Can I Get Government Assistance if I Am a Single Mom?

There's help out there for single moms.

There is help out there for single moms who struggle to make ends meet. Help can take the form of cash assistance, help paying rent on a house or apartment, help paying for food and medical bills and even help paying for college or trade school education. Eligibility is based on income and family size, and sometimes entails a lot of paperwork, but patience and persistence will get you the help you need.

Cash Assistance

Every state has Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF) programs administered through the state's department of social services. These programs give cash assistance to families based on their income, family size and special needs of family members. They are administered through county government offices.

Rent Assistance

The Choice Voucher Program helps pay the rent

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has several programs that provide assistance for housing. Among them is the Public Housing Program that provides funds to local housing agencies that manage houses and apartments for low-income families who pay rent based on what they can afford. HUD also has a Housing Choice Voucher Program that gives money directly to landlords who lower the rent to meet renters' needs. If you qualify for this program, you will be responsible for paying reduced rent and HUD will pay your landlord the difference between the regular and reduced rates.

Nutrition Assistance

The FNS program helps mothers with children aged five and under.

The federal government funds nutrition assistance programs administered through county offices in all 50 states. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) used to be known as food stamps, and employs a debit card that is funded monthly with an amount determined by the your income and family size. There are also several school meal programs including the National School Lunch Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program and the School Breakfast Program. The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is a program for low-income, pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding postpartum women; infants; and children up to five years of age. It provides coupon vouchers that can be redeemed for eligible foods.

Healthcare Assistance

Medicaid is for children under six years of age; CHIPS covers kids up to age 19.

The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides free or low-cost medical, dental and vision insurance to children up to age 19. Covered expenses include doctor visits, immunizations, hospital care, prescription medicines and dental care. Medicaid is also available in all 50 states for children under the age of six in families with an income up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level. At the time of publication the federal poverty level is $29,725 for a family of four.

References

• HUD: HUD's Public Housing Program
• HUD Housing Choice Voucher Fact Sheet
• Student Aid: Types of Aid
• USDA: Nutrition Assistance Programs
• USDA: Food and Nutrition Service: Questions and Answers About The WIC Food Packages
• California Department of Social Services: California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs)

Resources

• Insure Kids Now: What Is CHIP?
• Single Mom Financial Help: State Assistance Programs
• HUD: Public Housing Agency Contact Information
• Project Working Mom: Temporary Assistance For Needy Families (TANF) Programs By State