You don't need to live in the American southwest to live in a desert these days.

If you live in a low-income community with limited or costly access to healthy and affordable food, you're living in what the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) calls a "food desert" - and you are not alone. An estimated 23 million people live more than one mile (more than 10 miles in rural areas) from a supermarket or large grocery store in America today.

Food deserts can be found in every single state in the continental U.S. and in all types of communities, from urban to suburban, rural to Tribal. To help community leaders identify the food deserts in their area, the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) created an interactive Food Desert Locator.

Benefits.gov is happy to report that there are multiple resources and government initiatives currently in place to help those living in food deserts gain better access to the nutritious foods they need. Here are just a few related programs and initiatives that may be helpful to you and your family:

• USDA People's Gardens: The USDA People's Garden Initiative is a collaborative effort of over 400 local and national organizations working together to establish community and school gardens across the country. Produce grown at a People's Garden on USDA owned or leased property is donated to those in need and harvests are often shared with neighborhood food pantries, kitchens and shelters. Find out if there is a People's Garden near you by searching the People's Garden Interactive Map.
• Let's Move! Campaign: This summer, as part of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign, major national chains, and some regional retailers, agreed to open or expand 1,500 stores in identified food deserts to increase access to affordable and healthier food options to more than 9.5 million customers.
• Farmers' Markets: Many farmers' markets now participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Double Dollar, and senior benefits programs. You may also want to explore the WIC Farmer's Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), which helps WIC participants purchase farmers' markets' fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs with FMNP coupons.

If you live in a food desert, or are struggling to afford groceries for your family, visit Benefits.gov and check out our Browse by Category page to view available Food/Nutrition related government programs. You can also use our confidential Benefit Finder to learn which benefits you may be eligible to receive out of more than 1,000 Federal and state benefits sponsored by 17 Federal agencies.

Are you in the market to buy your first home? Benefits.gov houses many Federal resources that may ease the home buying process for you.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) not only advocates for homeowners and fair housing practices, but also sponsors loans that facilitate first-time mortgages. While HUD does not lend money directly to buyers to purchase a home, Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-approved lenders make loans through a number of FHA insurance programs. According to HUD, the beneficial features of FHA loans include:

• Lower cost: FHA loans have competitive interest rates because the Federal government insures the loans. Here's a helpful tip: make sure to always compare an FHA loan with other loan types.
• Easier qualifications: Because FHA insures your mortgage, lenders may be more willing to give you loan terms that make it easier for you to qualify.
• Less than perfect credit may be acceptable: You do not need a perfect credit score to get an FHA mortgage. Even if you've had credit problems, such as a bankruptcy, it's easier for you to qualify for an FHA loan than a conventional loan.
• Low down payments: FHA loans have a low 3.5 percent down payment. Money for your down payment can come from a family member, employer or charitable organization as a gift. Other loan programs do not allow this flexibility.

For the best interest rate and terms on a mortgage, you should always compare mortgages from several different lenders. In order to initiate the loan application process, visit the FHA Resource Center to contact an FHA approved lender.

Other Federal agencies sponsor home buying benefits in specific cases. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides Rural Housing Loans to applicants whose desired home is located in an eligible rural area and whose income does not exceed 60 percent of the area's median income. Also, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers VA Home Loans, which guarantee a percentage of home loans for eligible veterans, active duty service members, current Army Reserve and Army National Guard members, and certain surviving spouses.

To find out if you are eligible for these and other programs, click "Start Now" on the homepage to use our simple and confidential Benefit Finder.

Do you need help with planning your finances or finding information on protecting your hard earned savings? The U.S. government offers several resources that can help!

MyMoney.gov is a one-stop shop for financial literacy and education programs offered by the government. The site provides helpful tips on topics such as managing credit card debt, retirement planning and personal budgeting. Created by the Financial Literacy and Education Commission and managed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, MyMoney.gov also provides a toll-free hotline you can call for money management information: 888-MYMONEY (888-696-6630).

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, an independent government agency, offers tips on how to plan ahead with your money and protect your savings and investments. They also have a program called "Money Smart," offered through local financial institutions, which helps low to middle income individuals, who don't use the banking system, have a positive relationship with banks by providing financial education.

One way to protect your federal benefits, such as Social Security or disability payments, is to switch from paper checks to electronic direct deposits. The Treasury's GoDirect ® Campaign provides information on this quick and easy way to conveniently receive your benefits.

If you work for the Federal government, you can plan for your financial future by using the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). FERS can help you understand what benefits you're entitled to and how to save for your retirement. For more information, contact the Office of Personnel Management at retire@opm.gov.

For more information on government financial programs, visit Benefits.gov and select "Loan/Loan Repayment" on our Browse by Category page. You can also use our confidential Benefit Finder to find out which benefits you may be eligible to receive out of more than 1,000 Federal and state benefits sponsored by 17 Federal agencies.

While waiting for the economy to recover, take advantage of the many opportunities that the Small Business Administration (SBA) can offer you and your growing business today!

The Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 has opened many doors to start-up and growing businesses, providing tax incentives that have been extended into the 2012 fiscal year. The budgets for many small business loans have been increased to allow more applicants to receive financing and various programs have raised their loan limit amounts for eligible loan recipients.

SBA can approve up to $15 billion for 20,000 businesses in fiscal years 2011 and 2012. You can find many of the loan programs with increased limits on Benefits.gov and GovLoans.gov.

• The Certified Development Company (504) Loan Program loan limit was raised from $2 to $5 million. This program provides growing businesses with long-term, fixed-rate financing for major fixed assets, such as land and buildings.
• The 7(a) Small Business Loan, which is the most commonly used SBA business loan, also received the same $2 to $5 million loan increase. This loan program is designed to assist for-profit businesses that are not able to obtain financing from other resources.

If you have your own business or are interested in starting one, we encourage you to explore the numerous benefits that SBA has to offer by visiting the Browse by Federal Agency page on Benefits.gov. You can also begin your benefits search by clicking "Start Now" on the homepage to use our confidential Benefit Finder. To view Federal loan programs, visit GovLoans.gov Loan Search.

Don't let 2012 pass you by without exploring all available options for you and your business!

Benefits.gov is the official benefits website of the U.S. government. Benefits.gov, and its sister site, GovLoans.gov, are completely free and confidential and will never ask for any information that could be used to identify you (i.e., name, address, phone number, Social Security number, etc.). If you have been asked to provide personal information or payment to obtain government benefit information from another source, it may be a scam.

Internet scams are as numerous as they are dangerous, and the best way to fight Internet fraud is to learn how to recognize it.

Phishing (pronounced "fishing") is a common type of Internet fraud that uses email and imitation websites that are designed to steal personal data, such as your Social Security number, credit card numbers, passwords or account data.

Follow OnGuardOnline.gov's helpful tips to prevent Internet fraud by the common form of phishing:

1. Do not reply to emails or pop-up messages that ask for personal or financial information.
2. Avoid sending personal or financial information via email.
3. Be cautious of opening unknown attachments or downloading any unknown files from emails you receive, regardless of who sent them.
4. Report any suspected phishing emails to reportphishing@antiphishing.org.

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, you should immediately file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Visit FTC's identity theft website for more information to help you deter, detect and defend against identity theft.

By spotting the warning signs and knowing where to find help, you can protect yourself and your family against Internet fraud.

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