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Lower Debt | FINVET | National Veterans Financial Resource Center
MIRECC / CoE
Lower Debt | FINVET | National Veterans Financial Resource Center
Empowering Veterans: Earn More Money, Save More Money, and Protect Your Money
Lower Debt and Bills
Choose the Goal You Want to Achieve Right Now:
- I want to manage my debt.
- I want to improve my credit.
- I want to lower my utility, medical, or legal bills.
Manage Debt
Credit Counseling
![Credit Counseling Credit Counseling](/https/www.mirecc.va.gov/visn19/finvet/images/lower-debt-01-credit-counseling.png)
Learn about free credit counseling through the Veterans Benefits Banking Program (VBBP).
- Resource: Up to 3 Free Credit Counseling Sessions | VBBP. [Go to 2.5-minute video].
- Learn Basics: How to Get Out of Debt | Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Learn Basics: What is Credit Counseling? | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
Debt Basics
![Debt Basics Debt Basics](/https/www.mirecc.va.gov/visn19/finvet/images/lower-debt-02-debt.png)
Learn how to get out of debt with debt and loan management tools and educational videos.
- Worksheets: Debt Management Tools | CFPB
- Learn Basics: Student Loans | CFPB
- Learn Basics: What is Bankruptcy? | US Courts [Go to 3-minute video].
- Learn Basics: Your Rights When a Debt Collector Calls | CFPB [PDF]
Build Credit
Credit Basics
![Credit Basics Credit Basics](/https/www.mirecc.va.gov/visn19/finvet/images/lower-debt-03-credit.png)
Resources include information on credit reports, scores, and history, and personal finance tips.
- Learn Basics: How Can I Improve My Credit Scores? | CFPB [Go to 1.5-minute video].
- Learn Basics: What are Credit Scores? | FTC [Go to 1.5-minute video].
- Learn Basics: What is Minimum Payment on Credit Cards? | FTC [Go to 1.5-minute video].
- Learn Basics: How to Fix Your Credit? | FTC
- Learn Basics: What is Your Credit History? | FTC
- Resource: How Do I Get a Copy of My Credit Reports? | CFPB
Lower Bills
Utility Bills
![Utility Bills Utility Bills](/https/www.mirecc.va.gov/visn19/finvet/images/lower-debt-04-utility-bills.png)
Find help with utility bills including phone, internet, heating, and water.
- Resource: Save on Phone or Internet via the Lifeline Support Program. Call 1-800-234-9473.
- Resource: Local Emergency Assistance through United Way helps with housing, food, clothes, car, or utility expenses. Call 211.
- Resource: Low Income Household Water Assistance Program | Health and Human Services (HHS)
Save Energy
![Save Energy Save Energy](/https/www.mirecc.va.gov/visn19/finvet/images/lower-debt-05-energy.png)
Reduce your household energy costs by increasing energy efficiency and lowering energy consumption.
- Resource: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program | HHS. Call 1-866-674-6327. [Go to 1.5minute video].
- Learn Basics: Weatherization Assistance Programs | Department of Energy (DOE). [Go to 1.5-minute video].
- Learn Basics: Set Your Thermostat for Comfort and Savings | DOE [Go to 2-minute video].
- Learn Basics: How to Save Energy Costs on Laundry | DOE
Legal Bills
![Legal Bills Legal Bills](/https/www.mirecc.va.gov/visn19/finvet/images/lower-debt-06-legal.png)
These services offer information and legal resources for Veterans.
- Resource: Legal Clinics and Medical-Legal Partnerships | VA [PDF]
- Resource: National Legal Aid Services | Legal Services Corporation
- Learn Basics: How Do I Find an Attorney in My State? | CFPB
- Resource: VA Homeless Program Legal Services for Veterans | VA
Medical Bills
![Medical Bills Medical Bills](/https/www.mirecc.va.gov/visn19/finvet/images/lower-debt-07-medical.png)
Manage your medical debt and pay for medical care.
- Resource: VA Debt Management Center. Call 1-800-827-0648.
- Learn Basics: How to Pay for Medical Care | USA.gov
- Learn Basics: How do I get Affordable Health Insurance? | HealthCare.gov [Go to 3.5-minute video].
- Learn Basics: How Do I Keep Medical Debt in Check? | CFPB
📣 Email us your suggestions, success stories, tools, or other financial resources for Veterans.
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Disclaimer of Endorsement: Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.
Disclaimer of Hyperlinks: The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Veterans Affairs of the linked websites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized VA activities, the Department does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. All links are provided with the intent of meeting the mission of the Department and the VA website. Please let us know about existing external links which you believe are inappropriate and about specific additional external links which you believe ought to be included.
Disclaimer of Liability: With respect to documents available from this server, neither the United States Government nor any of its employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.
Reference from this web page or from any of the information services sponsored by the VA to any non-governmental entity, product, service or information does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the VA or any of its employees. We are not responsible for the content of any “off-site” web pages referenced from this server.
Disclaimer of Endorsement: Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.
Disclaimer of Hyperlinks: The appearance of external hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Veterans Affairs of the linked websites, or the information, products or services contained therein. For other than authorized VA activities, the Department does not exercise any editorial control over the information you may find at these locations. All links are provided with the intent of meeting the mission of the Department and the VA website. Please let us know about existing external links which you believe are inappropriate and about specific additional external links which you believe ought to be included.
Disclaimer of Liability: With respect to documents available from this server, neither the United States Government nor any of its employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights.
Reference from this web page or from any of the information services sponsored by the VA to any non-governmental entity, product, service or information does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the VA or any of its employees. We are not responsible for the content of any “off-site” web pages referenced from this server.
Last Updated 9 August 2024