Hardship Grants for Single Mothers
Single mothers often find it hard to make ends meet. According to a 2019 survey conducted by Pew Research Center of 130 countries, the US has the world’s highest rate of children living in single-parent households.
Of these around 23% of children below 18 years living with a single parent. The global average is only 7%. For instance, an average of 3% of children belong to single-parent households in China.
To remedy this situation, the US government offers numerous grants and loans to single mothers. Let’s take a close look at how you can apply for and receive hardship grants for single mothers in the US.
Sources of Hardship Grants for Single Mothers
There are several federal and state-funded, as well as non-profit organizations and individuals that offer grants for single mothers. You can apply for as many grants as possible, as this approach maximizes the chances of qualifying for more than one grant. Once qualified, you will get the amount shortly.
Here are the different sources where you can apply for hardship grants for single mothers.
Federal Grants for Single Mothers – Fulfill Your Dreams!
Federal Grants for Single Mothers (Video)
1. Federal Pell Grants
The Pell Grant is the US’ largest student aid program. This program provides a grant of up to $7,395 to needy students who wish to pursue higher education in college.
In 2019, the Pell Grant program disbursed over $35 billion for schools to more than 6 million aspiring and needful students across the country.
Of these, almost 60% of recipients belonged to the African-American community and nearly 40% of the rest were of Latin descent.
This need-based grant is ideal for single mothers with limited means to continue their education in hopes of becoming skilled workers and productive members of society.
This is a grant and not a loan. Hence recipients are not required to repay the amount in any way or form.
To learn about the eligibility criteria and application process for this grant, we recommend you visit the official Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website.
2. Federal Work-Study Grant
Federal Work-Study (FWS) grant is a federally subsidized financial aid initiative. It offers single-parent students a way to earn income by becoming part-time employees, on or off-campus, in their chosen field of education.
Under this program, single-parent students can work up to 20 hours a week and receive monthly paychecks as per their hourly wages.
These wages are extremely useful to continue pursuing higher education for single mothers.
3. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Hardship Grants for Single Mothers – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is an extremely useful way to improve the lives of low-income families.
The program’s main aim is to help needy families become self-sufficient with a combination of work opportunities and short-term financial assistance.
You can choose between “Family” TANF grants or “Child-Only” TANF grants. A family grant is easier to get and provides a small cash amount monthly for food, clothing and other basic needs. This grant is offered for 60 months, or less in some states.
The Child-Only TANF grant is meant to fulfill the needs of children. The grant amount is around $8 per day for a child, which is significantly less than the Family TANF grant money.
These grants are often called “welfare” and the eligibility criteria vary from state to state.
If you are an unemployed single mother with children below 19 years, you may be eligible for assistance under TANF.
However, the eligibility criteria require the recipient to be working at a regular job for at least 20 hours a week.
To learn more about eligibility criteria and the application process, we advise you to visit the official TANF website.
4. Supplemented Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Supplemented Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, was previously known as the Food Stamp program. This initiative provides affordable and healthy meals to needy families, most of who belong to the low-income group.
This is one of the earliest and most widespread welfare programs run by the federal government.
For the majority of low-income families in the US, the SNAP initiative is the sole form of income assistance they get.
SNAP has helped over 38 million low-income US citizens to afford nutritionally sufficient groceries, especially in families with children below 18 years of age.
This program is offered through a debit card (EBT) system that the recipient uses to purchase grocery items in any of the participating stores close to their home.
The application process for this program requires the applicant to fill out an application form and submit it at your local SNAP office, either by fax, email or in person.
5. Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program
Hardship Grants for Single Mothers – Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program
The WIC program is a federally-funded nutrition initiative under the US Federal Government.
The WIC program has committed to providing free and healthy foods to pregnant women, new mothers and children below 5 years who are considered to be at risk of malnutrition.
This is a short-term relief program under which eligible applicants receive benefits for up to 6 (six) months to a year (12 months).
Recipients can re-apply to continue receiving the benefits of this initiative.
Under this program, eligible single mothers receive up to $11 per month for fresh vegetables and fruits while children receive up to $9 per month.
From June to September 2021, women and children (between 1 and 4 years old) will receive a temporary increase in the grant amount from the WIC program.
This brings the total amount to around $2.248 per month per participant.
The eligibility criteria for receiving aid under the WIC program require determining the nutritional risk and income level of applicants. Priority is given to TANF awardees in most states for the WIC initiative.
To learn whether you are eligible for receiving grants under the WIC initiative, it is recommended to visit the official website and check their FAQs page.
Make sure to fill out the application form as instructed and keep all income and family-health-related documents handy at the time of applying.
6. Small Business Grants
Government grants for single mothers starting a small business are available; however, they are limited and are often competitive.
You can search for these grants at Grants.gov. To view grants specifically for small businesses, filter the results on the left side of the page, or you can connect with the Women’s Business Center for local resources.
7. Diversion Cash Assistance (DCA)
The DCA provides alternative assistance for single mothers in times of emergency. Single mothers who qualify receive a one-time grant of up to $1,000 to deal with emergencies.
8. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
The USDA provides loan programs that offer housing assistance to single moms. The money can be used for closing costs, repairs, refinancing, household equipment, and more. For more information, visit https://www.usda.gov/topics/rural/housing-assistance.
Here are the Grants for Single Moms by State
List of Grants for Single Mothers by Purpose
Singe Mother Federal Grants Frequently Asked Questions
How much can a single mother get?
From a one-time grant of $1,000 to $6,345 for college, single mothers can apply for these grants depending on their requirements and the eligibility criteria.
Certain states offer a tuition assistance program outside of the federal government that provides you with up to $5,000.
Are all single mothers eligible for grants?
The federal government and some private organizations have several funds for single mothers with different requirements. These grants can fulfill your food, health, housing, education, and emergency requirements.
Are there any grants available for single mothers with special children?
Different foundations offer special grants for single mothers with disabled children. These children and their mothers require special care, and organizations like the First Hand Foundation, Parker’s Purpose Foundation, UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation, etc. ensure that.
Conclusion
These are the top 5 sources to get hardship grants for single mothers in the US.
These federal and state-funded programs have helped millions of needy individuals and families to lead comfortable, healthy and happy lives for years.
See Also
Housing Grants for Single Moms
Emergency Housing Assistance for Single Mothers
Hardship Grants Provide You Fast Cash
Lap Band Surgery Cost Without Insurance
Grants for Women Starting a Business
I am a dedicated healthcare researcher and an enthusiast specializing in medical grants, medical education and research. Through my articles, I aim to empower healthcare professionals and researchers with valuable insights and resources to navigate these critical aspects effectively.
Having sharpened her skills as a validation manager in the fast-paced world of Cybersecurity over a decade, Andrea now applies her expertise to raise the standards of the fact-checking space. As a meticulous fact-checker, she diligently validates the claims presented in our articles, leaving no room for misinformation or ambiguity.
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