One of the first and probably most challenging obstacles for a single parent is achieving financial self-sufficiency. Where there are usually two to carry all the financial needs, there is only one in the case of a single parent, which is not easy to accomplish but definitely possible. In this article, you will find financial programs that help low-income single moms and their children to achieve more financial freedom.
1.Women infants and children (WIF)
WIF is a federal and state food nutritional program that offers federal grants to states for supplemental food, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, infants, and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk. Check your eligibility here.
2. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
TANF assists low-income families in achieving self-sufficiency. Each state is given a block grant from the federal government to help families who qualify for assistance. Job training, counseling, education, and emergency financing are some benefits TANF may offer to families. The eligibility conditions differ depending on the state. The requirement that candidates have dependent children or be in their final three months of pregnancy is upheld by all states.
Every applicant must also be a resident of the state in which they submit their application, a citizen of the United States, or a qualified noncitizen.
3. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
Families and workers with low to moderate incomes can benefit from tax breaks thanks to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).
If you’re eligible, you can use the credit to lower the taxes you owe and perhaps even boost your refund. Anyone interested in the EITC must have social security and earned an income last year.
Income must be less than:
37,870 USD with one qualifying child
43,038 USD with two qualifying kids
46,227 USD with three or more qualifying children
4. Free government phone program. (Lifeline)
The FCC’s Lifeline program aids in lowering the cost of communications services for consumers on a low income. With Lifeline, customers receive a discount on qualifying monthly phone service, broadband Internet service, or voice-and-broadband bundles from participating wireline or wireless carriers. The reduction allows low-income consumers to afford 21st-century broadband and access to employment, healthcare, and education resources. Click here for more information.
5. Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP)
HARP is a program that helps with reevaluating your mortgage. They can advise you on how to lower the interest rates or shorten your loan’s life. You can contact FreddieMac or FannieMae, who will provide you with more detailed information about grants for single moms.
6. Principal Reduction Alternative (PRA)
Is another governmental program that helps to reduce your principal or mortgage principal if your balance is more than the balance of your home value. These mortgages mustn’t be owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Check this official website for more information.
7. The salvation army
You can find salvation army centers all over the United States. In these centers, you can find all kinds of support for single parents, including vocational education, food, counseling, and other support that helps to maintain single moms’ financial stability. Every Christmas, they collect donations for Christmas gifts for children.
8. Catholic charities
Single moms in need can get essentials and other community support through local church assistance programs. Single mothers and individuals in need can apply for help through these services. Every local charity support program has its own set of qualifications and application criteria. Individual church assistance services provide different forms of single mother assistance. They assist with cash assistance for transportation, payment of utility bills, general clothing provisions, holiday meal programs, help with prescription medication, life crises counseling, food distribution program, and assistance with housing and emergency shelters. For more information, please visit this website.
9. Free gasoline USA
This website will provide a detailed description of how you can qualify for free gas vouchers. The main objective of these programs is to help low-income families use their vehicles on the road for transportation. However, it is essential to match the eligibility criteria to get free gas. To qualify for the free gas programs, you must belong to the low-income group. The low-income people receive different types of assistance that include free gasoline, help with utility bills, help to pay rent, and other assistance.
10. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
If you struggle to pay high heating or cooling bills, this program can help you. There are home heating grants that are distributed every year as a once-a-year subsidy from the Department of Health and Human Services. The federal government provides funding to all tribal, state, and local governments.
11. Habitant for Humanity
Is a wonderful organization that helps low-income moms build their own homes. It is an organization that unifies volunteers who will work to build your own home. Habitat’s homeowner selection is managed at the local level through their hundreds of local Habitat for Humanity locations all over the U.S. and around the world. As a requirement, you will help to work your new dwelling and buy furniture from their Habitant stores.
All of these programs offer an emergency solution for low-income single moms. Finding help might be stressful, especially if you are the only one who supports your family. Never forget that it’s not just you. Often, many other families around you are in a similar situation. Supporting each other is always the best way how to carry out this uneasy task.
