Is there a $7,500 single mother grant?

Is there a $7,500 single mother grant? Unfortunately, there isn’t a grant you can apply for to get $7,500, but financial assistance is available for moms on low incomes. If you qualify for help, the total amount you’re eligible for could be much higher than $7,500.

Hardship Grants For Single Mothers

By using a combination of rent assistance, food grants, utility grants, free school meals, childcare assistance, and free medical care, single moms can get a significant financial boost.

Moms on low incomes can get financial support worth at least $7,500 by applying to the right programs. Here’s how you can benefit from programs targeting low-income families.

Related: Free Money To Go Back to School

Find Out If You’re Eligible For Rent Assistance

The Housing Choice Voucher program (also known as Section 8) could cover a big chunk of your rent each month. Moms who qualify pay a maximum of 30% of their adjusted income towards rent, with the voucher covering the rest.

What might that look like for you? Let’s say 30% of your adjusted income is $800 and your rent is $1,100. You pay $800, and the HCV covers the rest, saving you $300 per month or $3,600 per year.

Contact your local Public Housing Authority to find out if you qualify and how to apply. Find your PHA: https://www.hud.gov/contactus/public-housing-contacts.

Get A Grant To Help Pay For Heating And Cooling

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) issues annual grants to low-income households to help pay for heating. If you live in an area with very hot summers, your state may provide grants to assist with your cooling costs, too.

LIHEAP also provides emergency grants to pay for arrears when a household faces a utility shutoff.

The amount you’re eligible for depends on your income, household size, and state program.

Find your local LIHEAP agency: https://www.liheap.org/directory

Sign Up For SNAP

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is a lifeline for low-income families. Monthly payments are issued on a debit card that can only be used to pay for groceries.

To qualify, you need to meet income and asset limits. As an example, the gross monthly income limit for a family of 3 in Florida is $4,304, and the maximum monthly payment for a family of 3 is $768 per month. A family, qualifying for the maximum payment, receives $9,216 per year.

Use this quick calculator to estimate how much you could get: https://www.snapscreener.com/

Enroll In WIC

If you’re pregnant or have a child under the age of 5 living with you, check if you can get WIC. The Women, Infants, and Children program helps families afford nutritious food like fruit, vegetables, milk and eggs.

The amount you get depends on your income and number of qualifying family members.

Learn about WIC and how to apply: https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/applicant-participant/eligibility

Apply For TANF

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program is for families on very low incomes. If you’re looking for hardship grants for single mothers, your income could be low enough to qualify.

Income limits and monthly payments vary by state. For example, the maximum monthly payment for a family of 3 in New Hampshire is $1,370, while it’s just $204 in Arkansas.

Find your local TANF office: https://acf.gov/ofa/map/about/help-families

Get Help Paying For Childcare

Childcare is expensive and for single moms on one income, childcare costs can really hurt. Fortunately, there are programs that offer free or reduced cost childcare for working moms.

If you’re on a mid to low-income, check if you qualify. Getting some or all of your childcare costs covered is a benefit worth thousands of dollars per year.

Find your state program: https://www.care.com/c/child-care-assistance-programs-by-state/

Enroll In The Free School Meals Program

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program (SBP) provide free or low-cost meals to millions of children every day.

Eligibility is based on household income and family size, but children already enrolled in programs like SNAP, TANF, or Head Start are automatically eligible. Call your school to apply.

Free meals are also available during summer recess. Find your summer program: https://www.nokidhungry.org/free-meal-finder

Apply For A Modest Needs Grant

Modest Needs is a provider of hardship grants for single mothers and other working families. Small grants are issued for a wide range of temporary financial needs, like rent arrears, late utility bills, car repairs, and medical expenses.

If you qualify for help, the grant will be paid directly to your service provider. The average grant is between $750 to $1,250.

Apply for a grant: https://www.modestneeds.org/for-applicants/apply-for-help.asp

Find Out If you Qualify For Free Or Reduced Cost Health Insurance

Low-income families may be eligible for free or low cost health insurance through the Medicaid program. Even if you don’t qualify for Medicare because your income is a little too high, your children may still be eligible for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Most states have expanded Medicaid coverage, meaning individuals qualify if their income is below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level. For a family of 3 that’s an annual income of $26,650 or less.

Find your state Medicaid Agency: https://www.medicaid.gov/about-us/where-can-people-get-help-medicaid-chip#statemenu