Last Updated on January 31, 2024 by Lori Pace
A single mother is any woman who raises a child/children without a father. Single motherhood is fraught with dangers, and the government at both the state of Virginia, for example, and federal levels have worked together in different ways to provide grants to help single mothers. These grants can take the form of loans, housing assistance, or scholarship schemes.
Many organizations, States, and Federal governments have put into place helpful support programs to ensure that single mothers do not face difficulties in living in their state.
Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
Virginia, along with 25 other states and the District of Columbia in the United States, has implemented their own version of EITC that is in accordance with federal eligibility guidelines. This program aims to give families, primarily single mothers access to a modest credit that is equal to 1/5 of the federal credit grant in comparison with state taxes. The program works this way: the less these families work (single moms), the less they will owe. This way, they can move to the home front. Virginia’s EIC, unlike the EITC, is not refundable.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
This program is only there to assist families temporarily. This program is for low-income Virginian families. This program’s primary goal is to help families who are living below the Federal Poverty Level to become at least self-sufficient. This program requires active participation in the Virginia Initiative for Employment, not the Welfare program can apply in person to the DSS Virginia office, or electronically through an online platform.
Medicaid
The program aims to help individuals, families, and single mothers who are in need of medical care. Virginia Medicaid has limits to disabled adults, pregnant women, and single mothers who have two children. The government of Virginia reviewed eligibility for the program and has given priority to disabled adults, single mothers with children, and parents earning less than 47% of their income. Visit Virginia Medicaid to apply.
Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS)
The program is for single mothers and children aged under 19. It allows them to access high-quality healthcare, especially for children who do not have insurance. FAMIS Plus, the children’s Medicaid program, was created to help children from low-income families. FAMIS Moms is a version of FAMIS which targets pregnant women who cannot afford health insurance and have incomes that are 200% below the poverty level. However, they do not offer any enrollment packages or premiums. Qualified participants only pay $2 or $5 for a copayment. For more information, click here.
Head Start
This program is primarily designed for children between the ages of 3 and 5 years who come from families that live below the poverty line set by the government. The primary goal of the program is to provide basic services such as comprehensive education, good healthcare, social services, and nutritional services. Children in foster care, those from families who receive government assistance, and homeless children are all eligible.
Unemployment Insurance
This program provides temporary replacements for those who have lost their job or who are unemployed due to an accident. The duration of the program is up to 26 weeks. You must be actively looking for a job to be eligible. To receive the benefits, you will need to be able to find a job. Visit the Government Of Virginia website to learn more about Virginia Unemployment Insurance.
Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant (VTAG)
This program was designed to assist residents of Virginia who couldn’t afford to attend a private university or college. This grant is available every July 31st, and the deadline to apply for it is December 1st. This grant’s eligibility isn’t specific. It depends on how much money is available at the time. According to the funding rates so far, the maximum amount awarded for the undergraduate program is $3,270 and for the graduate program, it’s $11,640.
Bottom Line: Help For Single Mothers In Virginia
There is a big 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 Virginia, visit these articles:
