Top 10 best financial help for Single Moms

Financial assistance, loans, or whatever you may call it – do really helps us especially during cases of need or emergency. When financial help is available there is no denying that it makes our lives easier. The following are grants that may help single moms during financial crisis.
1. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

This financial help is specially designed to help needy families live without worrying about making ends meet. The assistance gives families monthly cash allowance and has a unique eligibility criterion. The rules regarding this may differ from state to state, but generally one receives benefits for a maximum of sixty months.

2. Unemployment Benefits

Single mothers can also enjoy unemployment benefits if they are not employed. However, one very important condition is that they must be unemployed without any fault of their own, such as voluntary unemployment or layoff. This assistance is temporary and can be enjoyed for a maximum period of 26 weeks. The support is withdrawn once the person is able to secure a job.

3. Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

This financial help is a very unique program that is independently administered by every state. This is especially for children who are ineligible for the state’s Medicaid program. It covers children up to 19 years of age and provides them low-cost health insurance so that they can live a healthy life.

4. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

Home energy bills can be taxing for some families, especially if they do not have a good income. This program is especially directed towards such families that find it difficult to pay energy bills.

The program also assists such families in other energy related problems, such as energy crisis, weatherization and energy-related repairs. This, in one way, can also help families with credit card debt relief. There’s some more information here on debt relief.

5. Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC)

Pregnant or single mothers can get free coupons if they are at nutritional risk. The financial help also extends to children under 5 years of age. However, those who are eligible to receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) are given preference.

6. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps, aims to provide healthy and affordable meals to poor families. Single mothers are also eligible for this and can get food for themselves and their children. The eligibility criterion is based on several things, including family income.

7. Section 8 Housing Program/ Housing Choice Voucher Program

This is a federal program that is aimed towards providing affordable, decent and safe shelter to people. It is a deep procedure that involves the filing of applications with the Office of Public Housing. Since this is a federal program, the eligibility criterion in all the states almost remains the same.

8. National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

Who said that there are no free lunches in life? This program offers single mothers ease in this department as they will not have to worry about their children not having lunch. Free lunches are provided to eligible students under this category. The eligibility criterion is simple, and anyone whose family falls below certain “poverty guidelines” is eligible. If you are interested, you can check www.fns.usda.gov or contact your child’s school for more details.

9. The Federal Pell Grant

Understanding the need for quality education, the government has announced Federal Pell Grant to eligible students. The government has recently announced the maximum grant of $5,550 for the academic year 2012-2013. The amount is revised on a regular basis, keeping in mind the changing times and costs involved in getting educated.

With this, single mothers will not have to worry about paying the college fee for their children, as the applicant can submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. This also extends to single mothers who had suspended their education upon pregnancy. They may also apply for this grant.

10. The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant

This is for those who cannot afford to continue their education due to a lack of funds. Students can get an annual stipend of $4000, depending on their needs.
Single mothers can enjoy all these grants, but they have to understand that it is not what they should solely rest on. They should try to stand on their feet and come up with a solution. If you are a single mother and need credit card debt relief then there’s some more information here on debt relief.