The United States government does offer some grants for individuals citizens who have gotten over their heads when it comes to their accumulated debt. The federal government and other organizations offer programs that have been designed with the sole purpose of consumer debt relief.Many Consumers QualifyAlthough not every consumer will qualify for this type of debt relief in the form of a government grant, there are many who do qualify. A government grant is money that is extended to you without the condition that you repay it. This means that the money is yours free and clear, without you having to worry about repayment. The eligibility for this type of government grant is dependent upon your income, the amount of debt your owe, how much debt is in arrearage, and the amount of money that the government would have to extend to you in order to get you out of debt and back on your feet.Eligibility RequirementsMore specific eligibility requirements are in effect from program to program. The first step that consumers can take to find out if they qualify is to locate the government agencies that offer the programs that they are interested in. The government provides all consumers with their free publication that can either be mailed to your home or downloaded online that details all of the government grants that are available and how to apply for them. Other available grants for consumers include government grants to start a business, buy a home or make a down payment, and money to get an education.Many people do not understand how the government grant process works, and therefore millions of dollars in U.S. grant money lies unclaimed each year. To apply for a grant, you simply have to be a U.S. citizen who meets the guidelines that have been set out by the governmental agency that is holding the grant dollars that you need.Follow Guidelines To Get Your Grant MoneyIt is important to remember when applying for any type of government grant that you should read the guidelines and rules that have been established for the grant program that you are applying to before applying. If you must present documentation, be sure to include it with your grant application as well as any other paperwork that might be needed to fully process your government grant application.Most grants that are available from the United States government for U.S. citizens have a definitive timeframe that you can apply for assistance and grant proceeds, so you should observe any deadlines stringently in order to make sure that your application for a government grant is received in time to be considered for an award. Be sure that you meet all qualifications before applying to avoid having your application rejected. You should also prepare to be patient. The U.S. government receives numerous applications for popular grants, so it may take quite awhile before you will hear back from the agency that you apply to.