By Matthew Lesko
Rockville, MD (July 4, 2005) – Two-thirds of Americans indicatedin a recent national survey that they believe the government hasfinancial programs they would be eligible for but don’t knowenough about them to apply – primarily because the government isnot doing a sufficient enough job of letting Americans know. Thesurvey was conducted by the University of Connecticut, Centerfor Survey Research and Analysis. These recent survey resultsreveal that many Americans think the government is doing a poorjob of letting people know about government financial assistanceprograms. Of the 1,000 people surveyed, nearly half (48%)earning more than $75,000 annually, believe they are eligiblefor money they don’t know about. A significant majority of bothDemocrats (73%) and Republications (60%) believe there is moneyavailable they are unaware of. And more people under the age of44 (72%) than over the age of 60 (56%) believe there is unknownmoney due to them. “During these tight economic times whenfamilies are watching each and every penny they earn and spend,it is crucial for Americans to know what monies are available tothem,” says Matthew Lesko, New York Times Best Selling authorand consumer advocate who works to educate Americans about freegovernment money. “It is imperative for all Americans to knowwhat they have access to.” Do You Think You Are Eligible ForGov’t Financial Programs But Don’t Know How To Get Them?*..........................Yes............................................ 65%..........................No............................................. 27%..........................Don’t Know..............................7%
* U of Connecticut Survey
Recent studies by the government itself and other researchorganizations show that over 50 million consumers don’t know totake advantage of programs that they are legally entitled toincluding: 4 million senior citizens can receive up to $1,000from Medicare but they don’t apply because they are unaware ofthe program (http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04363.pdf) 6 millionfamilies are missing out on free health insurance for their kids(http://www.kff.org/medicaid/loader.cfm?url=/commonspot/security/getfile.cfm&PageID=28333) 10 million families can get up to$4,000 a year for groceries but don’t apply(http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04346.pdf) 8 million collegestudents can receive grants and low interest loans but don’tapply(http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Press_Releases_2004&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=3245) Single momscan receive some of the $673 million in collected unclaimedchild support payments(http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d04377high.pdf) 29 million seniorcitizens don’t know they can get colonoscopies, bone massmeasurement, prostate cancer and glaucoma tests paid for byMedicare (http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d03958.pdf) According tothe United States Government budget data for 2005*, thegovernment gives out over $1.5 Trillion a year in money programsto individual taxpayers, and only 12% of this money goes to thepoor**. This is an average of over $11,000 for every U.S.taxpayer. And this figure continues to grow every year no matterwho is in the White House. To learn more about this survey orhow to access resources for government money, please callMatthew Lesko 301-929-8400 or visit www.lesko.com/survey.
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