Last Updated on January 31, 2024 by Lori Pace
Being a single mother is tough. In 2019, there was a 31% poverty rate for single mothers and their families in the US. More than 30% of children with single mothers lived in poverty. Many are struggling to provide for their children. However, there are many grants for single moms in the US to support them!
These grants can help single mothers all over the country during tough times. They can also help single mothers who are studying at college and pay their bills. This article provides grants for single mothers and more information about what they offer.
Child Care Grants For Single Moms
Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program (CCAMPIS)
The CCAMPIS is a federal program that aims to provide on-campus child care for low-income single mothers and parents in college. Low-income parents who are also going to college can attend classes without worrying about their children. Any single mother who applies for the program will be considered based on their needs, resources, family contributions, and financial income.
Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
The Child Care and Development Block Grant funds the CCAP program. It helps low-income families pay for their child’s care. It will help single mothers take care of their children while working or doing job hunting, training, or school.
In some states, single mothers eligible for the program will also need to contribute to the child care provided. A sliding fee scale will determine the contribution. The scale ensures that families with a lower income will pay a smaller amount.
Head Start / Early Head Start
These programs help young children (up to the age of five) prepare for school. The Early Head Start program helps children up to two years. This is while the Head Start program helps children from three to five years old.
To be eligible for any of these programs will be on your family’s income. The Early Head Start program will also consider applicants who are pregnant women. Your family’s income will need to be at or below the poverty level. The program will also consider receiving some types of public assistance, any children in foster care, and homelessness. These programs can provide single mothers with a range of services. These can include child education, free medical and dental care, and health and nutrition.
For American Indian And Alaska Native children, there are at least 150 Early Head Start and Head Start programs available. To apply, you’ll need to apply for a program that’s closest to your community.
Financial Grants For Single Moms
Diversion Cash Assistance (DCA)
It’s sometimes called the “Emergency Cash Assistance” grant. The DCA can help single mothers during an emergency. It usually provides a single cash payment instead of long-term cash assistance.
In some cases, families might get a grant of $1000 at the most. Single mothers who qualify will be able to use this money to deal with an emergency. Just bear in mind, the amount of money can depend on how big the crisis is.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
The TANF helps low-income families become financially independent. The grant does this by providing financial assistance along with employment opportunities to the parents. The TANF has two types of grants: the “family” grants and the “child-only” grants. The child-only grants are specifically for the needs of the children in the family. Usually, the daily amount for one child is $8.
The “family” grants might be the easiest grant for which to apply. The grant provides a small amount of money every month. Single mothers can use this for essentials such as clothing, food, and housing. Children younger than five years old can benefit from this financial assistance. This will depend on the state in which you’re living. The reason is that some states will choose to do this for a shorter time.
For example, in 2020, a family of three living in Mississippi received a maximum of $170 each month. This was while a family of three in New Hampshire could receive $1086 each month. You could qualify for aid from the TANF if you’re a single mom who is younger than 19 years old. Just remember that any successful applicant will need to work at least 20 hours per week.
Supplemental Security Income
The SSI grant helps single mothers by providing monthly financial aid to the elderly, blind, and disabled. They also support single moms who have children with disabilities and struggle to pay their bills.
The SSI was launched in 1974 to ensure a minimum income for eligible applicants. However, the qualification process can be a long and complicated one. To apply, you’ll need to apply online at www.ssa.gov. You can also ask to make an appointment with your Social Security representative.
Federal Grants For Single Moms
For single mothers in the US, there are federal grants that can help single mothers that are struggling to pay for their food or even go to college.
Federal Work-Study (FWS) Grant
The FWS is a federal financial aid program that helps single mothers who are students find a way to earn money while studying. They study while working part-time, either off or on campus. The students will be able to work a maximum of 20 hours each week. At the end of the month, they will get a paycheck based on the number of hours they worked.
This means that single mothers will have extra money to help them pay for their expenses. Just bear in mind that this grant only works if you have support from family members and very few living expenses.
Federal Student Loans
If you’re a single mother that needs extra help going back to college can apply for a Federal Student Loan. You will be able to borrow money at a lower interest rate than you would get with a private loan.
To apply for a federal student loan, you’ll need to fill in and send in a FAFSA form. You will need to make sure that you check the “yes” box when asked about interests in student loans.
Besides Federal Student Loans, there are many ways to pay back Student Loans for single moms in the US.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
The FSEOG is similar to the Pell Grant. Students who are of “the utmost need” will be considered for these grants. The FAFSA will determine the financial need of the students who apply. This grant gives priority to students that have the “absolute highest levels of need.” This means that students with the lowest Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be given preference.
Each year, these supplemental grants can range between $100 to $4000. The amount will depend on the student’s needs.
Federal Pell Grant
The Federal Pell Grant can help single mothers go to college. The grant can give $6495 to need college students.
This is the most extensive student aid program in the US. In 2019, the grant provided more than $28 billion to almost seven million students. These students included half of the Latinx students and nearly 60% of black students in the country.
Struggling single mothers who want to go back to college and get back to work might be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant. The great thing about this grant is that you won’t have to pay it back.
The first step to applying for the Pell Grant would be filling out the Application for Federal Student Aid. Every year, the deadline for submitting your forms is the 30th of June. If you want to be an early bird, you can submit your documents by the 1st of October the year before.
Food Grants For Single Moms And Their Children
There are many food grants for single moms. The list can include whole food grants, food pantries grants, supplemental nutrition grants, etc. So, the list below is not an exhausted one!
