Being a single parent had its trials, but none are harder to face than the financial burden of raising a child or several children on your own. Automatically, you go from having ample funds to trying to get by on an amount that is drastically cut in half. With the average yearly payment of child support barely rising above $4,500, it is easy to see why so many single parents struggle even with full time jobs.

Fortunately, there are programs that are available in order to offer financial assistance for single parents. These programs are need based, and offer varying degrees of support according to the specific needs of each family. While they can often be time consuming to apply for, the help and assistance that they offer are more than worth it.

Monetary Government Financial Assistance

There are many government programs available to offer financial assistance for single parents. These programs are always Need and Income based, and each family may qualify for a different level of assistance.

The first program that provides for a family’s essential needs is the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program or TANF. This is a nationwide program offered under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program, and is only offered for a limited period of time. This program offers both food assistance (in the form of an EBT card which is automatically loaded with funds each month) and cash assistance plan, that offers a small amount of money for essentials which is added to the same card. In addition, if a family qualifies for cash assistance in certain states they are also entitled to other benefits as well. Including free childcare, gas cards or bus tickets, and clothing vouchers for work purposes.

The US Department of Health and Human Services also offers a wide variety of programs which can offer financial assistance to single parents. These include the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which offers assistance in lowering or helping to pay your monthly utilities. The Insure Kids Now – program, which holds a different name in each state. offers free or low cost health insurance for all children.

For housing assistance, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development offers programs to assist low income individuals in gaining accommodations. The HUD and Section 8 programs can provide free and low cost accommodations for families that qualify. Often the waiting list is long for these programs however, so it is best to apply as early as possible.

Local Sources of Financial Assistance

In addition to the federal funded programs that offer assistance, there are also a number of local agencies (in each city and state) which provide financial assistance for single parents. By dialing 2-1-1 from any touch tone phone, you can be placed in contact with an operator who can inform you about any resources that are available in your area. This is the easiest and quickest way to find the assistance you need.

Food banks are especially helpful for those who find themselves in dire need of food. If you are waiting for government assistance to begin, or need a little help from month to month, a local food bank can help you stock your pantry until help arrives.

If you are a single parent who has been battered or abused, there are additional sources of housing and financial assistance. Battered women shelters are scattered throughout each state, and almost every city has one. They can offer supplies, housing, and help in finding a new job in order to get you back on your feet. The YMCA also offers short term housing to those who are escaping a bad relationship.

Being a single parent had its trials, but none are harder to face than the financial burden of raising a child or several children on your own. Automatically, you go from having ample funds to trying to get by on an amount that is drastically cut in half. With the average yearly payment of child support barely rising above $4,500, it is easy to see why so many single parents struggle even with full time jobs.

Fortunately, there are programs that are available in order to offer financial assistance for single parents. These programs are need based, and offer varying degrees of support according to the specific needs of each family. While they can often be time consuming to apply for, the help and assistance that they offer are more than worth it.

Monetary Government Financial Assistance

There are many government programs available to offer financial assistance for single parents. These programs are always Need and Income based, and each family may qualify for a different level of assistance.

The first program that provides for a family’s essential needs is the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program or TANF. This is a nationwide program offered under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program, and is only offered for a limited period of time. This program offers both food assistance (in the form of an EBT card which is automatically loaded with funds each month) and cash assistance plan, that offers a small amount of money for essentials which is added to the same card. In addition, if a family qualifies for cash assistance in certain states they are also entitled to other benefits as well. Including free childcare, gas cards or bus tickets, and clothing vouchers for work purposes.

The US Department of Health and Human Services also offers a wide variety of programs which can offer financial assistance to single parents. These include the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which offers assistance in lowering or helping to pay your monthly utilities. The Insure Kids Now – program, which holds a different name in each state. offers free or low cost health insurance for all children.

For housing assistance, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development offers programs to assist low income individuals in gaining accommodations. The HUD and Section 8 programs can provide free and low cost accommodations for families that qualify. Often the waiting list is long for these programs however, so it is best to apply as early as possible.

Local Sources of Financial Assistance

In addition to the federal funded programs that offer assistance, there are also a number of local agencies (in each city and state) which provide financial assistance for single parents. By dialing 2-1-1 from any touch tone phone, you can be placed in contact with an operator who can inform you about any resources that are available in your area. This is the easiest and quickest way to find the assistance you need.

Food banks are especially helpful for those who find themselves in dire need of food. If you are waiting for government assistance to begin, or need a little help from month to month, a local food bank can help you stock your pantry until help arrives.

If you are a single parent who has been battered or abused, there are additional sources of housing and financial assistance. Battered women shelters are scattered throughout each state, and almost every city has one. They can offer supplies, housing, and help in finding a new job in order to get you back on your feet. The YMCA also offers short term housing to those who are escaping a bad relationship.

Single mothers face a lot of problems while bringing up children in USA. Financial problems being the most important as ex-husband may not pay the court order money for child support. These mothers may not be able to do a full time job as a result they may not be able to pay for day care and may not meet the criteria for head start. Many are thus dependent on AFDC (aid to families with dependent children) or WIC (Women Infants and children). This dependence on welfare organization once established is difficult to break.

There are many reasons for the financial worries of single mothers. Although most ex-spouses fulfill their court ordered financial obligations regarding their children; a few of them do not comply with this court ordered support. The latter case not only results in extra psychological and physical burden on the single mother, it makes it difficult for her to fulfill the requirements of the child in regards to food and clothing. A lot of people may consider court ordered support as luxury; but on the contrary it is just enough to meet the requirements.

The children constantly grow so they require a regular supply of clothing and food. Education is not entirely free even in state schools. Similarly preschool children require child care, whereas day care is difficult to afford. More over the WIC or AFDC will not support the mother till the issue of court order is resolved. This means going back to the court again and making your ex-husband to pay either by wage garnishment or by any other legal way. It is not an easy task to find an ex- husband so the lone mother can do nothing than to rely on herself alone. This places the mother as well as the child in a danger of becoming homeless. These are the risks of single parenting.

It is difficult to afford daycare as they usually require up to $400 per month. Most lone mothers have to take a job. However with the daycare being so costly it may not be possible for the mother to work as well as look after her preschool children. The head start and the early start are good supportive programs but most of these mothers do not fall in the specified low income groups especially when receiving court support.

So they may not get any support from head start and have to bare all the expenses of daycare all by themselves. She might not get some help from the child’s preschool also. Actually she belongs to the working community among poor. These and such are the problems faced by a single mum in America.

Short comings in the welfare system also effect these single mothers. These mothers are considered the same as any other poor social group by many federal and state programs which run WIC and AFDC. On the other hand these women are more likely to suffer from many psychiatric illnesses which then become a major hurdle in getting job or other financial assistance. As a result of which it becomes difficult for them to gain financial independence and they become permanently dependent on welfare.

As a whole the single mothers living in USA face problems which are quite different from others. It is essential that more funds should be allocated for them