Course Catalog / BMU 070 / Lesson 5 of 5

BMU 070

Quick review

1. Name two of the five things to check in a lease.

See the answer

Any two: rent and dates, deposit, fees, utilities and repairs, ending and renewing.

Why this matters

You do not have to do paperwork alone. Free help is out there. Your library, legal aid, and the office that sent the form can all help.

In this lesson you learn where to find free help. Then you finish your capstone: a complete practice form and your kit checklist.

Start with what you already do

You already ask for help in other parts of life. You ask a friend for a ride or a neighbor for a tool.

Common belief: Help with forms always costs money.

What is actually true: Lots of help is free. Public libraries and legal aid groups help with forms at no cost, and so do IRS VITA tax sites for people who qualify.

Key words

legal aid

Free legal help for people with low income.

agency

A government office, like the IRS or Social Security.

librarian

A person at the library who helps you find things.

volunteer

A person who helps for free.

Short explanation

Three places can help for free: your public library, legal aid, and the agency that sent the form or letter. Pick the one that fits your problem.

Step 1: Ask at your library

Libraries have free computers, printers, and staff who help. Many libraries also help people find, print, and fill out government and job forms. Ask at the front desk what help yours offers.

Step 2: Call legal aid for legal papers

For a lease problem, an eviction paper, or a court letter, try legal aid. The Legal Services Corporation pays for 129 legal aid groups across the country. Its website lets you search by your address. LawHelp.org has free legal forms and facts too.

Step 3: Ask the agency itself

The office that sent the form can answer questions about it. Get the phone number from its real website. USAGov also has a free help line: 1 844 USAGOV1 (1 844 872 4681). A real person will answer your question or tell you where to go.

Step 4: Get free tax help

The IRS runs free tax help called VITA. It is for people who generally make about $70,244 or less, people with disabilities, and people who speak limited English. Sites are often at libraries, schools, and community centers.

Step 5: Bring your papers

Bring the form or letter, your ID, and your kit. Write your questions down before you go. Help goes faster when your papers are ready.

Your capstone

Finish two things. First, a complete practice job form from Lesson 1, with every required box filled in, signed, and dated. Second, your kit checklist from Lesson 2, with each paper marked have it or need it, and who to contact for each need it paper. Then check it on the Course project page. BMU does not collect your papers.

Text version of this figure

• Question 1: Need a computer, printer, or form help? Yes: Library.
• Question 2: A lease or court paper? Yes: Legal aid: LSC.gov.
• Question 3: A tax return? Yes: VITA free tax help.
• If every answer is no: Call the agency, or USAGov.

Worked example: Pick the right help

Three made up people need help.

Part	Model	Why it works
Rosa	A job form online, and she has no printer at home.	Library: free computer, printer, and staff help.
Lou	A court letter about his lease.	Legal aid: search the Legal Services Corporation site by address.
Ben	A question about a benefits letter.	The agency: the number from its real website.

Practice: Pick the help

A made up worker named Kim needs help with her taxes. She makes about $40,000 a year. Where can she get free help?

Check your practice: feedback

VITA, the IRS free tax help. She can find a site near her with the IRS locator tool or by calling 800 906 9887.

Many VITA sites are at libraries and community centers.

Common mistakes

• Paying someone to fill out a simple form. Ask the library or the agency first. It is free.
• Going for help without your papers. Bring the form, your ID, and your questions.
• Waiting until the last day. Get help early, before the deadline.

Check your understanding

Take it as many times as you like. Pick an answer, then open the feedback.

1. Where can you get free help with a government form and a printer?

1. Your public library.
2. A paid form filing website.
3. A notary office.

See the answer and feedback

A is correct. Right. Libraries have staff, computers, and printers.

B: Those sites charge for help you can get free. Try your library. Review Step 1.

C: A notary checks signatures. They are not there to help fill out forms, and many charge. Review Step 1.

2. You got a court letter about your lease. Where can you look for free help?

1. A paid online form site.
2. Legal aid.
3. The landlord's office.

See the answer and feedback

B is correct. Right. Search the Legal Services Corporation site by address.

A: Paid sites are not lawyers. Look for free legal aid. Review Step 2.

C: The landlord is the other side. Look for free legal aid. Review Step 2.

3. What is VITA?

1. A paid tax prep chain.
2. An IRS audit program.
3. Free tax help from the IRS.

See the answer and feedback

C is correct. Right. For people who generally make about $70,244 or less, and others.

A: VITA is free. It is run with IRS help. Review Step 4.

B: VITA does not audit anyone. It gives free tax help. Review Step 4.

Capstone rubric

This is your course project. It is checked on 6 rows: Required boxes, Clear and in ink, Signed and dated, Safe practice, Kit checklist, Next step. See what Ready means on the Course project page.

When it is done, build it on the Course project page and press Check my project. Your certificate needs it.

Use it: 7 days and 30 days

In 7 days: start getting one need it paper from your kit checklist.

In 30 days: check your kit, mark what changed, and retake the self check.