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
This grant used to be known as the “Food Stamp program.” The goal of SNAP is to provide healthy and affordable food to low-income or no-income families.
SNAP is the most extensive anti-hunger program in the US, and it has become an essential resource to struggling families. It has assisted more than 40 million low-income families that have children younger than 18 years old.
SNAP provides a debit card (EBT) that single mothers can use to buy groceries at their local stores participating in the program. To apply for SNAP, you’ll need to fill out an application and send it to your local SNAP office.
Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC)
This federal program can provide single mothers with free and healthy food. The program also helps pregnant mothers, new mothers, and single mothers with children younger than five years old.
The WIC is a short-term program that helps successful applicants. The benefits can last from six months to one year. Once the benefits come to an end, you will need to reapply to receive any benefits.
In most cases, women have received a monthly amount of $11 to buy fresh fruit and vegetables. Children that are eligible for the program can receive $9 a month. Women and children under five years that are eligible for the WIC program can get a short-term increase of $35 per person each month. This program will ensure that if you’re a single mother with two young children, you’ll get an extra $105 each month.
Your income and the nutritional risk of your children will determine how eligible you are for the program. Your income will need to be below 185% of the poverty line. In some states, the government will prioritize the TANF applicants.
National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
This program can provide school children from low-income families with either free or affordable school lunches. This program means that children will get a healthy and nutritious meal during a school day.
Single moms who have an income under the 130% poverty level could qualify for free meals from the NSLP. If you have an income that’s between 130% and 185%, you could get meals at a cheaper rate.
If you qualify for the NSLP, your children could qualify for the Pandemid EBT (P-EBT). The P-EBT is a short-term food program for children who no longer receive free or cheaper school lunches because of the pandemic.
The best way to apply for the NSLP is to contact your child’s school during the school year. You will be able to fill in the application form and provide your proof of income.
The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
The TEFAP gives food to low-income families in the US. It provides food to emergency food banks, pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens. The program also provides food straight to the families.
You might need to qualify for other food programs such as SNAP to be eligible for TEFAP.
The other programs will include Medicaid, SSI, and WIC.
TEFAP can differ from state to state. You should contact your local State Distributing Agency to find out more information.
Health And Medical Grants For Single Moms
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
If you don’t qualify for Medicaid, you could apply for CHIP. This program provides health insurance to children that are younger than 19 years old.
CHIP has enrolled at least nine million children in its program. The program has also helped 37.5 million low-income children that were eligible for Medicaid.
CHIP will provide children with vaccinations, dental and vision care, and doctor visits. In most cases, these benefits are free. In other cases, families will only have to pay a low premium, co-pay for some services, and enrollment fees.
Medicaid: Health Insurance for the Poor
For single mothers who don’t have medical insurance, there is Medicaid. This grant provides medical benefits to very low-income or low-income families. Medicaid is unlike Medicare, which assists the elderly and the disabled.
You, as a single mother, could qualify for Medicaid even if you are unemployed. You will need to meet their income requirements to be eligible for Medicaid.
The Medicaid program will differ depending on the state in which you live. Each state will have a different income requirement for Medicaid. In some states, it will be higher, while it will be different in other states.
Title X: The National Family Planning Program
Known as “Title Ten,” this program works to provide low-income single mothers with inclusive family planning and related health services. These services will include pelvic and breast exams, cancer screenings, HIV testing, pregnancy testing and counseling, birth control, and Pap smears
The program provides family planning clinics that assist low-income single mothers who can’t afford health insurance. This funding makes it possible for single mothers to use these services at an affordable rate, if not free.
Housing And Utility Grants For Single Moms
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
This program provides financial assistance one-time to eligible low-income families who can’t pay their bills. In most cases, the program will pay for a part of the family’s monthly bill.
The LIHEAP helps families and vulnerable single mothers. The program especially allows families that have preschool-age children.
In short, LIHEAP will make the payment to the utility company. The program means that single mothers won’t have to worry about paying their bills.
To qualify for the LIHEAP, your income shouldn’t be more than 60% of the state’s average income or 150% of the poverty level. Also, your income shouldn’t be less than 110% of the poverty level.
Public Housing Program
In the US, the Public Housing Program is one of the three main housing assistance programs. With this program, low-income families can live in affordable public housing units. Single mothers will only have to use 30% of their income to pay rent in most cases.
To apply for housing, you’ll need to apply at your local housing authority (HA). If you’re eligible for housing, it will put you on a waiting list.
Section 8 Rental Subsidy
This federal housing program helps low-income families live in affordable and safe rental housing. This program gives vouchers to highly low-income families along with the elderly and the disabled.
Single mothers can use these vouchers to cover part of their rent. In some cases, these vouchers can cover 70% of your rent. You’ll be responsible for 30% of the rent.
Sadly, in the past, there have been more applicants than the number of available vouchers.
The program will have to put any new applicants on a waiting list. Some applicants might even have to wait years for a voucher.
Grants For American Indians And Alaska Natives
There are grants especially for single mothers who are American Indians or who are Alaskan Natives.
You can find these grants on NativeOneStop.gov. Here you will be able to find a grant that will suit your needs.
Some of these grants or programs will include the following:
- Indian Child and Family Education
- Native Employment Works Program
- Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
- Urban Indian Health Program
What To Do If You Don’t Qualify For Grants For Single Moms?
Sadly, not all single mothers will qualify for welfare programs and grants. They could earn too much money but are still unable to provide for their family.
In these cases, you could dial 211 for help with employment, housing, health care, counselling, or food. The service is 24 hours and seven days a week.
