Last Updated on January 23, 2024 by Lori Pace
Louisiana’s main agricultural products are seafood (it produces 90% of the world’s crawfish), cotton, soybeans, cattle, sugarcane and poultry, eggs, and dairy products. Chemicals, petroleum products, food products, transportation equipment, and paper products are all produced by industry. Tourism, particularly in New Orleans and surrounding areas, is an important part of the economy. Louisiana taxpayers get more federal funding for every dollar they pay in federal taxes compared to other states. This is partly due to Hurricane Katrina which devastated a part of Louisiana in 2005. In response to these circumstances, Louisiana authorities have developed programs that are specifically designed to help single mothers. They also assist the low-income community.
Healthcare Programs
Medicaid offers medical coverage to individuals and families with low income. Medicaid is governed by the federal government, but each state has its own requirements. They provide health insurance to over one million Louisiana residents, the majority of whom are under 19 years old. The Louisiana Medicaid Program is operated by the Louisiana Department of Health.
In Louisiana, you qualify to receive Medicaid if you:
- Get Supplemental Security Income from the Social Security Administration
- The Office of Family Support offers financial assistance through the Family Independence Transitional Assistance Program.
You may also qualify for Medicaid coverage if you:
- Are disabled according to the Social Security Administration’s definition
- Have corrected vision no better than 20/200
- Are a low-income parent of children under the age of 19
- Are a child under age 19
- Are pregnant
- Have no insurance and need treatment for breast and/or cervical cancer
- Receive Medicare coverage and are low-income
Louisiana Children’s Health Insurance Program (LaCHIP)
LaCHIP offers health coverage for uninsured kids up to the age of 19. This is a free health program that pays for hospitalization, doctor’s visits, prescriptions, shots, and more.
Your child must meet these criteria to qualify for LaCHIP:
- The child must not be older than 19 years.
- It is possible that the child does not have insurance.
- The household income must not exceed the income limit.
LaMOMS Program
LaMOMS pays for services related to pregnancy, such as doctor’s appointments, lab tests, prescription medications, hospital care, and delivery. They may cover you for up to 60 days after the end of pregnancy.
Find a doctor online at Louisiana Medicaid or call 1-877-455-9955 for a list of medical providers enrolled in LaMOMS. You can also apply to LaMOMS via the Louisiana Medicaid Online Application Center. You can also apply for LaMOMS using a paper form.
Child Care Assistance Program
Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) in Louisiana, which provides financial support to help single mothers and families with low income, enables them to access high-quality child care while they work or attend school.
You may be required to submit proof of certain things that you stated in your application. This checklist will let you know which items you’ll need.
- Age/Relationship: A birth certificate, baptismal record, hospital records, or birth certificate of the person you want to include. If it is not your child, then birth records that prove the relationship between the child and yourself.
- Alien Status: If not a U.S. Citizen, USCIS forms or cards that prove a person is a legal foreigner
- Last 4 Pay Stubs: For each applicant, please provide the last four (4) pay stubs (or employer’s statement) or the most recent four (4) pay stubs.
- Self-employment: Income tax returns, sales records, and/or quarterly tax records.
- Other income, such as child support, alimony payments, Social Security checks, SSI benefits, VA retirement checks, Unemployment Compensation Benefits (UCB), award letters, court orders, and/or statements by contributors.
- Income that has stopped in the last three months: “pink Slip,” termination notice from former employer or statement, termination notice from the source.
- Immunization records: doctor’s or shot records
- School Attendance/Job Training: A statement issued by the school or program of job training indicating the hours attended each week, and the anticipated completion date for anyone who requires child care to attend school. A letter from a training program or accredited entity indicating full-time status.
Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP)
Families with children who are unable to support themselves financially can receive cash assistance through the Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program.
FITAP aims to reduce long-term dependency by promoting work and job preparation. Public assistance is not a lifetime benefit but an opportunity for people to be independent following a financial crisis.
Louisiana GO Grant
The Louisiana Go Grant, a grant program based on need by the State of Louisiana is designed to help students eligible for Pell who require additional assistance to pay the costs of college. The amount of the award may change from one academic year to another. Additionally, the maximum amount of the award that an eligible student can receive per academic year is $3,000, with a minimum award of $300.
Students who have completed the financial aid application process first are given preference. Proof of residency is required. The eligibility of applicants is reviewed annually.
Louisiana Quality Start
The state of Louisiana offers the quality start application to help you find licensed child care in your area based on their ranking. You can get a tax credit for sending your child to an accredited childcare center. Families with children under six years old who are enrolled in childcare can receive a tax credit. The credit is also determined by the rating of the center where the child attends childcare.
Bottom Line: Help For Single Mothers In Louisiana
There is a massive variety to choose from when it comes to asking for assistance. The federal government and nonprofits work hard to support the community they are in, the best that they can. To learn more about other assistance offered to help single mothers in the state of Louisiana, visit these articles:
