Being a parent could be more than meets the eye especially when you are faced with financial challenges which, unfortunately, most people are. The dream of having a child could be interesting especially when you’re single – you’re imagining how beautiful she/he will look, how adorable their character will be, how they will love you and always kiss you – but in reality, it’s far from that.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you can’t enjoy your time with your kid(s), but there are still other issues that, perhaps social media is not showing you. One of the biggest parts is you have to spend on this child or children, you have to bring out money for feeding, clothing, schooling, etc.
It’s even worse as a single mom because now, you don’t just have lots of obligations, but you also will be doing a huge portion on your own, or will you?
Fortunately, if you know your way around, you can drastically reduce the financial burden, and there are several government help for single mothers with no income to help you do this. One of the interesting things about government help is that they can go all the way to provide the best help you need, take for instance government scholarships, you can receive funds that can take care of your tuition plus pay monthly or annual stipends to you.
Moreover, there are still other financial aid that are not necessarily provided only by the government but can help women to return to school whether it’s free monies for women over 40 years.
Without much ado let’s list these helps.
Table of Contents
Government help for Single Mothers with no Income
These help come in different ways, make sure to take advantage of as many as you can so as to eliminate financial issues.
Educational Aid for Single Mothers
1. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The government of the United States provides FAFSA for Single moms that intend to attend or return to school, which they can fill out to enable them to receive federal, state, and college aid when found eligible. The application is free to use but you need to be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen and have a valid Social Security Number (with some little exceptions).
The interesting thing about this application is that once you fill it out, it opens the door to several grants and scholarships provided by the government.
2. Federal Pell Grants
The Federal Pell Grant is another government help for single mothers with low or no income to help further their education. Unlike loans, this grant doesn’t need refunding, you need to demonstrate financial need and have not received your first bachelor’s degree to be eligible.
Cash Assistantship for Single Moms
3. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Even though sometimes family members and friends try to help to support the family, it’s not always enough that’s why the government might step in to assist single mothers through this TANF program.
4. Head Start
Actually, Head Start Services cuts across several government help for single mothers. To be eligible, you need to have a child that is newly born or up to 5 years old.
The program intends to ensure that children and families receive high-quality services in safe and healthy settings that prepare children for school and life.
5. Job Corps
The Job Corps provides an education program for low-income at-risk youth including single mothers ages 16 through 24, seeking to overcome barriers to employment. The program enrolls approximately 50,000 young people each year at 119 centers in 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Food Assistance
6. Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
This is among the government help for single mothers with no income or low income that provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education. The program is for Pregnant women, Breastfeeding women, Non-breastfeeding postpartum women, Infants, Toddlers, and children up to age 5.
7. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
SNAP is also known as food stamps, and it provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency. Eligibility is determined by the state agency, and you will receive benefits back to the date you submitted your application.
8. National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
NSLP is one of the government help for single mothers with no income that provides free or low-cost lunches to students in public and nonprofit private schools and residential childcare institutions. This program has been able to improve academic performance and behavior by ensuring that students receive the nutrition they need to stay focused.
Insurance Benefits for Single Mothers
9. Medicaid
Millions of Americans, I’m talking about 72.5 million of them benefit from Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). This could include single moms, children, pregnant women, parents, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.
The interesting thing is that most Low-income families, qualified pregnant women and children, and individuals receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are eligible.
10. Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
CHIP serves millions of families, children, pregnant women, adults without children, and also seniors, and people living with disabilities. Also, this health coverage program provides federal matching funds to states to provide health coverage to single moms with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid, but who can’t afford private coverage.
11. Medicare
First of all, we need to emphasize the fact that Medicare is not the same as Medicaid. The difference is that Medicaid is a joint federal and state program. In contrast, Medicare is federal health insurance for anyone age 65 and older, and some people under 65 with certain disabilities or conditions.
The benefit of Medicare is that if you paid your Medicare taxes while working, then you might not pay any monthly cost.
Housing Assistance
12. Housing Choice Voucher Program
This program, also known as Section 8, and it’s among the government help for single mothers with no income that assists very low-income families, to afford decent, safe, and sanitary housing. These houses can include single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments and are not limited to units located in subsidized housing projects.
13. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
This is among the government help for single mothers with no or low income to pay their energy bills, energy crises, weatherization, and minor energy-related home repairs. Applicants must need financial assistance with home energy costs.
Tax Benefits
14. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
EITC is a tax break given to low- to moderate-income workers and families which includes single mothers. Actually, not all single moms are eligible, but if you’re, you can use the credit to reduce the taxes you owe – and maybe increase your refund.
15. Child Tax Credit
The Child Tax Credit is one of the government help for single mothers with no income that is provided to American taxpayers with kids under the age of 17. When found eligible, you’re likely to receive monthly payments between $250 to $3,600 per child without taking action.
Conclusion
These are not all government help for single mothers with low or no income, you can still check your state, or local government for specific programs you might be eligible to.
Author’s Recommendations
- Blacks at Microsoft Scholarship Application
. - 20 Colleges for Automobile Engineering
. - 18 Best Graduate Scholarships for Women
. - Scholarships for Women Over 50
. - 24 Free Scholarships to Study Abroad for Undergraduate Degrees