills
- Hiring
- Home Broadband
- Home Office Deduction
- Home Ownership
- Home Repair Loans
- Home-Based Business
- Homelessness
- Household Size
- Household Worksheet
- Housing Choice Voucher
- HUBZone
- ID Documents
- Identify Information
- Identity Documents
- Identity Verification
- Income Documentation
- Income Eligibility
- Income Limits
- Independent Economic Household
- International Calling
- Internet Assistance
- IRS
- IRS Free File
- Keep Your Number
- Licences and Permits
- Lifeline
- Lifeline Address Change
- Lifeline Appeal
- Lifeline Application
- Lifeline Benefit
- Lifeline Denial
- Lifeline Discount
- Lifeline Documents
- Lifeline Eligibility
- Lifeline Income Limits
- Lifeline Income Proof
- Lifeline Program
- Lifeline Providers
- Lifeline Recertification
- Lifeline Rules
- Lifeline Support Center
- Lifeline Survivor Benefit
- LIHEAP
- Line Separation
- Link Up
- LLC
- Losing Benefits
- Lost Phone
- Low Income
- Low-Income Assistance
- Low-Income Internet
- Manual Review
- Marriage and Divorce
- Medicaid
- Medicaid Renewal
- MediCal
- Medicare
- Medicare Savings Programs
- Microloans
- Minimum Service Standards
- Motorola
- Moving States
- NAICS Codes
- Name Change
- National Verifier
- NLAD
- Noble Mobile
- Non-Usage Rule
- Nonprofit Lenders
- NSLP
- Number Transfer
- Oklahoma Lifeline Providers
- Old Phones
- One per Household
- One per Household Rule
- Orbic Phones
- PASS
- Payroll Taxes
- Personal Guarantee
- Phone Replacement
- Phone Safety
- Phone Security
- Phone Service
- Port Out PIN
- Port-Out Fraud
- Procedural Termination
- Proof of Address
- Proof of Eligibility
- Proof of Income
- Public Housing
- Real Estate
- Recertification
- Reconnection
- Redetermination
- Rental Properties
- Renters
- Renting
- Safe Connections Act
- SAM.gov
- Samsung Phones
- Save Money
- SBA
- SBA Certification
- SBA Disaster Loans
- SBA Grants
- SBA Loans
- SBA Microloans
- SBDC
- SBIR
- Scam Warning Signs
- School Meals
- SCORE Mentoring
- Section 8
- Self-Employed
- Self-Employment
- Seniors
- Services
- Set-Aside Contracts
- Shelter Address
- Small Business Funding
- Small Business Loans
- Small Business Size Standards
- Small Disadvantaged Business
- SNAP
- SNAP Application
- Social Security Card
- Sole Proprietorship
- SSA
- SSDI
- SSI
- Stolen Phone
- Students
- Survivors Pension
- Switching Carriers
- Switching Providers
- T-Mobile Network
- Tablet
- TANF
- Tax Refund
- Tax Return
- TCL Phone
- TEFAP
- Time Limits
- Tribal Benefit
- Tribal Lands
- Tribal Lifeline
- Tribal TANF
- Unlimited Data
- USAC
- USDA
- Utility Bills
- Utility Shutoff
- VA Benefits
- VBOC
- VetCert
- Veterans
- Veterans Pension
- VITA
- VR&E
- Weatherization
- WIC
- Women's Business Centers
- Work Requirements
- Worker Misclassification
- WOSB
- Zoning