Grants for Single Mothers
by Dawn
Life as a single mother can be very challenging. In today’s economic condition, it wouldn’t be difficult to imagine the plight of single parent household.
Single mothers have to manage their education, their kids schooling, medical and household expenses, etc. Granted, it is a lot easier to manage ends meet if there are two working partners. However, for a single mother to manage all this alone especially with little or no income, it can be quite a struggle.
To help single moms cope with the challenge of single parenting, there are many sources to get financial help like the government, state, institutions or non-profit organizations. This financial help can be in the form of grants, scholarship, loans etc.
A very good option for single mothers in need is to apply for grants. Grants are freely awarded to eligible single moms on the basis of financial hardship which unlike ordinary loans, do not require any repayment.
There are many ways to avail a grant that meets different types of requirements. One can approach the local Family Welfare Associations, State Financial Aids, the government or any organizations that offer a good plan. You can meet professionals who can assist you further or do the research yourself.
A very good source of information is the internet. You can get all types of information online and decide what best suits you. Check your State, Government websites and sites like http://www.grants.gov/ is a good resource to find information about grants available for singe mothers.
While there are many types of grants for single mothers, one of the most widely offered types of grants, not only for single moms but for others as well, are educational grants and scholarships for single mothers.
Grants such as The Pell Grant is a unique grant provided by the US Department of Education that helps worthy single moms who wish to complete their college education.
And for those single mothers who face a financial crisis while studying in college due to various family reasons, The Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) has helped many achieve their educational goals and dreams.
Though these grants are meant for assisting during difficult times, it does not cover expenses for private tuition fees, house rents, social funds repayments or personal debts etc. It is only meant for you to get yourself up and build a foundation to help you attain a good source of income for the future.
The federal stimulus money keeps on flowing, with the Obama “Moms Return to School” program being one of the positive consequences. This program enables single mothers to obtain a $10,000 scholarship from a private company that they can use to pay for their higher education. This program is available only for females and can be used to pay for tuition, books, and supplies.
Research shows that having a college degree can enable a person to earn five times more than a non-degreed individual. A scholarship such as this is free and does not require repayment, lifting a huge financial burden from single mothers. The money can be used for education at a local college or university or an online institution of higher learning.
Each month, $10,000 is doled out to women who want to pursue their higher education. In addition, the stimulus package increase in 2010 raised the Federal Pell Grant to $5,100 per year. Single moms can apply for this grant and if they qualify, this money will also not need to be repaid. The American Opportunity Tax Credit program provides tax benefits for some out of pocket expenses.
To apply for the scholarship or Pell Grant, single moms need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as the FAFSA. This form can be completed online or a paper form can be requested via mail or picked up at a local higher education institution. Applicants should have prior tax year information and identifying documents on hand to use when completing the document.
A scholarship or grant for higher education may be just want a single mom needs to improve her family’s lifestyle. These are just two examples of money available for higher education and more research will reveal many others. Increasing the level of education allows the single mom to further her career.