Opportunity Information: Apply for HHS 2013 ACL AOA PC 0041
Apply for HHS 2013 ACL AOA PC 0041
- The Administration for Community Living in the income security and social services sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Pension Counseling Information Projects" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.048 Special Programs for the AgingTitle IVand Title IIDiscretionary Projects.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 25, 2013 and posted on Mar 14, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 1, 2013 Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 1159 p.m., ET, on the listed application due date.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $1,200,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $200,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
- Faith based and community organizations that meet eligibility requirements are eligible to receive awards under this funding opportunity announcement. Individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorship organizations are not eligible to compete for, or receive, awards made under this announcement.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Pension Counseling Information Projects grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number HHS-2013-ACL-AOA-PC-0041) is a discretionary federal funding program run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living (ACL). It is offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning awardees should expect an ongoing, collaborative relationship with the federal agency rather than a purely hands-off grant. The program sits in the Income Security and Social Services category and is tied to CFDA 93.048, Special Programs for the Aging (Title IV and Title IID discretionary projects). In practical terms, the grant is meant to fund organizations that can provide high-quality pension counseling and related assistance, especially for older adults who need support navigating complex retirement benefit rules and appeals processes.
The core purpose of the Pension Counseling Information Program is to help individuals understand, assert, and exercise their pension rights. The projects are expected to do more than provide general information; they are designed to protect rights and strengthen financial security and independence for older individuals. A major theme of the opportunity is empowerment: helping people make informed decisions that affect their long-term stability, including choices connected to long-term care planning. By improving access to accurate guidance and representation, these projects aim to reduce the chances that individuals lose retirement income due to errors, denials, or misunderstandings about employer- or union-sponsored plans and other retirement savings benefits.
ACL emphasizes that successful applicants should bring a demonstrated track record of advising and representing individuals whose pension or retirement plan benefits have been denied. That focus signals that the agency is looking for organizations with real casework experience, knowledge of pension systems and benefit claims, and the ability to advocate effectively for clients. Another key expectation is regional service capacity. Applicants should be able to deliver counseling services on a regional basis rather than serving only a narrow local area, implying the need for staffing, partnerships, outreach strategies, and operational infrastructure that can cover a broader geography and reach more beneficiaries.
Funding for the opportunity was estimated at $1.2 million total, with an expected six awards. The award amount is essentially fixed per award in this announcement: both the floor and the ceiling are listed at $200,000, suggesting that each recipient would receive $200,000 if selected. The announcement also notes a cost sharing or matching requirement, so applicants would need to contribute non-federal resources (cash or allowable in-kind support) as part of the project budget, consistent with the detailed terms in the full notice.
Eligibility is largely open, described as “unrestricted†with the usual caveat to check any additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement text. Faith-based and community organizations are explicitly included as eligible if they meet the program requirements. At the same time, certain applicants are not allowed to compete: individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorship organizations are ineligible. This structure points toward nonprofit organizations, community-based entities, and other qualifying organizations with the capacity to manage federal awards and deliver direct counseling and advocacy services.
Key dates in the posting show the opportunity was released on March 14, 2013, with an original closing date of April 22, 2013, later updated to a current closing date of May 1, 2013. Applications had to be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date. The archive date is listed as May 22, 2013, indicating it is no longer active, but the details remain useful as a model for similar ACL pension counseling opportunities. For further guidance at the time, the announcement provided an ACL funding opportunities link and a contact person for access issues: Valerie Soroka (Valerie.Soroka@acl.hhs.gov), listed under grants policy support.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Pension Counseling Information Projects grant?
The Pension Counseling Information Projects grant (Funding Opportunity Number HHS-2013-ACL-AOA-PC-0041) is a discretionary federal funding program administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Community Living (ACL). It supports projects that provide high-quality pension counseling and related assistance, with a strong emphasis on helping people understand, assert, and exercise their pension rights.
What type of award is this (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
This opportunity is offered as a cooperative agreement. That means awardees should expect an ongoing, collaborative relationship with ACL rather than a purely hands-off grant arrangement.
What is the program category and CFDA number?
The opportunity is in the Income Security and Social Services category and is tied to CFDA 93.048, Special Programs for the Aging (Title IV and Title IID discretionary projects).
What is the core purpose of the Pension Counseling Information Program?
The core purpose is to help individuals understand, assert, and exercise their pension rights. Projects are intended to protect rights and strengthen financial security and independence for older individuals.
Is the program focused on general education, or direct counseling and advocacy?
The projects are expected to do more than provide general information. The program is designed to deliver accurate guidance and representation, including support navigating complex retirement benefit rules and appeals processes.
Who is the intended population served by these projects?
The opportunity emphasizes assistance for older adults, particularly those who need help navigating complex retirement benefit rules, denials, errors, and appeals related to pension and retirement benefits.
What kinds of pension or retirement benefits are referenced in the opportunity?
The description references employer- or union-sponsored plans and other retirement savings benefits. The emphasis is on preventing loss of retirement income due to errors, denials, or misunderstandings.
What outcomes is ACL trying to achieve through these projects?
The program aims to strengthen financial security and independence, reduce the likelihood that individuals lose retirement income due to errors or denials, and empower people to make informed decisions affecting long-term stability, including choices connected to long-term care planning.
Does ACL expect applicants to have prior casework experience?
Yes. ACL emphasizes that successful applicants should demonstrate a track record of advising and representing individuals whose pension or retirement plan benefits have been denied, signaling a preference for organizations with real advocacy and claims/appeals experience.
Is regional service capacity required or expected?
Yes. The opportunity indicates applicants should be able to deliver counseling services on a regional basis rather than only in a narrow local area, implying broader geographic coverage and supporting operational capacity (such as staffing, partnerships, outreach strategies, and infrastructure).
How much total funding was estimated for this opportunity?
Total estimated funding was $1.2 million.
How many awards were expected?
The announcement anticipated six awards.
What was the expected award size per recipient?
The floor and ceiling were both listed at $200,000, indicating each selected recipient would receive $200,000 under this announcement.
Is there a cost sharing or matching requirement?
Yes. The announcement notes a cost sharing or matching requirement, meaning applicants would need to contribute non-federal resources (cash or allowable in-kind support) as part of the project budget, consistent with the full notice terms.
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility is described as unrestricted, with the usual recommendation to review the full announcement for any additional clarifications. Faith-based and community organizations are explicitly included as eligible if they meet program requirements.
Who was not eligible to apply?
Individuals, foreign entities, and sole proprietorship organizations were not eligible to compete for this opportunity.
What federal agency administered this funding opportunity?
The program was run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Community Living (ACL).
What was the original posting date?
The opportunity was released on March 14, 2013.
What was the application deadline?
The original closing date was April 22, 2013, and it was later updated to a current closing date of May 1, 2013.
What time were applications due on the deadline date?
Applications had to be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on the due date.
Is this opportunity still active?
No. The archive date is listed as May 22, 2013, indicating the opportunity is no longer active.
Where could applicants find additional funding opportunity guidance at the time?
The announcement referenced an ACL funding opportunities link for further guidance.
Who was listed as a contact for access issues?
Valerie Soroka (Valerie.Soroka@acl.hhs.gov) was listed under grants policy support as a contact for access issues.
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